Job interviews can be both nerve racking and exhilarating. While they are opportunities to show- case your passion and expertise, they also can be make-or-break moments. So before you get started, it’s important to prepare.
Here are four keys to a successful fall job search:
- Milk your career services office for everything they’ve got.
Most law schools have robust career services offices that are motivated to help you as much as they can. After all, their success is measured by whether you get a job within nine months of graduation.
In the fall, their focus is on-campus interviews, or OCIs. It’s the time of year when law firms and other employers visit law schools to interview potential candidates for summer and post-graduate positions.
Cole Anderson, a third-year student at Wayne State University Law School in Detroit, compares the OCI process to speed dating.
“It’s not an easy route, but it’s a very secure route to go,” Anderson said. “You get to talk to many different firms and socialize with all the different types of attorneys. If they think you’re a good fit, you get an offer.”
Anderson said the OCI process can be a lot of work. He had more than 30 inter- views in a span of three days.
“Even if you don’t think you can handle it, I recommend doing as many as possible, because you want to get your name out there and talk to as many people as possible,” Anderson said. “That’s the name of the game.”
Each interview also helps you perfect your interviewing skills. Many career offices offer mock interview services, which can help you prepare.
Kaite Hogan, a student at University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law in Salt Lake City, said her school held an event during which local attorneys came to the law building to conduct mock interviews.
“I found the experience and feedback from the attorney very helpful,” Hogan said. “I had additional practice with friends by having them ask me common interview questions and then asking for their feedback.”
Career offices offer other valuable services as well. Many provide editing help for resumes and cover letters.
Haelena Bondi-Camacho, a student at University of Dayton School of Law in Ohio, used as many of her school’s resources as she could. She said Tim Swensen, assistant dean and director of career services, played a significant role in her landing a summer position.
“I reached out to schedule a time to meet with him to discuss the 1L summer associate application process, as well as have him review my cover letter and resume to provide feedback,” Bondi- Camacho said. “He reviewed my materials and was readily available to answer questions throughout the application process.”
- Do your research.
Jack Weisbeck, a third-year at the University at Buffalo School of Law in New York, scored a summer associate position with Hodgson Russ, one of the largest firms in Western New York. He spent last summer at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
“I would make sure to prepare thoroughly, reach out to anyone who might be
able to help, and prepare several thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer,” Weisbeck said. “I did some independent research for these positions, but I also used the resources and contacts provided by Career Services.”
Before applying and interviewing, do basic research on the firm or organization. You can do this through networking, online research or talking with professors.
Bondi-Camacho wanted to experience working in a variety of practice areas this past summer.
“I researched not only the size of each firm but also how many practice areas were within each firm, and purposely applied to firms with more practice areas,” she said. “I also brushed up on the basics of the firm and the position before the interview and came prepared with questions.”
Hogan encourages other students not to be afraid of cold-calling firms and organizations to ask if they’re hiring. This shows initiative, and many students get positions this way.
3. Perfect your resume, cover letter and writing sample.
After researching a specific position, you may want to revamp your resume to match the skills listed in the job description.
Also, personalize each cover letter and highlight the skills you have that most closely relate to the position.
“I applied mainly for summer legal intern positions,” Hogan said. “Before applying, I would look up the company’s website and do some light research to tailor my cover letter to their preferences.”
Many applications will also ask for a writing sample, which will likely come from your first year of law school. Many firms and organizations will examine your performance during your first year.
One way to ensure that your resume, cover letter and writing samples are polished is to get another set of eyes on them. Weisbeck suggests going to your university’s career services office as he did. You can likely get helpful feedback on the content of your resume, as well as have someone check for any spelling, grammar or punctuation issues.
4. Practice interviewing and don’t forget to be YOU.
Hogan suggests that students perfect their “tell us about you” statement in advance. She recommends starting with where you are from and then sharing your passions. Try to tie your passions to why you want to enter the legal field. Nailing down this key statement in advance will get the inter- view off to a strong start.
When it comes to your interview out- fit, dress to impress. You don’t need to go over the top and show up in a full black suit. Dress professionally, but don’t be afraid to share a bit of your personal style. If your school does mock interviews, take advantage of those and show up wearing what you would wear to an actual inter- view. Then ask for feedback on your attire.
What’s most important is showing your passion and personality.
“I think I get a normal amount of butterflies before an interview,” Bondi- Camacho said. “But then I remind myself that during the interview, I’ll be talking about my life and experiences, which are topics that no one knows better than I do, and that calms the nerves.”
Don’t worry about legal questions. You’ll rarely get an interviewer asking you about theories or principles you’ve learned in law school. Generally, you’ll be asked standard interview questions that show your work ethic and how you overcome challenges.
“People love stories, so you can tell a story about yourself,” said Anderson, the third-year at Wayne State. “Share what you’ve done, where you want to go and why you think you would fit in at the firm. People eat that up, and it’s great.”
Anderson emphasizes that how you present yourself is essential not only in interviews but also throughout law school. You will likely be practicing in the same state in which you are attending school, meaning you will have the same network after you graduate, he said.
“How you talk to students, peers and professors will shape their view of you,” Anderson said. “If it’s great, then great. But it’s really hard to change a bad reputation, and it’s really easy to lose a good one.”
