In addition, Jonathan Kagan of Irell advises that “the balance between judgment and honesty is the most important part of answering this question. I know a person who changed careers and said that his greatest weakness was his temperament. She said she had already thrown a chair to the other side during a statement. Your answer was clearly wrong; Her biggest weakness was her judgment – she should have known not to say that in an interview. Great time. I was asked this question during a call back from BEC (and I received an offer). Fortunately, I had done some mock interviews with career services and we looked at my response. What my guidance counselor had told me was not to give a general answer and to give them an honest criticism of themselves (obviously nothing terrible). However, you don`t want to put yourself in a bad light, so maybe highlight one of your traits that is both a weakness and a strength, or after telling them your weakness, back up your response with what you`re doing to improve it! “We know there are a million law firms or a million legal organizations, but at the end of the day, we want to hire the person who really wants to work for us.
[We want to know] why you chose our company and not the street one. What is right for us? That`s what people really fear – it seems so counterintuitive to admit weakness while trying to impress. But if you`re prepared, it`s actually not too difficult to answer and an interview question isn`t too mean. The interviewer doesn`t really want to know your weakness and doesn`t expect 100% honesty. You are much more interested in how you approach the issue. Done right, your answer can show important positive traits: self-confidence and proactivity. Don`t worry – behavioral interview questions like these aren`t traps to disqualify you from the job. Instead, this type of question is an opportunity for you to show how you handle conflict with real experiences in your life. It`s important for legal job seekers to prepare for behavioral interview questions, as they become more common in interviews with law firms (especially as companies strive to combat implicit bias in hiring). (For more examples of questions you should ask at your next legal interview, click here.) If you want to succeed as a lawyer, you have to do well under pressure, and often the first real test for that (after the first semester exams, of course) is your legal interview.
Whether you`re applying for a summer partnership at a law firm or an internal position at a company, one of the most critical and stressful steps is the job interview. This may be your only opportunity to make a good impression and show what makes you the right candidate for the job. This question may seem intimidating if you haven`t faced this situation or can`t think of an example to share. Preparing in advance will go a long way with behavioral interview questions. Giving yourself time to reflect is likely to unearth valuable experiences from the past that would otherwise be difficult to remember in the blink of an eye. • Is it a “false” weakness (i.e. a hidden strength)? If this is the case, don`t expect the other person to believe you. “As you prepare for the interview, you should think of three to five illustrative stories that show your character, strengths, and the applicability of your work history.
Have you learned how important customer service is? Big! Prepare an interview story to show how you understand the importance of good customer service and how to maintain productive relationships with customers and others. Another example shows how to use task requirements to control your response. Let`s say you`re looking for a job as a graphic designer and you`re not a great writer. The job description emphasizes production design skills and special software experience, but does not mention content development. In this case, when asked about your weaknesses during a job interview, you can respond by saying: Here are some interview tips to keep in mind so you can introduce yourself well to the hiring partner: Robert Brown, former practicing lawyer and current legal analyst for Bloomberg Law focused on legal markets and legal technology Finding a job in the legal industry is stressful, It doesn`t matter how you cut it. From offers to reminders, the law firm`s interview process can feel like a never-ending whirlwind, and it`s only getting worse! A law firm has an open position for a partner position. You want to be a legal assistant. The answer seems obvious, right? This may sound like a softball question, but your answer to the question of why you want to work here could affect or break your interview from the start. Current lawyers advise candidates to do this personally. In this article, we`ll provide sample questions and answers that hiring partners can ask when interviewing law firms and explore some interview tips. Whether it`s before or after an interview, networking is key to learning more about opportunities and making sure you come first. Keep in mind that the best way to deal with any type of question is to prepare in advance by doing research and practicing for the interview.
Ask a friend to do a mock interview with you, or if you`re a law student, contact your school to see if there are opportunities for a mock interview. You`ve got it! >> Would you like to learn more about the different areas of expertise of the legal profession? Take a look at our areas of legal practice! If you would like to discuss your options confidentially and discuss useful advice for an interview, please contact BCL Legal or call 0845 241 0933. After all, you want to expose your shortcomings during a job interview in a way that makes you more likely to gain ground than lose ground. Keep in mind that hiring managers are more interested in how you handle difficulties in the workplace. Maybe you`re not in the top 10% of your class – or maybe you are, but hey, that`s how this guy is. Internal interviewers and law firms are looking for candidates with strong academics, but that`s not all. Standing out means showing your personality and interests while being respectful and caring. By asking this question, the interviewer wants to see if you can recognize that you are not perfect. You want to see that you can realize that you`re probably not the finished item, no matter how old you are. It`s about being aware of yourself and showing that you are accountable to yourself.
Don`t be surprised by simply preparing to respond forcefully. Particularly savvy interviewers often ask a follow-up question to ensure they have a complete picture and not just a prepared speech. Here are some common follow-up questions: When an interviewer asks this question, they try to figure out several things. First, they look for evidence that you meet the specifications of the role. Second, they want to know that you can understand the scope of the role and select a relevant skill. Plus, they test your confidence and ability to prepare. Learn more about what leading communications expert Gwyn Day has to say about this key skills question. [Sign up for Bloomberg Law to read the full article: Ask the hiring attorney: How do I answer interview questions about my weakes?] “What are your weaknesses?” is a difficult question to answer, as with the most common interview questions. But this is not just a stumbling block or danger to avoid. This is an opportunity to show the employer that you can learn from constructive criticism, that you are willing to change in the face of obstacles, and that you can get up and wipe yourself if you are not up to the task. These are qualities that any employer would appreciate.
Connie Brenton, Chief of Staff and Senior Director of Legal Operations, NetApp, Inc. I feel like saying you`re not good at time management when interviewing for a legal job (even if you`d say you`ve overcome it) isn`t a good idea. Time management is essential in this profession, so it seems like a bad idea to view this as a weakness, even on a positive turn.