Interview, Networking

Key First Impressions

  • On January 24, 2016
People form their first impressions of you in seconds. Professor Amy Cuddy (of the power pose fame) found that the first two traits assessed upon meeting are warmth/trustworthiness and then competence. The order of these traits matters. People must first like you; otherwise they won’t bother to find out how good you are. Remember this when you are interviewing or wooing […]
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Interview

3 Interview Essentials, No Matter the Role or Your Experience

  • On January 17, 2016
All lawyers have the basic skills to interview well. You are used to anticipating questions, assessing risk, and working hard. Now apply them to yourself – these top 3 work for lawyers of any level for any role:  Assess yourself objectively like a case you are working up. There are good facts to emphasize and […]
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Interview

​​How to Answer Hypotheticals

  • On December 6, 2015
Now that you what interviewers are evaluating you on when they ask you about hypos (your subject matter expertise, analytical reasoning, and presentation skills), here are 5 ways to excel in answering the hypo:  Lay out your reasoning systematically. Even if your answer doesn’t end up to be absolutely correct (or if there is no clear-cut […]
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Interview

3 Things Interviewers Are Evaluating You On in Hypotheticals

  • On November 29, 2015
Interviewers frequently ask hypotheticals on how you would handle a particular situation. To ace this part of the interview, you need to know where the interviewers are coming from. They are evaluating:  our mastery of the subject matter. Sometimes interviewers ask you to explain something from your current job, for example. In that case, make […]
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Interview

How to Interview with the CEO

  • On November 1, 2015
Senior attorneys often interview with the CEO in the final round. This article by the CEO of Russell Reynolds lays out what to do.  Identify what the CEO should learn about you. The CEO can’t read your mind, and you need to tell your story to buttress why should you get the job. Prepare to be asked about who has […]
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Interview, Presentation

The Most Critical Part of Presentation

  • On August 30, 2015
You may think the most critical part of presenting yourself professionally is dressing the part or speaking with confidence. While all that is helpful, telling a clear story about yourself is most important. For example, in an interview context, do you explain why you are interested and how your past naturally leads you to this point? Or is your story a complicated […]
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Compensation, Interview, Process

How to Answer the Desired Salary Question

  • On May 24, 2015
When interviewing, you are asked, “What is your desired compensation?” You don’t want to take yourself out of the running with a number that’s too high or too low, and you don’t want to shortchange yourself. Some things to think about below. I’m gratified to see the New York Times business column The Workologist responded similarly! At an […]
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Interview

Getting Interviewed by the CEO

  • On May 3, 2015
As you get more senior, you may have to interview with the CEO to get the job. How can you prepare? This NYT Q&A with Sue Desmond-Hellman, the CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, lists her standard interview questions, which are all very straightforward:  Why you are interested in this role? How has your career path […]
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Interview

Can I Discuss a Bad Work Situation in an Intervew?

  • On April 19, 2015
This week’s New York Times’ business column addresses interview questions about a (bad) work situation or (bad) boss. So can you let loose? The answer is no. Some things to think about: Criticizing employers is risky. Managers may think you can’t handle tough situations or will complain about them in the future. Don’t paint a fake picture, but certainly […]
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Interview

It’s Not Just Lunch.

  • On March 8, 2015
How you interact with everyone, not just the interviewer, affects whether you get the job. I like how this article breaks down how interviewers evaluate candidates over a lunch interview. Beyond your substantive knowledge, interviewers are watching how you: Interact with the staff. Are you polite and respectful or hierarchical and short? Employers need someone who can work well across […]
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