Worthwhile Interview Questions to Ask That Strengthen Your Application
Developing a consistent interview strategy is critical to navigating the legal recruitment process successfully. Here at Garb Jaffe & Associates, our experienced legal recruiters will work with you closely — not only to identify and connect you to firms and in-house departments that suit your particular employment preferences, but also to help you rework and define your application to better target your ideal placements (in part by working with you to develop a top-tier interview skillset).
Interview success is a combination of many different factors: tone, general charisma, and interview content, among other things. As such, it’s important that you approach the recruitment process with an open mind as to the various different ways in which you can improve your interview skillset. Though you may have a strong and charismatic presence, you may not be asking the right questions necessary to separate you from other worthwhile candidates.
So, what interview questions are generally deemed to be helpful? Let’s take a look at a few important questions to ask (if you haven’t already been asked by the interviewer) during an interview for a Biglaw or in-house position.
Ask About Firm or Departmental Hierarchy and How Assignments are Staffed
There is substantial variation in how each firm and in-house department staffs their assignments/projects, and to what degree attorneys are expected to be flexible in terms of how they are staffed. Some firms may allow attorneys to select their assignments, while others may have a more top-down approach. Other firms may have a mixed-approach. Whatever is the unique decision-making hierarchy of the firm or department that you’re applying to, make sure to ask the interviewer to clarify how it works. This will not only help you understand the specifics of their staffing structure, but will also demonstrate your interest in the specific, day-to-day challenges that you are likely to face.
Ask About Potential Responsibilities
Your position may have both formal responsibilities and informal responsibilities. Though the formal responsibilities may be made clear to you early on in the hiring process, use the interview to ask about the potential duties and responsibilities that you might be asked to take on. Be sure not to portray yourself as unwilling to shoulder additional responsibilities — whether you are unwilling or not, express genuine interest in learning more so that the interviewer reveals details about the various informal responsibilities that are likely to be placed on you.
Discuss Your Proudest Professional Accomplishments
If the interviewer does not ask you to name and discuss your most impressive professional accomplishments, be sure to bring it up yourself, though do try to link these accomplishments to a larger discussion of your goals (so as to not appear overly arrogant!). Be sure to “read the room” as well. If the interviewer is showing interest in the discussion of your various professional accomplishments, expand upon the story and bring more details to light that might serve as a demonstration of competence. If the opportunity is available, perhaps ask the interviewer about their own successes at the firm/in-house department.
Ask Interviewer About Organizational Challenges
Firms and in-house departments regularly face new challenges. If the interviewer has been forthright and transparent about their organization, consider asking about current challenges that the organization is facing and how they are attacking the problem. For example, if internal efficiency is an issue, ask how they are intending to resolve the efficiency issue — depending on how transparent the interviewer is willing to be, you may learn about strategies that include intended labor cutbacks, new technology implementation, and more.
Discuss Your Professional Goals And How This Move Will Help Achieve Them
Successful interviewing is, to some degree, about narrative. It’s important to build a narrative as a high-value professional that sees how the target organization can contribute to their career. If you allow the engagement to be framed in such a way where you are only discussing the value that you can contribute to the organization, then you are missing out on a great opportunity to demonstrate confidence, competence, and ambition. By identifying how you see the organization helping you achieve your professional goals, you can show that you take your career seriously and that you are dedicated to whatever projects you will be assigned.
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If you are an attorney interested in making a career move, speak with a Los Angeles legal recruiter here at Garb Jaffe & Associates. Our legal recruiters have years of experience successfully placing attorneys with prestigious in-house legal departments and Biglaw firms throughout the state. We provide end-to-end advisory services, connecting you to top employers and guiding you from the very beginning of the hiring process to ensure that you are well-positioned to secure your ideal placement.
Call us today at (310) 207-0727 to setup a consultation with one of our legal recruiters. We look forward to speaking with you.