FIVE WINNING TIPS TO A STRONG INTERVIEW
One-Minute Resume
Positive Attitude
Research
Dress for Success
Thank You Letter
The interview is designed for one purpose: to find the “best” person
for the job. The best person may not be the one with the most
experience or knowledge but one that fits in well with the
other employees and with the company philosophy. Getting an
interview is only a start. You must know how to present yourself
and your experience to win at interviewing.
ONE-MINUTE RESUME
The first question most prospective employers ask is “Tell
me about yourself.” Your answer will set the tone for
the rest of the interview. Develop a one-minute resume and
practice it. This resume will show you are comfortable with
yourself and put the interviewer at ease. You begin to control
the interview. Don’t brag, simply tell a short story
about yourself. Example: “I grew up in Kansas on a very
small farm and learned at an early age to improvise to get
the job done. I have always had an interest in law and in computers
so I found a way to combine the two. I frequently teach how-to
classes on computers, specifically on Microsoft Word and WordPerfect
usage in the law office. I am a member of a National Association
for legal professions which allows me to network worldwide
and to constantly increase my job knowledge and skills. I feel
that my training and work experience along with my knowledge
of computers would make me a perfect fit for your company.”
POSITIVE ATTITUDE
A positive attitude is a major part to winning at the interview.
You have an advantage over the interviewer because you know
the subject matter better than anyone. The interview is about
YOU, it’s your turn to show all that is great about you.
Remember the old adage, “Resumes don’t hire, people
do.” Be prepared for difficult questions and unexpected
events, such as delays. Remember Dale Thomas Smith’s
saying, “You don’t have to let other peoples’ actions
affect your attitude.”
RESEARCH
Be prepared. Preparation for an interview is crucial to success.
Know what the company does i.e. what is that law firm specialty.
Is it an insurance defense firm? A plaintiff’s firm?
Does it do a lot of litigation or does it write contracts?
Martindale-Hubbell is one source. There are a number of on-line
resources similar to those for finding a lawyer which tell
you about the firm, the lawyers and the areas of practice.
Talk to others in your community who have worked there in the
past. Prepare three to four questions to ask, but avoid those
relating directly to salary.
DRESS FOR SUCCESS
Ask the company you are interviewing with their dress code.
If they say business casual, you should ask if it applies to
interviewing as well. The important thing is to blend into
the organizational culture. For example, you might not want
to wear a three piece double-breasted suit to an interview
with an Internet company, but you to an interview at a bank.
It is important to check out the culture of the company before
you interview. Regardless of the culture there are a few rules
you can follow.
Rule 1: Select clothing of good quality that will stand up
to wear and tear. Calculate what you can afford to spend. Quality
is your priority but you don’t want to “outdress” the
interviewer. Men need at least two dress shirts, a tie, a belt,
and shoes. (Belt and shoes should match in color. Belts should
be leather not fabric.) Women need at least two blouses, undergarments,
hosiery and a pair of pumps (not open toed). All clothing should
fit well, be clean, pressed and shoes shined. The color should
be conservative and versatile and skirts should be knee-length – too
long or too short is too trendy.
Rule 2: Pay attention to finishing touches – avoid over
accessorizing. As with so many things, less is more. Go for
quality over quantity. Shoes should be comfortable for walking
and wearing for two- to three- hour stretches. A dress belt
must be worn with trousers at all times. Avoid large buckles
with logos. Keep jewelry to a minimum. One ring per hand is
plenty. Earrings should be small and understated and only one
set.
THANK YOU LETTER
“All deals are sealed in writing….” It
is important to follow up your interview with a Thank You note.
Writing a Thank You note is not an exercise in tradition; this
is your opportunity to highlight additional skills and qualifications
you may have for the job. It will show that you follow through
and that you have class. It is important that you let the interviewer
know your interest in the position. In addition, it will bring
your interview and resume back to the interviewer and just
like TV advertising the more times they think about you and
your qualifications the more likely they are to select you.
