TRAINING CONTRACT INTERVIEWS MADE EASY
particular firm – at the very least, you can ask some intelligent questions about what the firm has most recently been involved in. So that’s their agenda. Now what’s yours? If you are trying to find out whether this is a firm you want to work for, there will be questions you want to ask and they will expect you to ask them. You might want to know more about the choice of training seats, or what percentage of trainees are retained by the firm after qualification. Think about this before the interview rather than during it; firms will be more than a little surprised if you have no questions at all. The final part of your preparation should be to give some thought to what you are going to wear. You don’t need to rush out to Armani, but you do need to be recognisable as a future solicitor. Many recruiters we talk to mention that inappropriate dress still lets some candidates down every year. Technique If you have prepared thoroughly, it shouldn’t be too nerve-wracking when you get to the interview itself. And while a few nerves can work in your favour, as the adrenalin can help to that requires a certain level of conformity. When a solicitor or barrister is in court or interacting with clients, he or she will most likely be wearing a suit. As a result, when you go for an interview you should dress as you would expect to be dressed if you were to get the job. After all the hard work you‘ve put into securing an interview, don‘t blow your chances by turning up looking sloppy or inappropriately Dress to impress Like it or not, when you join the legal profession, you join a world
make you that little bit sharper, if you suffer badly you should think about getting some advice from a careers adviser on techniques for overcoming the problem. Throughout an interview, your interviewer will be trying to assess how good you will be with clients. Will you make a client confident in your ability as a lawyer or will you leave him or her feeling unconvinced? This is a key issue in any law firm and it is very important that you demonstrate an appropriate level of confidence at your interview. Make eye contact, smile and listen carefully to what is being said. Make sure that you sit comfortably; your body language will say a lot about your confidence. One word of warning, though: there is a fine line between confidence and arrogance – don’t cross it! It is important to have a conversation with your interviewer; he or she will set the course of that conversation, but don’t make it hard work for them. Monosyllabic answers will not work. It is also important not to get so carried away that the interviewer finds it hard to get a word in. Be enthusiastic about what you have achieved and be interesting to talk to. normally by not being smart enough, which creates a poor impression from the moment they meet the recruiter. City lawyers are business people and their clients expect them to look the part. Part of the job is projecting the image of a trusted adviser; not in a stuffy, Dickensian, bowler hat kind of way, but clients expect to see someone credible. Looking professional does not simply mean investing in a decent suit – although this is certainly the first step. You have to think about dressed; it will guarantee that you‘ll be remembered, but for all the wrong reasons. Some people, sadly, get the dress code completely wrong,
Many people worry about how to deal with difficult or unexpected questions. It is OK to take a minute to consider your answer to a question, but don’t allow long silences to develop. If you really don’t know how to answer a question, it is better to say so with a smile and allow the interview to move on. Don’t try to bluff your way through or make something up – you can end up getting badly caught out. Every interviewer has their own style of interviewing and you may find that all your careful preparation has been for nothing. It has been known for a keen rugby fan to spend the entire interview discussing rugby with a candidate who listed rugby as their main interest. The key is not to panic and feel cut adrift simply because the interview is not what you expected. Be prepared to think on your feet and give it your best shot. Allow plenty of time to get to your interview and aim to get there at least 15 minutes before, so that you have time to gather your thoughts. There is nothing more likely to cause panic and anxiety than the fear that you are going to be late. This will also give you a chance to go to the bathroom and check your appearance – spinach matter whether you opt for a skirt suit or a trouser suit – go with what you prefer and feel most comfortable in. Likewise shoes – heels are fine, but if they aren’t your thing, then a smart pair of flats will serve just as well. Hair can also be up or down, as long as it is neat – overall smartness and looking like you have made an effort is key; being comfortable while doing so will help you feel confident. your overall presentation. That means arriving clean shaven (where applicable), with clean, neat hair and not being covered in crumbs or looking like you‘ve been up all night. For women, it really doesn’t
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