Interviews As Personality Tests

I interviewed at a job fair up in Chicago on Friday. It was a good experience and a chance to find out more about the "real world" of law firms, talk to some practicing attorneys about their work, and make a few contacts that I think may be quite valuable.

One lesson that was underscored for me was that it is often beneficial to think of most interviews in terms of a personality test. Potential employers can get a very good idea of your technical/legal/professional abilities from your resume and academic transcripts. What they can't gauge without meeting you in person are your interpersonal skills and how well your personality would fit in with their organization.

On an interview, be prepared to converse in the language of the profession and reflect your knowledge and skills, but do so in a way that also puts your interviewer at ease with you as a person and as someone who would be good to work with. Look for the same thing in a potential employer. (A bad match can harm both employer and employee.)

Another thing that was underscored for me was the value of attending these kinds of functions. The potential for serendipitous encounters increases exponentially with these types of events. I had a few myself on Friday and may have secured myself an interview spot for fall recruiting as a result.

I also had a good word of encouragement from a professional recruiter. After looking at my resume and talking to him about my background for a few minutes, he said as I was walking out the door:

"I'm not going to have to worry about you."

I have to confess, that made me feel good.