by Jan NussbaumAssistant Director for Professional Development
Research indicates that a person's cognitive intelligence or IQ accounts for 20-40% percent of a person's success in life, including in the workplace. Emotional intelligence (also known as people skills) accounts for the other 60-80%.
Hiring attorneys have consistently told me that someone's people skills can be as important as where someone went to law school or how clever they are for two major reasons:
- People want to hire those that will get along well with others in the office.
- People with good people skills do better with clients since they address their legal concerns with self-assurance and understanding.
- Understand the kind of work that the employer engages in and the kind of clients the employer represents. This is where you will have to spend some time prior to the interview doing homework on the employer's specific practice as well as the practice area at large.
- Convey an enthusiasm for wanting to do the specific kind of work the job entails and for representing the client base. Developing a good list of questions about the employer's practice will help you convey this enthusiasm.
- Be engaged in listening to what others have to say, and as positive as possible in describing your prior work experience. Don't say anything negative about past employers or staff. Good eye contact is important here.
- Be friendly to and appreciative of everyone at the employers place of business, including support staff who often weigh in on who will be hired.
- Show you have a sense of humor. Nerves can often keep this from happening. Remember to breathe during the interview and you can usually keep the butterflies at bay.
- Importantly, be yourself. Genuineness shows through. And ultimately, you want to work in a place where you are comfortable with what you are doing and who you are working with.
