Interview Success Tips

During these tough times a large number of people are re-entering the job market. Stay-at-home mothers going back to work, part-time workers looking for a full time position, people who took time out to get qualifications are finding that economic conditions are forcing them back into the job market. Time out of the workforce for a while can make one anxious about entering the job market again. The key element during your job interview is to emphasize the skills and experience you now bring to the position, what constructive steps you have taken to stay up-to-date during your absence and the new and valuable skills you have learned during this time that can be transferred to the workplace.

Prepare for these interview questions about your re-entry into the workforce:

Your resume shows no work experience over the last few years. Can you tell me what you have been doing?

The interviewer is asking why you have not been working. It is important to be honest and straightforward about your reasons for deciding to take time out of the workplace.

For parents who have been at home raising kids this can be an frustrating question as you have most definitely been working! Use this as an opportunity to highlight the skills and behaviors you have learned during your time at home such as stress tolerance, planning, scheduling, time management and to confirm why you are ready and eager to return to employment. 

If the reason is more complicated such as an illness or having to look after a sick relative you can still use the same approach. You may feel tempted to play upon your interviewer’s sympathies and discuss the difficulties you have experienced but it is far wiser to provide a straightforward explanation of your time off. Explain why you decided to leave your job after careful evaluation of the situation. Detail what you learned from the experience. Assure the interviewer that the reasons have now resolved themselves and you are eager to be back at work and focused on your career. Steer the conversation back to your skills and experience and communicate clearly what you are able to offer to the position and the company 

The important thing to remember is that you do not have to defend your absence from the workforce, you only need to explain it. The employer wants to know and understand what your reasons were and why you are now looking to re-enter the job market. Address these concerns in a factual, non-defensive way and you can successfully move on to the next part of the job interview.

What did you gain during this time?

Remember that experience does not have to be paid to count as valuable and relevant. What new skills have you learned during your time away from the workforce? What steps did you take to keep current with industry news and happenings. Did you take any courses or programs?

In a confident and positive manner discuss your experiences and why they would make you a good employee. Refer to skills such as budgeting, planning and organizing, prioritizing that you learned while raising your family. These can all transfer to on-the-job skills. Doing community work or looking after a sick relative means learning to adjust to different demands and needs.

Be positive about how busy and active you have been, regardless of why you were not formally employed.

What makes you the right candidate for this position?

This is when you refer to your past employment history. Make sure that you highlight why this previous work experience is still relevant to the position you are interviewing for today and to the work environment you will be in. Focus on your own competencies, such as problem-solving, planning, organizing and communicating, that you bring to the position. Emphasize your maturity and adaptability, your re-commitment to your career and your willingness to work hard and learn quickly.

Re-entering the job market holds a number of  challenges, but with perseverance and preparation they shouldn’t hold you back in your job interview. Use this opportunity to show them you’re the best person for the job.

For good advice and help with dealing with tough interview questions read through How to Answer Difficult Interview Questions. Prepare for typical interview questions using these guidelines and sample answers.

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Product Description
As a result of dynamic changes in the current legal job market, most legal professionals today have to spend a substantial amount of time planning their careers while still in law school, refining those plans as their careers unfold, and keeping their eyes open for changes in the legal environment. With so many of their peers vying for the same positions, legal job candidates who understand the special art of interviewing for legal jobs will stand out from the crowd. This unique guide covers all the topics they need to know, including:

• What’s different about legal job interviewers
• What work needs to be done before scheduling and arriving at the interview
• The step-by-step process of a typical interview
• What to do (and not to do) to maximize the chance of getting that job offer
• Guidance for lunch, cocktail, or dinner interviews (whose purpose is often different form the in-office interview)
• Strategies for dealing with common legal job interview questions
• Using your interviewing skills after you’ve landed the job you want

The Legal Job Interview: Winning the Law-Related Job in Today’s Market

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Know how to job interview. In the highly competitive environment of today’s job market you need to make a strong impression in your initial meeting with a recruiter or prospective employer. These steps will help you to market yourself as a top job candidate.

Find out about the company

Demonstrating your knowledge about the company shows that you have seriously considered your decision to apply for the job. It also indicates your respect and appreciation of the company’s and interviewer’s time. Search the company or organization’s website, get hold of company brochures, media releases and annual reports. Read through staff biographies. Identify the corporate culture, the challenges and opportunities facing the company and its latest results. Find out what you can about the organizational structure, its senior management and its current status in the industry.

Find out about the interview

Get as much information as you can about the interviewer/s. Find out the likely format of the interview – will it a be a traditional type job interview or should you prepare for a behavioral interview? This will help you prepare properly and reduce any nervousness you may have about the interview. If you are going through a recruiter get these details from them on how to job interview for this particular company. Or you can try to determine this form the job ad or posting. For example if the posting lists key competencies for the position it would be wise to prepare for behavioral interview questions that explore these competencies.

Find out what you are interviewing for

Find out as much about the position you are interviewing for as possible. Carefully review the job description, the tasks and responsibilities involved and the expectations and abilities required of the successful candidate. Reflecting on these details will help you to align your experience and skills with the job requirements. You can then prepare interview answers that clearly market you as the right candidate.

Find out if this is the right organizational fit

Evaluate whether this is the right fit for you and the company. Ask yourself questions such as “Can I do this work with the knowledge and skills I have?”, “Will I enjoy this type of work?”, “What kind of contribution can I make to this company?” Use your answers to develop a powerful  marketing statement about your suitability for the job. This exercise will also help you to believe in yourself as the right job candidate. Self-belief is an essential component of successfully marketing yourself.

Find out how best to market yourself in the interview

This is key to knowing how to job interview. Preparing interview answers to frequently asked job interview questions, developing a list of good insightful questions to ask the interviewer, thinking about positive behavioral examples to use in the job interview and feeling confident that you are a strong candidate for the job all contribute to your powerful marketing strategy. Ask a friend or family member to conduct the interview with you. Through practice and feedback you will become comfortable with the way you market yourself as the right job candidate.

Use the common interview questions and answers guide to prepare for your job interview.

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