As On-Campus Interviews conclude this week, we wanted to share feedback from OCI employers about how Golden Gate students are faring in their interviews. While there is a lot we are doing right, we’d like to share true, specific feedback from OCI employers about ways we can all do a little better:
- Make sure your resume doesn’t inadvertently extend onto a second page. One employer rejected candidates with materials in this condition.
- Bring extra copies of your resume, cover letter, grade sheet, or any other material requested by the employer, to the interview.
- Men and women should wear business suits. Sweaters, sweater vests or blouses without a suit jacket are strongly discouraged.
- Do not take your suit jacket off in the interview room, unless some special circumstances have been acknowledged (e.g., very warm room temperature).
- Employers have told us that they prefer that you remove nontraditional piercings visible to the interviewer, including nose, tongue, lip, chin, eyebrow and multiple ear piercings.
- Do your best to learn about the employer’s office setting and practice area. Referring to a small firm as appealing because it is a “large firm” is not going to get you a callback. Also, do not say that all public defender offices are alike. You should always be ready to express what sets the employer with whom you’re interviewing apart from the rest.
- Don’t be late for an interview. If you are late, make sure you apologize to the interviewer.
- If you smoke, don’t smoke immediately before going into the interview. Candidates who smoke before the interview typically smell of smoke, and this is particularly noticeable behind the closed door of an interview room.
- Check your body language in the interview (e.g., leg shaking, reclining too much in your seat).
- Be prepared for hypothetical questions, especially if interviewing with a district attorney or public defender office.
