ARGH dlakfjklsmxh First Week Interviews kdjsklfnwoperlsf

[Liquid Snake]

So tomorrow, I begin the Week One Interview process for 2Ls.

This is not a good thing, in large part because

1: I SUCK AT INTERVIEWING oh dear Lord in Heaven there is no one worse than me at the art of the interview, I am like the least extroverted person around strangers ever and even the idea of maintaining solid eye contact for twenty straight minutes has my stomach twisted in knots,

2: 2L interviews with BigLaw firms are agonizing. I am going to be asked a number of physically painful questions about mistakes I have made and weaknesses I have that will make normal entry-level interviews look downright quaint by comparison.

3: I have fifteen interviews in the next five days, which requires me to master the details about fifteen very different law firms in a very short time frame. I can barely even keep the names of these firms straight in my mind.

Afjklsdafmsnjskhiwoeriopqj seriously my stomach is literally on the fritz with spasms and pain. Why did I bid for these interviews, why oh why oh why oh why.

If anyone is infinitely better than me at interviewing and would like to help me out it with some tips and pointers and whatnot it would be greatly appreciated. Because right now I think my strategy is when I'm asked "Why are you interested in working with our law firm?" I will respond with a series of caveman grunts for about thirty seconds before weaseling out a "Sorry" in the hushed tone of a whisper and bolting out the door. If, that is, I stop convulsing like a seizure victim every time I think of being interviewed. That would be a nice start.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Just be yourself. If you overly plan out answers, how to attack an interview, you'll probably stress out and fluband even if it works you'll be hired to the wrong company where you can't be yourself and not fit in.

[Krylo]

Aren't you supposed to be not on NPF until you get everything sorted or some shit?

Also, an admin can reset your 'proper' account's password to whatever you want if you're ready to come back.

[Liquid Snake]

Oh man that's interesting advice Smarty because so far it's the exact opposite of the "advice" I've gotten from many other sources I've read about the subject.

I'm not entirely sure "being myself" has its advantages, though, after all, the following would be my legitimate answers to likely interview inquiries:

"What are your favorite hobbies?"
"Oh man, Interviewer, you know what I love to do? I love to waste hours upon hours playing role-playing video games. I'm playing this game called NIER right now, and boy, I could talk about it for ages. The characters are so interesting, I mean there's a hermaphrodite and a smug British-sounding book and man that kind of loony stuff is right up my alley. Oh did I also mention I like to write fantasy novels? Yes, because you're seriously looking for a future employee who loves to waste time writing novels starring necromancers."

"Who is your legal role model? What attorney character, real or fictional, inspired you most to consider a career in law?"
"Oh man that's an easy one guys. I played this game called Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney once, and it totally got me excited about being a lawyer. Sure, it's a dorky video game starring caricatures and it bares no resemblance to a modern legal system, but the moment I saw Phoenix working with those underage girls I was sold. Phoenix has a dry wit, and I just love shipping him with Franny, even though it's not a popular ship. Oh, you don't know what a "ship" is? Oh, it's not a seafaring vessel! It's actually a dork term for fictional romantic pairings that aren't canonical to the source material. As for Franziska, she's a bit crazy with her whip, but once you see beyond her tough-as-nails exterior she really has a heart of gold."

"Would you consider relocating to our firm's locale, even though we're a considerable distance from home?"
"Sure! I'm such an isolated person with very few substantive connections to family, friends, and/or a significant other. I could pretty much live anywhere and it wouldn't make a difference at all to me!"
"What would be your biggest strength? What could you contribute to our law firm?"
"OH man this is an easy question to answer. You see, because I am a single, lonely dork with absolutely no semblance of a life, I could dedicate 110% of my efforts to your law firm. I'm so socially awkward and introverted that the idea of spending eighty hours a week working at a firm actually sounds fun and exciting, if only because people might depend on me to accomplish something for once! All you'll need to do is make sure I'm at least paid enough to cover the extraordinary amount of debt I've accrued attending law school and, yeah, a bit extra to cover the cost of prescription medication and therapy sessions wouldn't hurt either. Man, I'm so excited for the opportunity to work with you guys!"

"...No, seriously. What kinds of assets could you really bring to our firm?"
"...Absolutely none."

You see, this is why "being myself" doesn't sound like much a great option.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

No that's still much better. There are thousands of people out there with the same qualifications as you, with the same aspirations as you. These interviewers are going to hear the same shit over and over and over again. You need to stand out and the way to do that is honesty and character- showing who you are. Prerehearsed answers are obvious and boring.
I guess it depends somewhat on your outcome goal- if you drop in as a prerehearsedrobot you'll probably get a job that doesn't suit you and that'll pass the itme and will make money but it might not last and you'll beu nhapppy- this is also depedent on having fantastic grades because everyone has the same prerehearsed answers as you so grades will be the determinant.
If you want to be a lawyer you're going to need people skills, you need to be likeable, and the way to do that is to show your natural personality and likeability.

And I'm not a high profile law firm but I have been on a hiring committe before and we bounced every single person with a relevant degree because they weren't being honest with us.

[krogothwolf]

I always thought being a lawyer was about dishonesty, bullshitting and twisting things around.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Well that is true...

[Kim]

You should find a balance between being honest and being relevant. Your video game interests won't be relevant, so you need not bring them up, but I'm sure you have plenty of interests beyond gaming that you could find an interesting way of tying into what the company does.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Originally Posted by NonCon

You should find a balance between being honest and being relevant. Your video game interests won't be relevant, so you need not bring them up, but I'm sure you have plenty of interests beyond gaming that you could find an interesting way of tying into what the company does.

This, very much this. If you can tie in outside interests creatively you are absolutely golden.

[01d55]

Originally Posted by Liquid Snake

"Would you consider relocating to our firm's locale, even though we're a considerable distance from home?"
"Sure! I'm such an isolated person with very few substantive connections to family, friends, and/or a significant other. I could pretty much live anywhere and it wouldn't make a difference at all to me!"

Just because you're scared of your girlfriend doesn't mean she's not your girlfriend, Snake.

"What would be your biggest strength? What could you contribute to our law firm?"
"OH man this is an easy question to answer. You see, because I am a single, lonely dork with absolutely no semblance of a life, I could dedicate 110% of my efforts to your law firm. I'm so socially awkward and introverted that the idea of spending eighty hours a week working at a firm actually sounds fun and exciting, if only because people might depend on me to accomplish something for once! All you'll need to do is make sure I'm at least paid enough to cover the extraordinary amount of debt I've accrued attending law school and, yeah, a bit extra to cover the cost of prescription medication and therapy sessions wouldn't hurt either. Man, I'm so excited for the opportunity to work with you guys!"

This answer is basically perfect. Go over your other answers to put the same positive spin on 'em and you're gold.