Preparation is Key for Interviewing (So Start Now!)

By: Kandice Thorn

Imagine the following scenario: You are sitting at home one day studying, when your phone rings. You don't recognize the number, but you pick it up and on the other end is a recruiter from a law firm to whom you had sent your resume. "We liked your resume and we would like to bring you in for an interview. How about Thursday?" the voice on the other end asks. "Of course, Thursday is great!" you reply enthusiastically. You work out the details and you hang up. At first you are elated, but after a moment the panic sets in. You realize you only have two days to prepare for the interview and you have no clue what you're doing.

Over the next two days, you scramble to pull together the right outfit, figure out how to respond to common interview questions, research the firm, etc. You go into the interview a bit frazzled, and the interview goes okay, but you know you could have done much better if you had more time to prepare. Still, they only gave you two days notice for the interview - there's nothing you could have done, right? Wrong! Below are a few concrete steps you can take now so you will be prepared when you get that call.


1. Buy an interview-appropriate suit (if you don't already have one). It's a good idea to have one of these in your closet anyway for networking events or other professional occasions that might come up. Keep it clean and pressed so you can pull it out on with a moment's notice. For information on appropriate interviewing attire, see the GPDP Mini-Guide on Interviewing for LL.M. Students.

2. Start practicing answers to common interview questions aloud. It is important that you say them out loud, rather than just thinking through your answers. We always sound eloquent in our own heads, but you might find that it comes out differently when you open your mouth. Repetition will help you become more confident in your story and your answers so that the answers that come out in the interview will sound polished and professional. Sample questions can be found in the GPDP Mini-Guide on Interviewing for LL.M. Students.

3. Schedule a practice interview. Don't wait until you have an interview scheduled. Students and alumni should feel free to email me anytime to do a practice interview that will give you valuable feedback and help you to get on the right track with your interview preparation. Remember that I cannot always squeeze in a practice interview at the last minute, so if you wait, you might miss out on this opportunity.