Interview Preparation

by Hampton Jackson
LCD Intern

With Summer Job Fair 2015 On-Campus Interviews beginning in a few weeks, and many application deadlines for post bar and summer positions rapidly approaching, you may be wondering how to best prepare for your interviews. Questions like, "How do I answer a question about my grades?" Or, "How can I explain a lack of legal work experience?" Or, "How can I efficiently highlight my skills and show interest in the job in only 25 minutes?"

Answering difficult questions is not the only fear associated with interviewing. Anxiety is another obstacle to overcome. Karen Burn's article in U.S. News & World On Career Blog, "21 Ways to Avoid Job Interview Anxiety," offers helpful tips for avoiding anxiety and showing confidence during your interview.

To help you formulate answers to difficult interview questions and to help you minimize your interview anxiety, Law Career Development has many valuable resources. Below are a few resources worth checking out as you prepare to master your next interview.


LCD BLOG
LCD's blog has more than 30 posts about interviewing. Previous entries include: dressing for an interview, avoiding deadly interviewing mistakes, and writing thank you notes.

If you are looking for a fun and helpful way to prepare for an interview, check out the post "Ted to the Interview Rescue,"which catalogs the top 5 Ted talks to watch before your next interview.

LCD's Library Books and Online Resource Library
LCD has a number of helpful resources for interview preparation. We have books on answering interview questions, a catalog of helpful articles about interviewing, and handouts to prepare you for your interview. All of our handouts are posted on our website under the "Resource Library" tab in LCDonline. Also, many of our books can be loaned out free of charge to students and graduates. To view our books and handouts, visit us in our new location in the Center for Professional Development and Student Engagement, Suite 2333.      

Prep with a LCD Counselor
The best way to prepare for an interview is to practice. In addition to helping with cover letters and resumes, LCD counselors offer mock interviews. Mock interviews can be tailored to specific jobs, or to a specific field of interest. During the mock interview, LCD counselors will ask typical questions and provide detailed feedback for improvement. Give us a call and schedule a mock interview at (415) 442-6625.