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Face-to-face training contract interviews can be just as, if not more, nerve-wracking as telephone and video interviews. It’s important to prepare in advance in order to perform well. Here are eight tips that will help you perform your best in this vital stage in the training contract recruitment process.
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Looking the part will give a good impression to law firms and will help you to feel more confident on the day of your training contract interview.
Dressing smartly for an interview is a good indicator of professionalism, and if you’re unsure of what to wear, remember that being overdressed is better than looking too casual. A dark suit is a fail-safe and recommended option.
There’s nothing worse than being rushed for time and experiencing fear that you might not make it in time for your interview.
Avoid this by planning your journey and looking at specific routes you could take to the interview in advance so that you’re familiar with how to get there.
Make sure you also have a back-up option, just in case a route is blocked or public transport is delayed.
It’s likely the person interviewing you will make a judgement based on how you present yourself within seconds of meeting you. Give a positive and friendly introduction, accompanied by a firm handshake.
Don’t fret if you’re feeling nervous and this impacts on your introduction, as you’ll have time during the interview to try and impress the law firm, but try to make a good first impression if you can.
Remember that you’ve been invited to this interview for a reason and that shouldn’t be underestimated.
The firm has seen talent and potential in you and was impressed by your application and any previous interviews you might have done. Use this confidence when answering the interview questions.
You have every right to be at the interview and you have lots to be confident about!
Your body language is important to be mindful of. It’s a good idea to make plenty of eye contact, retain good posture throughout the interview and smile lots.
Smiling will make you appear friendlier and could help to put you and the interviewer at ease.
Listening intently will help to reinforce your understanding of the questions. This will mean that you’ll be able to answer the questions better which will boost your chances of success.
Interviewers won’t mind if you need to ask them to repeat the question.
It’s better to seek clarification rather than answer a question you don’t really understand, as it will be obvious and interviewers won’t appreciate this.
Use any examples of relevant skills, attributes and personal or professional experiences you might have to support your answers.
Not only will this show that you’re fully engaging with the question, but it could also impress the interviewer, convey your achievements and increase your chances of success.
Good luck!
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