{"id":1950,"date":"2019-07-30T11:34:44","date_gmt":"2019-07-30T15:34:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.law.temple.edu\/10q\/?p=1950"},"modified":"2019-07-30T11:34:44","modified_gmt":"2019-07-30T15:34:44","slug":"temple-10-q-advice-on-2l-job-interviews","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/law.temple.edu\/10q\/temple-10-q-advice-on-2l-job-interviews\/","title":{"rendered":"Temple 10-Q Advice on 2L Job Interviews"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is that time of year again, when rising 2Ls put on their serious clothes and sweat their way through interviews for jobs for the following summer, often at Biglaw firms or in government offices. The Editors of the Temple 10-Q have been there and done that, and\u2014with the help of anonymous sources in the real world\u2014wanted to share some quick tips on how to make the most of the interview process.<\/p>\n

1. Know the Employer.<\/h2>\n

Learn as much as you can about the employer with whom you are interviewing\u2014before the interview. Much of this can come from the employer\u2019s website, but the ABA Journal<\/a>, and sometimes Above-The-Law<\/a>, can supplement that (though if there are scandals, don\u2019t bring them up). Other good resources are The NALP Directory<\/a> and Chambers<\/a>. If you know someone at the employer reasonably well, get their views. What are the employer\u2019s near- and long-term goals? Be prepared to answer the question: \u201cWhy do you want to work here?\u201d<\/p>\n

2. Know Yourself.<\/h2>\n

What interests you about this employer? It is not enough to say \u201cI have good grades and you pay well.\u201d If you\u2019ve been diligent about item 1, above, you should have a sense of how you would fit in at the employer. So, if you are interviewing at a trial boutique, talking about your passion for estate planning is not going to help. Also, know your documents. Be prepared to address every item on your resume. Re-read your writing sample (as painful as that may be).<\/p>\n

3. Know the Interviewers, but Don\u2019t Be Creepy.<\/h2>\n

If you can learn the identities of the interviewers beforehand, try to know something about them salient to the interview. Are they an alum of your school? Do they practice in an area of genuine interest to you? Do you know people in common?<\/p>\n

4. Dress for Success.<\/h2>\n

This should go without saying, but dress for the job you want\u2014not the job you have. This means business professional attire, which means a suit in black, navy, or gray. Neat hair, neat shoes\u2014the whole nine yards. You are not trying to win style points with your wardrobe choices. You are only trying to check a box that says \u201cdressed professionally and looks like a lawyer.\u201d Double-check in the mirror to make sure you\u2019ve dusted off the last of lunch.<\/p>\n

5. Electronics Off.<\/h2>\n

This, too, may seem obvious, but disconnect your mobile device from the grid. Getting\u2014much less taking\u2014a call or text in an interview is unlikely to make a good impression.<\/p>\n

6. Answer the Question Asked.<\/h2>\n

You are not a politician: do not answer the question you want to answer\u2014answer the question you were asked. Think in advance about your answers to likely questions, even easy ones (\u201cwhat did you do this summer?\u201d). Make sure your answers are responsive and to the point\u2014the interview will go fast.<\/p>\n

7. Anticipate the Hard Questions.<\/h2>\n

Questions like \u201cwhy did you get a C+ in legal writing when all of your other grades are A and Bs?\u201d can be tough. Make sure you have identified potential weak spots, and answers that are both truthful and, to the extent possible, helpful. \u201cI was so surprised,\u201d you might say (if truthful) \u201cbecause I love to write, and my next semester\u2019s writing grade was much better, so I think it was a matter of adjusting to a new style\/form\/environment.\u201d No response to a hard question should blame the professor\u2014just accept responsibility and talk about how you are working to improve.<\/p>\n

8. Ask A Question?<\/h2>\n

You may have the opportunity to ask the interviewers about the employer, or things may drag in the interview (this is more likely if you are called back for follow-up interviews). Have a couple of good questions for the interviewers in your back pocket. Base the questions on what you\u2019ve learned about the employer (see 1, above). Asking well-researched and thoughtful questions provides a real opportunity to distinguish yourself in an interview. Do not waste time on stuff that is obvious (\u201cdo you have a mentoring program?\u201d).<\/p>\n

9. What if They Ask Me Something I Don\u2019t Know?<\/h2>\n

Answer if you can, but do not ever BS in an interview. If they ask something substantive and obscure (or provocative) (or all three)\u2014\u201cWasn\u2019t Hadley v. Baxendale just wrong?\u201d\u2014you need to do some quick calculating. If you actually know the substance and can answer, have at it. If not, be direct but not defensive, e.g., \u201cI am sorry, we did not cover that. Can you tell me what that was about and what you think?\u201d<\/p>\n

10. Perform with Confidence.<\/h2>\n

Make eye contact; shake hands firmly, but not too firmly. Have a sense of humor about yourself, but don\u2019t view this as a stand-up comedy moment. If you have gotten this far, it is probably because you have made one or more basic cuts. The interview is probably about more personal characteristics like \u201cfit\u201d and \u201ctemperament.\u201d Be the best\u2014most professional\u2014version of yourself.<\/p>\n

To be sure, there is more we could say about this. And we bet you could, too. What\u2019s your advice for those interviewing for summer legal jobs? Leave a comment below<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Editors of the Temple 10-Q share some quick tips on how to make the most of the interview process.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1954,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,16],"tags":[1327,1028,356,306,1328,1329,1330,1331,1332,1333,1334,1335,1336,1337,1338],"coauthors":[2,104],"class_list":["post-1950","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faculty-authored","category-law-school-and-legal-education","tag-2l","tag-career-advice","tag-career-development","tag-careers","tag-confidence","tag-employer","tag-firms","tag-goals","tag-interns","tag-internships","tag-interviewing","tag-jobs","tag-law-students","tag-success","tag-summer","masonry-post","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"yoast_head":"\nTemple 10-Q Advice on 2L Job Interviews - The Temple 10-Q<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/law.temple.edu\/10q\/temple-10-q-advice-on-2l-job-interviews\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Temple 10-Q Advice on 2L Job Interviews - 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