Interview - advice & preparation

Interview advice for legal and financial professionals

The ultimate goal of any job seeker is to obtain a satisfying job. There is no set formula for predicting the format of an interview, but managing it successfully is a critical step in getting any job. The priorities and interview styles of an individual or organisation will vary so it is important that you are prepared for all scenarios and questions.

Preparation

Preparation is key to the success of an interview. We suggest that you prepare the following to ensure that you go to interview calm and relaxed.

About the company

You should know the following about the organisation before you attend the interview:

• Is it part of a group - are there subsidiaries you should be aware of?
• Who are its main competitors?
• How is it viewed in the market place?
• Make sure you are fully aware of the services or products it offers
• Contact the company directly to obtain a copy of its annual report

What do you want to ask the interviewer?

Prepare questions to ask the interviewee. Remember that the interview is a two-way process and is as much for you to find out more about the company and the role as it is for them to assess you as a potential employee.

Once that you have done this preparation, here are a few further points to remember, to help you make the best first impressions:

• Get to your interview early so that you arrive as unstressed as possible, and have time to compose yourself
• Double check the date, time, location of the interview, as well as the name of the interviewer
• Always wear a smart suit unless advised otherwise
• A firm handshake, good eye contact and being able to initiate or respond to small talk helps form a positive impression during the first few minutes
• Body language is also extremely important. Sit slightly forward in your chair, towards the interviewer, try to keep your arms open and your hands free to move as you talk
• Avoid the common physical signs of nervousness where possible, including crossing your body with arms and legs, clawing of chairs arms, bouncing your feet and leaning too far back in your chair
• And remember to smile!

Interview Structure

Most interviews follow a similar structure - introductions, an overview of the role/company, a set of questions from the employer to help establish your suitability and then an opportunity for you to ask questions before concluding the meeting.

Remember to be factual and concise and avoid one-word answers. If faced with a difficult question, stay calm and consider your response for a moment.

Questioning

Frequently companies develop competency frameworks that are specific to the behaviours required to succeed in their specific environment. The questioning will ask for specific examples of prior experience or situations that you have found yourself in. The questions are often based around the following themes:

• Planning and organisation
• Communication
• Problem solving
• Teamwork
• Leadership skills
• Interpersonal skills

It is a good idea to prepare examples of each of these so that you can provide comprehensive and relevant answers in the interview.

Please see a list of sample interview questions that will assist you in your preparation.

If you feel that you need further help with your preparation, ask your consultant to provide you with some more points and guidelines.

Close

• Ask what the next stage will be and re-affirm your interest in the role
• Explain why and exactly what you have to contribute to the position
• Leave the interviewers in no doubt that you want the position
• Thank them for their time

Interview checklist:

1. Practise answering typical questions
2. Research the company and identify the reasons that you would want to work there
3. Think about the questions you would like to ask beforehand
4. Be prepared for surprise questions, stress questions and think about how you would deal with them
5. If you have any nervous habits, try and think of relaxation tips or ways of dealing with them
6. Have a number of strong examples of your experience to highlight your skills to the interviewer
7. Make sure that you know your CV inside out
8. Make sure you know exactly where you are going, so that you arrive in plenty of time