Interview tip of the day: Transform your interview into an enjoyable conversation vs. a dry Q&A session

If you have been offered an interview by a law firm, generally the firm’s hiring group has already determined that you are qualified for the open position (at least “on paper”).  An in-person interview is a great way for a firm to learn more about your personality and the way you present yourself, and to gauge if you would make a good cultural “fit” with the firm.

As much as is possible, try to transform any interview into an enjoyable conversation, rather than a question and answer session.  Many people get nervous in interview situations and wait passively for the interviewer to ask questions before speaking.  Most interviewers will have a better impression of you if you are actively engaged in the interview and also show genuine interest in them and their backgrounds.  Therefore, try to market your strengths and accomplishments as much as you can- however, if a more personalized conversation begins, let the conversation flow.  In doing so, you will hopefully have presented yourself as someone that your interviewer would be happy to have as a colleague.

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Interview tip of the day: Leave any emotional baggage at home.

It’s not a secret that looking for a job and interviewing can really take an emotional toll on someone. Within the legal field, it is a reality that some interviewers will take it upon themselves to be unfairly rude or harsh to potential candidates- just because they can.

It is important to “shake off” all prior negative interview experiences. You don’t want to unconsciously “self-sabotage” yourself in any future interviews, by coming off as bitter or defensive. Thus, remember to leave any emotional baggage regarding this issue, at home.  Doing so will allow you to be focused and positive at your interview, which will go a long way in creating a good impression.

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20 years for Marc Dreier?

Judge Rakoff (United States Federal District Court) in Manhattan sentenced Marc Dreier to 20 years in prison yesterday.  Marc Dreier, the sole equity and name partner of his now defunct law firm, plead guilty to a myriad of theft and fraud charges earlier this year.  Dreier’s own lawyer summed up his client’s behavior as a fraud “of epic proportions.”

While the judge didn’t appear to take pity on Dreier, he did note that Dreier’s wrongdoing did not rise nearly to the level of Bernard Madoff’s (who received 150 year sentence only recently).  It’s hard not to compare these two formerly wealthy, powerful New Yorkers whose fraud was uncovered only months apart.  However, does all punishment have to measured now on the Madoff scale?  Would Dreier have received a harsher sentence if he were not sentenced on the heels of Madoff?  I wonder whether the enormity of Madoff’s scheme paled Dreier’s crimes in comparison.  Does Marc Dreier owe Bernie Madoff a thank you note?

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Leaving your firm on a ”good note”

Do you remember being told as a child that you should never burn bridges? There is a good reason for that. People often find that it is indeed a small world, and your particular legal community is no exception. Although you may think that this is the perfect time to tell a jerky partner exactly what you think of him or her, keep strong in your professionalism and leave your firm on a good note.

This includes finishing any assignments that you are responsible for, continuing to act in a courteous and polite manner, and leaving the firm with your head held high and your professional pride intact. Any attorneys at the firm that gave you a hard time during your tenure there are not worth your words or further energy. Don’t jeopardize future professional opportunities by giving in to the desire to ”bad mouth” your firm or partners, as you are leaving. It may be frustrating to not be able to express those negative feelings to other people at your firm, but in the long run, it will be you who benefits from remaining poised and professional during your departure.

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To contract or not to contract?

By no means is this post meant to raise a new issue.  In fact, I am sure the issue of whether to do contract work while searching for a permanent position has been blogged about before.  Even so, because I believe that the answer to this question changes as the economy changes, its worth a revisit.

I cannot recall a day in the last six months on which I was not asked by an unemployed law-firm associate whether it would hurt their chances of finding a permanent job if they did some contract work to bring in some money (yes, even though big-law firm attorneys make ridiculously large salaries, let’s face it, we are not exactly the best money managers).  I applaud anyone who asks me this question because it shows that he/she is thoughtful and aware that much of what you do can affect your chances of obtaining a new permanent job.

So, what is the answer?  Should you do contract work or will doing so make your resume less attractive to prospective employers?  While there is no “right” answer, in a strong economy, I recommend against contracting because it can make an associate look unfocused and/or uncommitted. However, in an economy like this one, all bets are off, meaning that contract work has become a necessity for many unemployed associates.  Think about it.  Countless attorneys have been laid off as a result of this recession, many of whom are the primary wage earners for their families or have other monetary obligations that do not simply disappear because the economy has gone down the toilet.  Contract work is a relatively easy way to keep some level of income while searching for a job.  And, from my experience (and only my experience) firms have changed their tunes about contract work as well.  In fact, when I inform firms that my candidate is doing contract work, the usual response is something like “that makes sense” or “of course, that’s no problem.”  After all, we are all experiencing the recession to come extent so those who have escaped the massive lay offs should empathize with those who have been cut.

So, while the economy is in the tank, contract away.  But remember, once the economy has recovered (which it will very soon) and permanent jobs are abundant, contracting may no longer be as acceptable.

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