You have checked your resume over twice. You have lined up all your references. You have re-familiarized yourself with that paper you wrote when you were a 1L that’s now listed on your resume, along with every summer job you’ve had since high school.
You are ready for your next interview . . . or are you? What if they ask those vague questions that you can’t really prepare for, such as: “Tell me about yourself?” How are you supposed to answer that question?
While you don’t want “canned answers” for most of your interview questions, you do want to have a plan for these types of questions. If you have an interview coming up, here are some tips to help you answer the really tough interview questions.
1 | Tell Me About Yourself.
What do they want to know about you?
Do they want to know where you grew up and where you are going over Christmas break? Probably not. What they are looking for is an overview of your work history, especially as it relates to the job at hand.
You may want to start with when and why you decided to go to law school, then summarize the internships and law-related jobs you’ve had. Give an example from each experience that shows how you accomplished or initiated something positive. Bring the interviewer to the present, and tell them why you are now applying for this specific position. Hopefully your summary of past employment will fit into your current goals. If not, you can explain why you are making a switch. Also, give a brief history of your college and law school experiences. Highlight academic honors and courses you have taken that relate to this job.
Be prepared for interruptions. You may have to adjust the story as you go. But no matter what, try to work in some of your accomplishments, whether they are job related or academic.
2 | Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?
You may not know where you want to be in one year, much less five, but you probably have some idea of your long-term goals.
The key to this question is to have some goals that hopefully fit in with the employer’s goals. You would be surprised how many students I’ve worked with have given answers to this question that were completely unrelated to the employer’s practice area or location.
Employers do not need to know everything about you, but they do want to hear that you are committed to the type of law that they practice, and hopefully to the geographic location they are in. If they hire you and train you, they want to know that you are as invested in them as they are in you.
3 | What Are Your Weaknesses?
I hate being asked this question, and I’m guessing you do too. What can you say that does not sound totally phony and artificial?
The general theory is that you should name a weakness that does not relate to the job, or one that you have overcome or improved upon. I prefer the latter — a weakness that you have learned to overcome or have substantially improved upon.
Take public speaking, for example. Many people hate public speaking. Some would rather have a root canal than give a speech in front of a large audience. But in school, you are forced to answer questions in class, participate in moot court and develop confidence in your thoughts and legal arguments. If you can give an example of how you have improved, that would be an excellent way to answer the question. You could say your team placed first in mock trial, you got an “A” in moot court, or your grades went up because of class participation. Public speaking is just one example. Think of other skills you have improved during college and law school.
These are not questions to be afraid of. They are really opportunities. They give you a chance to tell interviewers things they would not typically ask you about if they were just going from your resume.
