(1) Send thank you cards to all of the interviewers. You should send them out the very next day. They should be either hand-written or typed.
(2) Do NOT send an email as a thank you. Attorneys receive too many emails as it is. Yours will get lost in the shuffle.
(3) Lastly, pray!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
What To Do Prior To The Interview
(1) Research the firm(s). See the NALP Directory (http://www.nalpdirectory.com/) and the firms' websites.
(2) Research the interviewer if you know who he or she is going to be. However, be mindful that who your interviewer is may change.
(3) Prepare your resume and have it critiqued by at least 3 people.
(4) Attend at least 2 mock interviews and practice in the mirror.
(5) Prepare your cover letter and have it reviewed by at least 3 people.
(6) Request a copy of your transcript and make copies.
(7) Find appropriate attire. Men - suit, dress shirt, tie, polished shoes, haircut, clean shave. NO earrings, strong cologne, fancy watches. Ladies - suit or skirt (which ever makes you most comfortable), conservative earrings (e.g., pearls), nice dress shirt, polished shoes, and take care of your hair. NO fancy watches or purses. If you bring a $1,000 pursue to the interview, the interviewer will assume you don't need the job!
(8) Get business cards. It's always good to have a few on-hand.
(9) Pray!
(2) Research the interviewer if you know who he or she is going to be. However, be mindful that who your interviewer is may change.
(3) Prepare your resume and have it critiqued by at least 3 people.
(4) Attend at least 2 mock interviews and practice in the mirror.
(5) Prepare your cover letter and have it reviewed by at least 3 people.
(6) Request a copy of your transcript and make copies.
(7) Find appropriate attire. Men - suit, dress shirt, tie, polished shoes, haircut, clean shave. NO earrings, strong cologne, fancy watches. Ladies - suit or skirt (which ever makes you most comfortable), conservative earrings (e.g., pearls), nice dress shirt, polished shoes, and take care of your hair. NO fancy watches or purses. If you bring a $1,000 pursue to the interview, the interviewer will assume you don't need the job!
(8) Get business cards. It's always good to have a few on-hand.
(9) Pray!
Questions To Ask The Interviewer and Question NOT To Ask
Provided below are examples of questions to ask the interviewer. Please note that sometimes an interviewer will simply state at the beginning of the interview, "So what questions do you have for me?" This happened to me on one occasion several years ago. I ended up asking the interviewer over 30 questions within a 30-minute interview. At the end of the interview, the interviewer told me that I was obviously interested in the firm because she had never seen someone ask so many questions. Thus, she passed me on to the call-back interview.
Questions To Ask:
(1) Were you a summer associate at . . . firm?
(2) As a partner (or senior associate) what are your expectations of summer associates/associates?
(3) Why did you decide to work for . . . firm?
(4) What types of matters or cases are you currently working on?
(5) Does the firm offer a formal mentorship program?
(6) How many assignments can a summer associate expect to receive?
(7) How is work distributed to summer associates (e.g., free market system)?
(8) What kind of supervision and feedback are new attorneys given?
(9) What qualities/skills is your organization looking for?
(10) Has the firm's practice areas changed in recent years?
(11) What do you think are the growth areas for the firm?
(12) What type of training is offered for summer associates and new junior associates?
Questions NOT To Ask
(1) How much are summer associates paid? Is there a potential for a raise?
(2) I noticed that you do not have many . . . working at your firm. Why is that?
(3) Are most attorneys at the firm republicans or democrats?
(4) Is your firm conducive to having a family?
(5) Will I be able to take a vacation during that summer?
(6) Does the firm pay for the Bar exam and preparation classes?
Questions To Ask:
(1) Were you a summer associate at . . . firm?
(2) As a partner (or senior associate) what are your expectations of summer associates/associates?
(3) Why did you decide to work for . . . firm?
(4) What types of matters or cases are you currently working on?
(5) Does the firm offer a formal mentorship program?
(6) How many assignments can a summer associate expect to receive?
(7) How is work distributed to summer associates (e.g., free market system)?
(8) What kind of supervision and feedback are new attorneys given?
(9) What qualities/skills is your organization looking for?
(10) Has the firm's practice areas changed in recent years?
(11) What do you think are the growth areas for the firm?
(12) What type of training is offered for summer associates and new junior associates?
Questions NOT To Ask
(1) How much are summer associates paid? Is there a potential for a raise?
(2) I noticed that you do not have many . . . working at your firm. Why is that?
(3) Are most attorneys at the firm republicans or democrats?
(4) Is your firm conducive to having a family?
(5) Will I be able to take a vacation during that summer?
(6) Does the firm pay for the Bar exam and preparation classes?
The Most Asked Interview Questions
Provided below is a list of the most asked interview questions. Make sure to prepare a response for each of them:
(1) Tell me something about yourself that's not on your resume. This is the absolute worst question! The first time I was asked this question was during an interview in college for General Motors. My response: "Well, I'm one of two siblings, I'm from Detroit, I like cars . . . " Needless to say, GM did not call me back. The proper response to this question is something that focuses on your personality traits that will make you an asset to the organization (e.g., "I have a strong work ethic, I'm a team player, etc.). These folks want to know that if necessary they can work on an emergency motion with you at 11 PM on a Thursday night when both of you would rather be partying on the rooftop at The Wit.
(2) Who or what influenced you to pursue a legal career?
(3) What do you consider to be your greatest strengths? Please, please do NOT say that you are a perfectionist. Recruiters hear this all of the time. Come up with something unique, but not too unique.
(4) What do you consider to be your greatest weakness? Be honest, but not too honest with this one. And, once you state what your weakness is, water it down by reiterating your strengths.
(5) What makes your stand out amongst your peers? Talk about your strengths and how you would be an asset to the recruiter's firm. But, do NOT take this time to bash other students or lawyers.
(6) What criteria did you use to select laws schools to which to apply? My Chicago-Kent students and graduates, do not state that the Legal Writing program was the sole reason you decided to go to Chicago-Kent. Everyone says this! Use the Legal Writing program as one of several reasons.
(7) Do you think your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement and abilities as a lawyer? If you don't think so, state "no" and the things you are doing to get your grades on track. Whatever you do, do not make excuses!
(8) Why aren't you on law review? Why didn't you decide to write onto a journal? Be honest and always leave the option open for law review (if you have the grades) and a journal (if you are interested in one).
(9) What did you get out of this past summer's experience? Discuss the positives of the previous experience and how it will make you an asset to the recruiter's firm.
(10) Why do you want to work for us? Be honest and prove that you've done your research. Broadly stating that you want to work at a "large firm" in a great city is not enough. In fact, the interview may end early! Instead, if you are interested in a particular practice or several practice areas at the firm, state that. If the firm has a small or medium size environment and you believe you work best in those type of environments, state that. Check out the NALP Directory ( http://www.nalpdirectory.com/) and the firm's website for detailed information on the practice areas that are offered at the firm.
(11) Do you have any idea in which practice areas you want to have assignments? Be honest and show that you've done your research on the firm.
(12) Where else are you interviewing? Be honest and know how to pronounce the names of the firms.
(13) What do you see yourself doing 5 to 7 years after law school? Trick question!!! Response: Working at your firm, of course. :-)
(14) Do you have a geographical preference? Be honest and strategic. Do not say you would work at the Montana office if you really wouldn't.
(15) What questions do you have for me about our firm? See "Questions to Ask Interviewer" post.
(1) Tell me something about yourself that's not on your resume. This is the absolute worst question! The first time I was asked this question was during an interview in college for General Motors. My response: "Well, I'm one of two siblings, I'm from Detroit, I like cars . . . " Needless to say, GM did not call me back. The proper response to this question is something that focuses on your personality traits that will make you an asset to the organization (e.g., "I have a strong work ethic, I'm a team player, etc.). These folks want to know that if necessary they can work on an emergency motion with you at 11 PM on a Thursday night when both of you would rather be partying on the rooftop at The Wit.
(2) Who or what influenced you to pursue a legal career?
(3) What do you consider to be your greatest strengths? Please, please do NOT say that you are a perfectionist. Recruiters hear this all of the time. Come up with something unique, but not too unique.
(4) What do you consider to be your greatest weakness? Be honest, but not too honest with this one. And, once you state what your weakness is, water it down by reiterating your strengths.
(5) What makes your stand out amongst your peers? Talk about your strengths and how you would be an asset to the recruiter's firm. But, do NOT take this time to bash other students or lawyers.
(6) What criteria did you use to select laws schools to which to apply? My Chicago-Kent students and graduates, do not state that the Legal Writing program was the sole reason you decided to go to Chicago-Kent. Everyone says this! Use the Legal Writing program as one of several reasons.
(7) Do you think your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement and abilities as a lawyer? If you don't think so, state "no" and the things you are doing to get your grades on track. Whatever you do, do not make excuses!
(8) Why aren't you on law review? Why didn't you decide to write onto a journal? Be honest and always leave the option open for law review (if you have the grades) and a journal (if you are interested in one).
(9) What did you get out of this past summer's experience? Discuss the positives of the previous experience and how it will make you an asset to the recruiter's firm.
(10) Why do you want to work for us? Be honest and prove that you've done your research. Broadly stating that you want to work at a "large firm" in a great city is not enough. In fact, the interview may end early! Instead, if you are interested in a particular practice or several practice areas at the firm, state that. If the firm has a small or medium size environment and you believe you work best in those type of environments, state that. Check out the NALP Directory ( http://www.nalpdirectory.com/) and the firm's website for detailed information on the practice areas that are offered at the firm.
(11) Do you have any idea in which practice areas you want to have assignments? Be honest and show that you've done your research on the firm.
(12) Where else are you interviewing? Be honest and know how to pronounce the names of the firms.
(13) What do you see yourself doing 5 to 7 years after law school? Trick question!!! Response: Working at your firm, of course. :-)
(14) Do you have a geographical preference? Be honest and strategic. Do not say you would work at the Montana office if you really wouldn't.
(15) What questions do you have for me about our firm? See "Questions to Ask Interviewer" post.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The Dangers of Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter
Almost everyone has a Facebook, MySpace, or a Twitter page. Heck, my Father asked me the other day if he should create one! While these social networking sites are excellent for doing just that -- social networking -- they can create some obstacles when it comes to getting a job. Now, I'm not telling you to delete your pages, but I am telling you to proceed with caution.
Whether you realize it or not, more and more employers are taking an interest in your webpages. They're not doing so to see if you are photogenic enough to be on the firm's website; they're taking a peak at your page because they want to know if you have any incriminating pictures on the Internet or pictures that the firm, and most importantly, the clients do not want to see. So, here are a few tips to protect yourself:
Tip #1: No pictures with you holding a beer or the infamous red cup.
Tip #2: No pictures that you would not want your parents to see.
Tip #3: Watch what you post on your page. No cursing at all.
Tip #4: Set your privacy settings to high no matter what.
Tip #5: Do not accept "friends" unless you know who they are. I have a rule that if we have less than 5 friends in common and we didn't just meet, then we're probably not really friends -- thus, "decline!" Please note that I have heard of recruiters asking interviewees to be their "friends" on Facebook just to see what's on their page. Scary!
Whether you realize it or not, more and more employers are taking an interest in your webpages. They're not doing so to see if you are photogenic enough to be on the firm's website; they're taking a peak at your page because they want to know if you have any incriminating pictures on the Internet or pictures that the firm, and most importantly, the clients do not want to see. So, here are a few tips to protect yourself:
Tip #1: No pictures with you holding a beer or the infamous red cup.
Tip #2: No pictures that you would not want your parents to see.
Tip #3: Watch what you post on your page. No cursing at all.
Tip #4: Set your privacy settings to high no matter what.
Tip #5: Do not accept "friends" unless you know who they are. I have a rule that if we have less than 5 friends in common and we didn't just meet, then we're probably not really friends -- thus, "decline!" Please note that I have heard of recruiters asking interviewees to be their "friends" on Facebook just to see what's on their page. Scary!
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Resume Do's and Don't's
The first thing a potential interviewer sees before your sparkling personality is your resume. In fact, if your resume isn't up to snuff then you better kiss that interview goodbye and prepare for the one page, single paragraph, generic letter that starts off by saying, "We appreciate your interest . . . HOWEVER . . . " We've all received one or two -- maybe more -- in our lifetime. My goal is to make sure you never receive one again, or at least that it will never happen because of your resume. To that end, here are a few resume tips:
#1: Length: Your resume should NEVER be more than 1 page, unless (and this is a big unless) becoming a lawyer is your second career. For example, you were a doctor for 15 years and now you've decided to become a lawyer.
#2: Color: Your resume paper should be conservative (e.g., white, off-white, tan, light grey, or "mother of pearl"). It should not be on "baby blue," "pink and beautiful," or anything that will make you stick out for the wrong reason.
#3: Paper Quality: Your resume should be on. . . drum roll . . . resume paper. This can be found at Office Depot, Target, or any office supply store. You should never use the plain white paper from the law school or law firm copy room!
#4: Font: Times New Roman is preferred. Do not use calligraphy, script, or anything too fancy.
#5: Your G.P.A.: If under a 3.0, leave it off of your resume. If your law school G.P.A. is under a 3.0 but your college G.P.A. is above a 3.o, then leave BOTH of them off.
#6: Format:
(1) Personal Information (name, address, telephone number, email address)
(2) Education (law school and college)
(3) Legal experience
(4) Other experience
(5) Honors and activities
(5) Publications
(6) Language skills
6.1: Caveats to the Format
(1) Personal Information
(a) Telephone number - No music on your voicemail!
(b) Email address - Preferably, use your law school email address. If you are a practicing attorney, use a simple, professional email address (e.g., vivicaafox@gmail.com). If your current email address is, for example, cutiepie313@gmail.com -- don't use it!
(c) Home address - No P.O. Boxes.
(2) Education
(a) Law school - Make sure to put your month and year of expected graduation. However, do NOT state "Expected" or "Anticipated" graduation date -- you're expected to graduate some day! Place law school honors and activities underneath this section in bullets. Definitely provide whether you are on law review, moot court, or the trial team.
(b) College - Place significant honors and activities underneath this section. However, once you become a 2L, you should no longer have these activities on your resume.
(c) Associates Degree - No need to put this on your resume.
(d) High School - Please do not state anything about your high school on your resume.
(3) Legal Experience
(a) Place your jobs in chronological order with the most recent job first.
(b) The bullets within your job description should go in the following order: (1) "on your feet" work (e.g., take depositions of fact and expect witnesses; argue motions for summary judgment, etc.); (2) writing (e.g., draft motions to dismiss, etc.); (3) research; and (4) observation work (e.g., attend labor arbitration, etc.).
(4) Other Experience - This is where you put your non-legal experience. This is NOT where you state that you are a belly dancer or exotic dancer . . . I've seen this before!
(5) Publications - List college and law school publications. However, understand that the recruiter may ask you specifics about your publications, so please review them before the interview. For example, during college I published an article on the financial conditions of Detroit Public Schools. A recruiter asked me what my thesis was and how would I change it knowing what I know today. It turns out that the recruiter's wife is a teacher and he wanted to share my response with her. Luckily, I reviewed the abstract of my article 1 hour before the interview!
(6) Language Skills - Be careful with this one! If you state that you are fluent in a language, you may end up with an entire interview in that language. I have known this to happen on at least two occasions. If the recruiter says, "Hola," and you say, "Um??". . . you're in trouble!
(7) Periods - No periods for incomplete sentences.
(8) Spelling. Lastly, make sure that everything is spelt correctly and that there are no grammatical errors in anything!
#1: Length: Your resume should NEVER be more than 1 page, unless (and this is a big unless) becoming a lawyer is your second career. For example, you were a doctor for 15 years and now you've decided to become a lawyer.
#2: Color: Your resume paper should be conservative (e.g., white, off-white, tan, light grey, or "mother of pearl"). It should not be on "baby blue," "pink and beautiful," or anything that will make you stick out for the wrong reason.
#3: Paper Quality: Your resume should be on. . . drum roll . . . resume paper. This can be found at Office Depot, Target, or any office supply store. You should never use the plain white paper from the law school or law firm copy room!
#4: Font: Times New Roman is preferred. Do not use calligraphy, script, or anything too fancy.
#5: Your G.P.A.: If under a 3.0, leave it off of your resume. If your law school G.P.A. is under a 3.0 but your college G.P.A. is above a 3.o, then leave BOTH of them off.
#6: Format:
(1) Personal Information (name, address, telephone number, email address)
(2) Education (law school and college)
(3) Legal experience
(4) Other experience
(5) Honors and activities
(5) Publications
(6) Language skills
6.1: Caveats to the Format
(1) Personal Information
(a) Telephone number - No music on your voicemail!
(b) Email address - Preferably, use your law school email address. If you are a practicing attorney, use a simple, professional email address (e.g., vivicaafox@gmail.com). If your current email address is, for example, cutiepie313@gmail.com -- don't use it!
(c) Home address - No P.O. Boxes.
(2) Education
(a) Law school - Make sure to put your month and year of expected graduation. However, do NOT state "Expected" or "Anticipated" graduation date -- you're expected to graduate some day! Place law school honors and activities underneath this section in bullets. Definitely provide whether you are on law review, moot court, or the trial team.
(b) College - Place significant honors and activities underneath this section. However, once you become a 2L, you should no longer have these activities on your resume.
(c) Associates Degree - No need to put this on your resume.
(d) High School - Please do not state anything about your high school on your resume.
(3) Legal Experience
(a) Place your jobs in chronological order with the most recent job first.
(b) The bullets within your job description should go in the following order: (1) "on your feet" work (e.g., take depositions of fact and expect witnesses; argue motions for summary judgment, etc.); (2) writing (e.g., draft motions to dismiss, etc.); (3) research; and (4) observation work (e.g., attend labor arbitration, etc.).
(4) Other Experience - This is where you put your non-legal experience. This is NOT where you state that you are a belly dancer or exotic dancer . . . I've seen this before!
(5) Publications - List college and law school publications. However, understand that the recruiter may ask you specifics about your publications, so please review them before the interview. For example, during college I published an article on the financial conditions of Detroit Public Schools. A recruiter asked me what my thesis was and how would I change it knowing what I know today. It turns out that the recruiter's wife is a teacher and he wanted to share my response with her. Luckily, I reviewed the abstract of my article 1 hour before the interview!
(6) Language Skills - Be careful with this one! If you state that you are fluent in a language, you may end up with an entire interview in that language. I have known this to happen on at least two occasions. If the recruiter says, "Hola," and you say, "Um??". . . you're in trouble!
(7) Periods - No periods for incomplete sentences.
(8) Spelling. Lastly, make sure that everything is spelt correctly and that there are no grammatical errors in anything!
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