How To Ace a Phone Interview

http://www.jdjournal.com/2013/04/25/how-to-ace-a-phone-interview/

I have recently realized how uncomfortable many of my candidates are with the idea of a phone interview.  The most common concern my candidates have is that they feel that they interview better in person.   They worry that their personality may not come through over the phone.  They also feel that if the firm were truly interested in them, they would bring them in for a face-to-face interview.

1.    Why A Phone Interview?

A phone interview is very common when firms are talking to an attorney who is located out of town.  However, I am seeing more phone/screening interviews happening even for local candidates.   Many candidates are confused or insulted when this happens to them.

Firms are run more efficiently than they used to be.  When I started practicing law in the early 2000s, phone interviews were rare, even for out of town attorneys.  If they liked your resume, they brought you into the office.  Firms wasted a lot of time and money doing this, and thus, the screening interview has become far more common.  Many firms even have the screening interviews conducted by the recruiting coordinator, rather than they attorneys, so as to not to waste the attorneys’ time.

2.    The Common Goals of a Phone Interview

As an interviewee, your goal in a preliminary interview is a focused goal: to get a second interview.  The firm usually will either have very targeted questions about your experience, or they will ask very broad questions.  This is because you will likely face one of two scenarios: the firm either wants to know that in general, you have the type of personality that they want, or they are looking for very specific experience before moving to the next step with you.

The first step is to know, if possible (it usually is), who will be interviewing you.

If you are being interviewed by an attorney or attorneys, obviously, find out what you can about them.  If the attorney is the chair of the departmentand does not handle the kinds of work you would be doing (this happens often in IP and litigation, for example), research who the firm’s clients are, and which attorneys do the work that they likely have you in mind for.  Know something about the client base.  Even if the entire interview consists of you answering their questions, you can answer them with an eye towards the firm’s client base and the work you are capable of.

If you are being interviewed by an HR person or Recruiting Coordinator, the questions may be more general.  A Recruiting Coordinator wants to hear how you speak and present yourself.  They may ask you the much-reviled, “tell me about yourself,” for exactly this reason.  They may ask about your ties to their community. On the other hand, they may have specific questions about certain experience that the firm is targeting before they move forward with a candidate, and the RC may jump directly to that.

No matter who is interviewing you, there are common questions they will probably want answered.  If you are coming from out of town, they will want to know why you are targeting their town.  Especially in my market, which covers the Midwest and Rocky Mountain regions, firms always want to know if you have ties to their area.  This is because each city is unique, and more importantly, each city thinks of itself as unique.  They all want to know that you understand their town, and that you won’t be unhappy if you move there.  It amazes me how often candidates underestimate the importance of where they live.  Often, attorneys think that the worst case scenario is that they will move to a town they know nothing about, and if they hate it, they will move on in a couple of years.  This almost never works out.  Trust me, your firm will know if you are unhappy, and they will be very disappointed, and it won’t end well.  They do not want to hire someone who will leave after a couple of years.  They want to hire someone who is in for the long haul.  It is therefore well worth your time you do at least some research on the city before you do the phone screen.  Show them that you have researched the cost of living, the major attractions, a little history, some neighborhoods where you might like to live.  This goes a really long way towards getting an in-person interview, because it shows that you are serious about their city.

They will also want to know why you are moving on from your present position.  Never, ever, trash your current employer (or, if you were laid, off, your past employer).  Come up with the most neutral (honest) explanation you can.  Is the workload lighter than you had hoped?  Is your work provider retiring?  Is the work itself not what you had anticipated?  Do you have some reason unrelated to the job for moving (your spouse has enrolled in graduate school in another city, for example).Keep in mind that negativity tends to reflect poorly on you.

3.    Tips and Tricks for Acing the Interview.

a.  Get to a land line.

I can’t stress this enough.  I recently had an interviewee, despite my advice, use his cell phone for an interview.  Sure enough, the call was dropped several times, the potential employer was frustrated and annoyed (this was very clear in their feedback to me), and the attorney did not get a second interview.  Even if your call is not dropped, the connection is just never as clear on a cell phone.

b.  Go somewhere where you are comfortable.

Take advantage of the fact that they can’t see you. Wear comfortable clothes (although I do not actually advise pajamas).  Sit somewhere quiet where you can speak freely and will not be interrupted.

c. Speak Slowly and Extra Clearly.

Interviewees discount how much easier it is to understand someone when you can see that person’s face.  Often, we do not realize when we speak quickly or when we mumble, but it can hurt you in a phone interview.  Be extra careful to enunciate and speak slowly.  Take a moment before answering each question and pause.  This also gives you a moment to reflect on your answer.

d. Review Everything You Submitted in Your Application and be Familiar With All of it.

This is true for your in-person interviews as well. You never know what piqued their interest in you.  Was it an article you wrote?  A particular deal you did or a case you handled?

e.  Print Out Helpful Material and Have It sitting in Front of You.

It is hard to remember everything you need to know in an interview, and in our nervousness, we often forget things we later wish we had said.  Again, the fact that they can’t see you can be used very much to your advantage.  Print out the following documents and have them spread out in front of you:

i.    Your Resume (and deal sheet, writing sample, etc., if applicable)

ii.    The bios of those interviewing you.

iii.    A list of likely questions and answers.  If you are working with a recruiter, she may provide you with such a list.  You can also add your own, tailored questions that you think the firm may ask you based on your particular experience.  If there are sticking points on your resume (a layoff, a lot of moves from firm to firm), you can be sure the firm will ask about them, so attack those first in your written list.  Write out all of the answers, and have them spread out in front of you.  Interviewing is nerve-wracking, and you may forget what you wanted to say.  Having written notes will be invaluable.

iv.    A list of items you would like them to know, if possible.   Think of this list as aspirational.  If, for example, you are interviewing with someone who has similar personal interests, try and sneak this in, but don’t insist if it feels unnatural.  If you have a recent certification or more skills that are not on your resume, again, try and get these in, but don’t push it.

v.    A list of questions you would like to ask them.
This is also really important.  Interviewers almost always ask you if you have questions for them.  You should avoid saying “no”.  Again, if you are working with a recruiter, she can help you think of questions to ask.  Avoid asking about money, compensation, fee structures, and the like.  These questions are always inappropriate in a screening interview, and discussion of money just makes people uncomfortable.  More appropriate questions center around they type of work you will be doing, how it will be distributed, how you will receive feedback, and how projects are staffed.

vi.    Information from the firm’s website about the group.  You should not ask about things that are immediately available on the firm’s website, so make sure you have looked at it in detail.  Press releases are especially helpful as they discuss items such as high-profile matters, wins, and new partner and associate additions to the firm.  These are things you should know inasmuch as they affect the group you are interviewing with.

There are actually a lot of advantages to doing a phone interview.  You can make a great impression over the phone if you plan ahead.  You can have tools and interview aids at your disposal that are not available in an in-person interview, and that will make the process much easier.

This article is authored by Julie Lehrman, Recruiter, BCG Attorney Search.

First Week of Work: Make or Break Your Summer

http://www.passthebaton.biz/2013/05/first-week-of-work-make-or-break-your.html

by Susan Gainen

First Day

Meeting people:  Strong handshakes and good eye contact are key. Do your best to begin to remember names and functions. Ask for an organization chart and make notes. You will be both efficient and effective when you understand how work gets done (who works for whom? who is in which department?)

Getting started: Do not gripe at the amount of paperwork that you must complete. Commit to replying to all administrators' requests double-super-promptly. If administrators like you, they can save your reputation and your job.

Your office space: How do others personalize their spaces? With tiny tasteful photographs of their loved ones or 5-foot-velvet-Elvis paintings? Until you have a permanent job, find a comfort level that meshes with the office norm.

First Week: New Assignments

Take notes

Always take notes when you are given an assignment. Assigning attorneys do not know that you always remember every word that's spoken to you. It makes people nervous to give complicated instructions to someone who doesn't take notes, and your work will be suspect. People will consider you unreliable before seeing your work, and doubts may linger.

Questions to ask when you get an assignment.

• Do you have a source for the best place to begin my research?
• Have you handled matters similar to this one? (If "yes," ask for the name of the file.)
• How many hours do you think that this should take?
• When do you need this on your desk?
• Do you want to see me before I have finished the project?
• How should I format the results? (letter to the assigning attorney, memo to a client, etc.)
• Are there research restrictions such as time on Lexis or Westlaw?
• What style would you prefer? (persuasive, strictly factual, brief-like, memo-like?)
• Will you want a paper or an electronic copy of the final document? 

Following a very important direction:

When the assigning attorney says "Bill and Jane did work similar to this. Talk to them about the project," do not scurry back to your desk and send an email asking for everything that they know about Project X.

Your boss means for you to walk down the hall, knock on doors, and have face-to-face contact or a phone call if the lawyers are out of town. Following this instruction benefits you because your Boomer or X-er boss doesn't want to hear from colleagues that they were email-bombed by an unknown law clerk, and because she has handed you a golden opportunity to get to know more people in the office. Play your cards right, enhance your reputation, and do good work.

How to Send a Networking Email That Won't Be Ignored

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/04/10/how-to-send-a-networking-email-that-wont-be-ignored

By ALISON GREEN

If you want to ask a stranger or a distant acquaintance for networking or career help, the first step is writing an email that won't be ignored. Many of the people whose help you'd most like are busy and often get more email than they can respond to. And since emails from strangers often go to the bottom of the list, it's important to craft an email that they won't be inclined to ignore.

Here are seven ways to write a networking email that gets a response—and hopefully the action you want.

1. Start with some context. Briefly explain who you are and how you came to contact the person. Don't give your whole life story—a couple of sentences is all you need—but do set up some context before you plunge into what you're looking for.

2. State clearly what you're looking for—and be specific. Explain exactly what you want. Are you looking for a phone call, a meeting, an introduction? Information about their field? Career advice? Don't make them guess—either about the topic or about what you'd like from them in particular. Most people you're reaching out to are going to be busy; they don't want to spend their time trying to read between the lines and figuring out what it is that you're asking … and you don't want to make them fear that if they agree to talk, they'll end up in an open-ended call or meeting where you're not prepared with clear and specific questions.

3. Explain why you're reaching out to them in particular. Why do you think that this person, out of all the people you could have contacted, can help you? Is it because you're alumni of the same school, or she worked somewhere you'd like to work, or he wrote an article that you found helpful? Give enough context that the person can understand why you think they have something that will be helpful to you. And by the way…

4. Be flattering. If you're reaching out to someone, you must think he or she is insightful enough to want his or her help for a reason. Tell him or her what that reason is. Explain what it is that you admire about him or her. This will soften most people right up, and make them a lot more inclined to help you out than if you just launch right into what they can do for you.

5. Be concise. Busy people don't have time to read lengthy emails, and sending five paragraphs when you could have sent two doesn't show you respect their time. Keep it brief—there will be time for more later if they agree to talk with you.

6. Make it easy. Whatever you're asking for, think about the easiest way for that person to give it to you. Don't suggest lunch when a coffee would be faster. Or suggest a phone call instead. And always say that you'll make time for it whenever is convenient for your contact. You want to make it as easy as possible for them to say yes.

7. Say thank you. Most people like to help other people out, but they like to be appreciated for their time and effort. There's no faster way to leave someone feeling cold toward you than to accept their time and help and not seem appreciative.

Alison Green writes the popular Ask a Manager blog, where she dispenses advice on career, job search, and management issues. She's also the co-author of Managing to Change the World: The Nonprofit Manager's Guide to Getting Results, and former chief of staff of a successful nonprofit organization, where she oversaw day-to-day staff management, hiring, firing, and employee development.

Introverts- Tap Into Your Strengths During Job Search

http://careersherpa.net/introverts-tap-into-your-strengths-during-job-search/

by HANNAH MORGAN 

I am an introvert. I’ve been born with and developed many other personality flaws and strengths and they make me the quirky, unique, sometimes lovable person I am today. Are you an introvert too?

What Are the Strengths of Introverts?

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, these are some of the noteworthy characteristics of introverts!

• They prefer to think before they act.
• They need time to formulate ideas in their heads before talking about them.
• They prefer depth over breadth; this is true of relationships and information. An introvert prefers fewer deep and meaningful relationships over hundreds of contacts. Introverts also tend to dive deep into topics they are interested in.
• They are creative (either in solving problems or in the arts)
• They are often good at thinking up strategies
• They make good innovators
• They are humble
• They take calculated risks (based on fact finding)
• They remain calm under pressure
• And most importantly, introverts regain energy by being alone.

Let’s Translate This Into Skills

Not all introverts are the same, but many share these skills:

• Good listening skills
• Analytical skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Strong concentration abilities
• One-on-one communication

You Are NOT Shy

You are not shy or anti-social, but that is how you are often perceived by people who first meet you. You can fix that! And actually, you HAVE to fix that during job search. We live in a society that expects outgoing, gregarious types. But this doesn’t mean you have to put on a fake, over-the-top persona. All you have to do is…

Acknowledge and accept the fact that you may be perceived as shy or anti-social or less than approachable.

It sounds obvious, but some people don’t realize this is how they come across. Own it and take preventative measures. These are the simple and immediate fixes you can implement today:

Smile! When you first meet someone or walk into a room.

Introduce yourself first! Don’t hang against the wall waiting for a familiar face or for someone to reach out to you.

Learn the art and science of small talk! Having conversational currency helps.

Stop Making Excuses! Sure this is difficult, uncomfortable, yucky, and all that, but, self development is part of life. Start stepping outside your comfort zone.

Here are 10 tips to come more interested and interesting.

My Secrets for Overcoming the Fear of Networking

During job search, you know you should overcome your fear of networking and interviewing. This can be intimidating to introverts who generally avoid social situations. But not all networking has to occur in large groups.

#1. Arrange one-on-one networking meetings

#2. Research the person you are going to meet so you can create some “small talk” questions for them when you first meet.

#3. If you must go to a networking event, ask someone to go with you! This helps hold you accountable and gives you a “fall back” person to talk to if you must.

#4. Re-energize often. Its ok to spend some time alone!

Rather than try to change who I am, I’ve reached a time in my life where I am OK with some of these things. (The truth- some still puzzle and annoy me.) I wish I had figured this out sooner! But maybe it was the passing of time and developing a greater sense of self awareness that led me where I am today.

Today’s post on US News & World Report has more insights and tips. I hope you’ll go have a look!

BYU Alumni Career Fair Opportunity

BYU Alumni Career Services has partnered with Recruit Salt Lake City, and we would like to inform you about the upcoming event. The Recruit Salt Lake City Career Expo is a great opportunity to meet and network with top companies, if you are looking to change careers, or further expand your job network. Please see below for more details and how to register for the event.

Recruit Salt Lake City

Alumni Only Career Expo

May 23, 2013 from 11AM to 3PM

@ the University of Utah

Whether you're hiring, looking to network or looking for a new career in finance, investment banking, marketing, technology, media, nonprofit, consulting and more, you will find all the best talent, employers and career opportunities at this event. We are expecting over 75 top employers and roughly 750 alumni attendees. For job seekers, this event is exclusive to alumni of partner universities which can be found on the event registration page below.

Job Seekers: http://hiresaltlake.eventbrite.com

Question? Contact Mindy Dorf: 917-912-3852 or mindy@myworkster.com

LinkedIn Groups: 7 Ways to Get Noticed

LinkedIn is an invaluable – actually a crucial – tool in the job hunt. Chances are, your future employer will be there, looking for someone like you.

Once you’ve created your profile, it’s time to go a little deeper and take advantage of the resources LinkedIn offers you, absolutely free. One of LinkedIn’s most valuable resources is its library of Groups – many hundreds from which you can choose.

Dubai Jobs Group. Ukraine Wine Industry. Online Psychologists. There really is a Group for everything, and if you can’t find a Group to match your career or interest, you can start one. LinkedIn Groups are like networking meetings, only you don’t have to go out in the rain in your high heeled shoes, and you don’t have to buy a lunch that will go uneaten because you don’t want to risk getting spinach between your teeth.

LinkedIn describes its Groups this way: they “provide a place for professionals in the same industry or with similar interests to share content, find answers, post and view jobs, make business contacts, and establish themselves as industry experts.”

Being involved with groups have numerous benefits.

• Actively participating in Groups will show that you’re serious about your career and that you write and interact professionally. Showing respect in the Group will show your possible-next-boss that you know how to play in that proverbial sandbox.
• Your Groups posts can be made visible on your profile, so anyone seeing your profile will be aware of your professional knowledge. (If there’s a group you don’t want listed on your profile, go to your settings to change that. More on a confidential search here.)
• If you create a Group and it’s successful because you’ve invited the right people and kept it interesting, your possibly future boss will see that you take the initiative.
• A Group manager can send out one Group announcement per week. This is a great way for you to get your brand into people’s inboxes.
• Participating in a Group will allow you to broaden your network, easily connecting with and messaging people who are not currently your connections, since you don’t need to know their email for this.

SUPER-COOL TIP: To message a non-connection in one of your groups, do this: go to the group, find the person you want to message, hover over their picture, click on “send message” on the middle of the bottom of the pop-up box. No need to pay for an Inmail!

One added bonus about LinkedIn Groups is that people must request to join. The manager can choose whether or not to let them in. This detail provides an air of exclusivity, and helps you look more attractive to potential employers.

Now that you’re in a Group, what do you do to stay active and be noticed? In addition to commenting on others’ posts and participating in discussions, here are some things you can post:

1. Introduce yourself. Even if you don’t mention that you are looking for a job, you can position yourself as a professional. Be direct, original and succinct.
2. Find out what people think by asking questions (“I’m giving a presentation on employee engagement to other managers at work. What are your tips for building enthusiasm in your teams?” or “If you attended the Prenatal Care Conference last Tuesday, what are your takeaway points?”)
3. Have you recently read an article by someone in your field that you found useful? Post a link.
4. Start a LinkedIn poll. This app will allow you to find answers to your business and market research questions. You’ll be able to find out how people in different positions, ages or genders answer your question, and you can even share it on Facebook, Twitter, or your own blog or website.
5. If you have an upcoming event, link to it to inform or invite people.
6. Share your own post, but make sure it’s within the Group’s rules. Some Groups don’t allow you to self-promote, and they vary on how many “strikes” you get before you’re “out.” Check first.
7. Have you found a job in your field that you don’t want to apply for, but another group member might? Pay it forward and post that job lead.

Groups can be a great way to engage with colleagues, make new connections, discover new opportunities, and promote your brand. Now that you’ve got some ideas for what to say in your groups, go start a new discussion today!

Check This Out - Some Legal Resources to Help You

As law students, your job search is one of the most important things you'll do while in law school. Since time is limited, having some great resources can help you make the most of your efforts. The following are a few websites to check out: 

NALP Directory

http://www.nalpdirectory.com/

• Searchable comprehensive database of larger legal employers in the following areas: Corporate, Government, Law Firm, & Public Interest.
• Some great features include: ability to compare organizations side by side, info on salaries, hours, benefits, hiring numbers, pro bono opportunities, diversity scholarships, etc.

Martindale

http://www.martindale.com/

• Comprehensive search engine that captures basic information for both large and small employers. 
• Results can be sorted by county, city, size.
• Can search for both employers & individuals, by practice area, state, law school, etc.

Glassdoor

http://www.glassdoor.com

• Website that provides information on employers, salaries, interviews, jobs, etc.  Includes comments from people who work or have interviewed with these organizations.

Vault

http://www.vault.com

• Information about organizations, industries, internships, career advice, resumes & cover letters, & career guides.  Basic information can be accessed without an account.  For more exclusive features, the law school does have a subscription.  Information is on your password card.  If you have lost yours, contact the career services secretary for information.

Blueprint JD

http://www.blueprintjd.org/

• Articles and resources surrounding law school and career search tips.
• Special section on available Diversity scholarships (Job Board).

Did You Know . . . ? Twitter Searches

Did you know there is a better way to conduct Twitter searches to get more comprehensive and detailed information?

Use:
 https://twitter.com/search-home 

or

https://twitter.com/search-advanced

to return the best search results.

Twitter is a fantastic resource for those looking for a job.  See these posts for ways to get started.

How to Use Twitter as a Job Search Tool
http://byulawcso.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-to-use-twitter-as-job-search-tool.html

Tweet Your Way to a New Job
http://byulawcso.blogspot.com/2012/02/tweet-your-way-to-new-job.html

Are You Blowing the Interview Before It Even Starts?

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/03/13/are-you-blowing-the-interview-before-it-even-starts

By Miriam Salpeter

Finally, it's happened—an invitation to interview for a job.

Have you already blown your chance before you put one hand on their office's door? You may be surprised to learn that the way you respond to the initial inquiry sets the tone and influences employers' impressions before you've even met. Are you sabotaging your interview before you start? If any of these points sound familiar, you may now know why you didn't get the job:

You didn't follow instructions. You receive an email or a phone call inviting you to interview for a job, along with a series of steps to take to schedule an interview. Are you sure you always read and follow those directions? If the employer asks you to respond with several dates and times, and you send a quick note with one date you're free, it's likely you've already told the employer you can't follow instructions and you're not attentive to details, no matter what you claim on your resume. Don't think they didn't notice.

You're slow to respond. If you include an email address on your resume, employers assume it is a good way to reach you. (Most, if not all, will expect to be able to contact you electronically.) If you don't typically monitor your email inbox, and you wind up responding to an invitation to interview a week after you received it, the employer probably figured you were not interested and moved on to other candidates. Maybe email is not a part of your typical daily routine, but when you're in job search mode, it's up to you to keep an eye on your messages at least once a day.

You don't seem flexible. An employer calls on the phone to schedule a time to meet, and your response to every suggestion is "no." Even though the organization may not cancel your chances entirely at this point (it may be required by law to follow through with an interview), you will have a difficult reputation to overcome when you meet in person. Employers are afraid to bring people on their teams who seem difficult. If you prove that you're not flexible during the interview-scheduling phase, you've given just enough information to convince many employers that you're not a fit.

You use bad judgment about when to answer your phone. We all have mobile phones, but that doesn't mean we need to answer them every time they ring. If an unfamiliar number pops up on your phone when you're struggling with traffic or in a loud environment, don't answer it. If it's an employer trying to ask you some questions or an assistant calling to schedule an interview, you won't be able to respond professionally. It's better to let it go to voice mail and respond at the earliest opportunity you have to be in a quiet place where you can take out your calendar and jot down some key notes.

You over share. You've been waiting forever to hear from this employer, and you're so nervous when they ask to schedule an interview, you can't stop talking. It may be charming if you express excitement about the opportunity to interview, but you'll start to lose points quickly if you transition into a complaint about how long it took them to get back to you. If you want the job, keep it professional and don't offer any opinions about the process.

You miss key details. Just because you live in Boston and the job is in Miami, don't assume the interview will be over the phone. In fact, a good rule of thumb is to not assume anything when an employer contacts you. This is especially important if you're in a different city than the job. You may be surprised to learn that the employer expects you to handle your own expenses to travel for the interview. You don't want to find out after-the-fact that you're footing the bill.

Don't schedule anything before you consult your calendar. If you're currently working, make a point to review your work and coverage schedule to be sure you aren't getting yourself into a bind in your job. You don't want to endanger your position for the chance to interview for another job, and you don't want to call a potential employer back to try to reschedule because you made a mistake.
First impressions last—make sure your target employer's first impressions of you are positive so you won't have any ground to make up when you actually interview for the job and you'll give yourself the best chance possible to win the position.

Miriam Salpeter is a job search and social media consultant, career coach, author, speaker, resume writer, and owner of Keppie Careers. She is author of Social Networking for Career Success and 100 Conversations for Career Success. Miriam teaches job seekers and entrepreneurs how to incorporate social media tools along with traditional strategies to reach their goals.