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6 Things You Should Never Do in a Legal Interview
Interview success is the result of forward planning and practice. Follow our 6 step guide to be sure that you never succumb to these interview deal breakers.
1 – Never Arrive unprepared Nothing looks worse than someone who knows nothing about the company. If you have to ask the interview panel to remind you of what the position was then you're in trouble. Read some recent articles and check out their website. If you can, talk to someone who already works there so you can get a feel for what the company is about.
You’ll also need to be prepared for questions that will be asked, although it’s almost impossible to know exactly what questions they will ask you, you can expect certain areas that are likely to be explored such as ‘Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?’
2 – Never Dress inappropriately Even if the company follows a "business casual" dress code, under-dressing or dressing inappropriately for an interview can undermine the recruiter's first impression of you. Professional, conservative attire is the safest choice for a job interview. Don't let your creased shirt be the deciding factor in a job offer.
3 – Never Arrive Late If you arrive to your interview you risk weakening your first impression. Plan accordingly and try to arrive 10 minutes prior to the interview. Use this time productively to collect your thoughts and relax before the interview.
4- Never Lie Be honest with the interview panel or you risk being caught out. That doesn't mean to say you need to tell them that you quit your old job because you didn’t get on with your boss. Turn it around to say that you needed time out to reassess your life and re-prioritise. This then allowed you to come back to your career with a renewed sense of who you are and what your passions are, and this led you to look for a position with their company.
5 – Never forget to ask questions In preparing for an interview you should have developed a list of questions regarding the job's duties and responsibilities, advancement opportunities, corporate culture and management style. Unless told otherwise, do not wait until the end of the interview to ask questions about the specifics of the job.
6 – Never underestimate the power of body language. Research indicates that 55% of all communication emanates from body language. In addition to your handshake, the recruiter will watch your movements, the way you look at a speaker and your posture for additional clues into your personality. Unconscious habits such as drumming you fingers on the desk can divert attention from your qualifications and experience. By focusing on the questions, you can remove some of the nervousness that causes these distracting mannerisms.
