Amato Legal Search, Inc.
Call us at: 410-750-7550
GO FOR THE GOLD
No matter how unsure you are about making a change, go for the offer. Too often, candidates go into the interview lukewarm and come out excited about the job. The feedback from the firm to the headhunter is that the initial interviewers found the candidate to be "unenthusiastic", "ambivalent", or "uninterested." Remember, you can always say "no" later but assume from the start that you will want to say "yes."
DON'T INTERRUPT ME!
You may have suddenly thought of the most insightful or profound comment but wait! Please wait until the interviewer stops talking. (Ask your friends and family if you have a tendency to interrupt - many people do not even realize that they have this habit).
DRESS FOR SUCCESS
When in doubt (and even when not in doubt), dress conservatively. You will not offend an interviewer by dressing conservatively whereas the trendy, casual clothes may not impress. If you must dress casual so as not to raise suspicion at your current job, clear it with the headhunter. Also, skip the cologne/perfume.
THE EYES HAVE IT
Make eye contact, look interested, appear alert, speak clearly, do not slouch, yawn, lean on your elbows, look at your watch, badmouth your current employer, or use profanity.
TURN OFF THE CELL PHONE!
Believe it or not, candidates have been rejected for receiving calls/checking messages during an interview. Remember, lunch with associates or staff attorneys is STILL part of the interview no matter how informal it may seem. In fact, be particularly on guard during lunches.
QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS
Be prepared with good ones. Do your homework. Remember, you are interviewing the firm or company as much as they are interviewing you. It's okay to ask about firm/company culture, long term expected growth, recent attrition, anticipated work assignments, client base, success of other lateral hires, etc. Save the salary/bonus/billable hours questions for the headhunter or for a later callback interview.
KNOW THY RESUME PACKAGE
Know your resume/writing sample/deal sheet cold. Remember, anything on those documents is fair game. If you list a publication on your resume, read it again before the interview. Be prepared to be asked about any item that appears as part of the resume submission package. It is wise to take a few extra copies of the documents with you. Also, make sure you know the substance of what the headhunter wrote in the cover letter.
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
Be on time for the interview. A simple enough rule but one that is often broken. If you are going to be late, call ahead and apologize profusely. Apologize again when you arrive. Make sure you have the firm/company telephone number (and the headhunter's number) with you in case of an emergency. If you absolutely MUST leave the interview by a designated time, make sure the headhunter gets it squared away with the firm/company in advance.
EXPERIENCE IS THE SPICE OF LIFE
Be prepared to discuss your work experience. That means individual transactions, cases, appeals, trials, wills, patent applications, public offerings etc. Many candidates prepare an addendum to the resume entitled "Representative Transactions" or "Sample Projects." Even if you don't attach an addendum, maintain an informal log that you can review before an interview. Be prepared with specifics for quesions about experience.
FLATTERY WILL GET YOU EVERYWHERE
Try to get a schedule of the interviewers in advance. Look them up and know their backgrounds. You may share a hometown, a birthday, undergraduate college or a law school. It helps to have some common ground and they will be impressed that you took the time to learn about them. Remember, an interview schedule can change at the last minute so don't be shaken if none of the original interviewers is on the final schedule.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T THE RC
The RC is the Recruiting Coordinator. He or she is the professional at the firm/company who is working with your headhunter to facilitate the interview and hiring process. The role of the RC varies significantly among employers. Some RCs merely route the resume through appropriate channels and schedule the interviews. Other RCs prescreen resumes, interview candidates and make recommendations to the hiring committee. RCs work very hard and are highly regarded by the attorneys for whom they work. Show them a great deal of respect and treat them as you would any of the other interviewers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more information, please email amato@amatolegalsearch.com.
Information for Job Seekers
OUR PROCESS
1) We understand that changing jobs is a huge step for you. We will guide you through the process with an eye toward advancing your personal and professional goals.
2) All resume submissions to Amato Legal Search, Inc. are confidental. Please include a number where you can be reached during business hours, a brief reason for wanting to make a job change and your final law school GPA or class standing.
3) If we have a potential opportunity for you, we will contact you to discuss the specifics of the position to determine if there is a potential fit and whether it is in line with your goals.
4) We will provde feedback on your resume (including suggested revisions) and we will prepare you for interviews.
5) We pledge that your resume will not be submitted to a prospective employer without your authorization.
6) After submitting your resume to the authorized employers, we will continue to keep you posted on new positions that may be of interest to you.
7) Our national network of trusted independent recruiters provides us with a large pool of open positions thereby increasing the options available to you.
8) If you seek to relocate outside of the MD/DC/VA area, we will refer you to a trusted recruiter in the location of your choice.
ALL FEES ARE PAID BY THE EMPLOYER
Interview Tips
Amato Legal Search, Inc.
