First Common Mistake Students Often Make Is Not Letting Their Personalities Shine Through. Failing To Research The Company One Is Interviewing With Is Another Common Downfall.

1. FEATURE www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
Common Mistakes Can Equal Disaster at Job Interviews
[By Heather Jung]
After three years of pulling all-nighters, cramming for tests, seemingly endless classes, and preparing for the bar exam, law
students finally find themselves in what can only be referred to as “the real world.” While some students may be offered jobs
based on their internships, others will have to scramble to find jobs in which they can put their years of hard work to use.
Admissions and career counselor and former glean by trolling employer websites, but so not know about. Hobbies are great things
Dean of Admissions for University of Chicago many applicants don’t even take the time to mention on your resume because they
Law School Anna Ivey said that there are to do that. Another resource is to talk to give the interviewer a more personal sense
certain mistakes that a majority of students fellow students and alums who have worked of who you are and what really makes you
seem to make when applying for jobs at law there, because they have firsthand and inside excited. If you are genuinely interested in
firms, and these mistakes can cost otherwise knowledge about those employers.” something, put it on there. However, do not
qualified and intelligent students the jobs list things on your resume that you are only
they were after. The third error students often make is mildly interested in or do not feel qualified to
underselling themselves. First-time job talk about.
The first mistake students often make is not seekers often fail to list previous jobs and
letting their personalities shine through. activities, as well as to explain or put into “You can’t just throw stuff in there
According to Ivey, students can be lifeless context various accomplishments. According that looks impressive,” Ivey said. “The
and too “safe” when talking to interviewers. to Ivey, students often assume “too much whole point of doing that is to give the
knowledge on the part of the interviewer.” interviewer something to grab onto to get
“So many job applicants sit there like There are hundreds of awards, scholarships, the conversation rolling, and they are going
bumps on a log, and you have to pity these and organizations that interviewers have to want to talk to you about that stuff. So
interviewers who have to conduct back-to- never heard of. anything that you put on your resume is
back interview sessions for eight hours a day absolutely fair game, and you should be
“Ultimately, the reader should understand
with applicants who don’t engage them at prepared to talk for 30 seconds about
for every entry what the significance of the
all or express any signs of life. That’s a very anything you put on there.”
award or achievement is, and often that’s not
common [mistake],” Ivey said.
self-explanatory,” Ivey said.
On her website, Ivey lists five other mistakes
Failing to research the company one is students tend to make when applying for jobs.
On the other side of the coin, students often
interviewing with is another common
go into too much detail regarding jobs that
downfall for students. Employers like She says that parents are often too involved
are not related to their careers.
applicants to do their research and know in their children’s lives. In most instances,
a little bit about the companies they are parental involvement is not a bad thing, but
“Another common problem is that many law
applying to work for. When applying for a when it comes to a job interview, advice from
school students haven’t had very glamorous
job, find out background information about parents should be kept to a minimum.
jobs before law school, and that’s fine, but
the company, who it represents, who its
then they shouldn’t describe in great detail
competitors are, the work it is proudest “You’ll stand out from the pack as
what they did (which is often pretty clerical),
of, and all other relevant details you can exceptionally mature and professional if you
but rather, they should focus on what they
uncover. keep your parents’ advice entirely behind the
learned or observed, or what kinds of larger
scenes; recruiters shouldn’t experience any
projects or deals they were able to work on,
“Winging it might work if you’re a superstar direct involvement by your parents.”
even if their role was a small one,” Ivey said.
in your class, but everyone else should do
a lot of homework before walking into an The fourth mistake is listing hobbies and With the growing MySpace phenomenon,
interview. It’s amazing how much you can interests on your resume that you really do potential employers are using the website
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2. FEATURE www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
as a hiring tool. Ivey advises job seekers to phone number, provide the number at which anyone can become better at it. I also think
never post things on their MySpace pages it is easiest to reach you. Most likely, this laziness plays a role; it is human nature,”
that they would not want potential employers number will be your cell phone number. said Ivey.
to see. She also says to try “Googling” your
name to see what comes up; whatever you Take a step back and evaluate your voicemail While these mistakes can lose a student
see can be seen by employers. greeting. Ivey says that 90% of the voicemail a prospective job, they are fixable. The
greetings she hears make poor impressions. old adage “practice makes perfect” may
In the hustle and bustle of school, many Potential employers do not want to hear be cliché, but in this case, it is true.
students fail to do one important thing: your favorite song of the day blaring in Ivey encourages students to practice
utilize their networks. Ivey suggests sitting their ears or your voice shouting the latest interviewing. Enlist the help of a roommate,
back and compiling a list of all the people catch phrase. Remember the Budweiser- friend, or family member who has had
you know. Think about it. If you include generated “whassup” craze? As entertaining experience with interviews, and have him
all your friends, schoolmates, professors, as it may be to you, recruiters do not want to or her conduct a mock-interview with you.
friends’ parents, parents’ friends, etc., hear that screamed into their ears as they Once the “interview” is over, have him or her
your list will be substantially longer than wait to leave you voicemail messages. give you feedback on details such as voice
you expect. Let these people know you are pitch, body language, and ability to answer
Keeping things simple seems to be best questions about yourself. If you don’t have
looking for a job. Remember the concept
when it comes to voicemail greetings. A anyone who can help you, break out the
of “six degrees of separation”? Someone
good greeting includes a simple hello, your camcorder and record yourself talking. Once
directly in your social network may know a
name, and a request for the caller to leave a you’re done recording, go back and watch for
person who knows a person who can help
message. If all else fails, most cell phones mistakes or areas where you can improve.
you along on your career path.
and business phones have a feature that
allows you to simply state your name; an Students must also be flexible and patient
Many students forget the value of two
automated recording will tell the caller that when it comes to finding jobs. Graduating
simple but very important words: thank you.
you are unavailable and request that he from law school does not mean you will
According to Ivey, if someone goes above and
or she leave a message. When answering automatically be offered a job. The process
beyond in helping you with your job search,
a phone call from a potential employer, sometimes requires you to search for
send him or her a short email expressing
remember that location is pivotal. If you months before you get an offer.
your gratitude and promising to stay in touch.
are at a loud game or somewhere else that
After an interview, ask your interviewer for
makes it difficult to carry on a conversation,
a business card, and send an email thanking ON THE NET
let the call go to voicemail.
him or her for taking the time to meet with
you. Students often forget their childhood Anna Ivey
Why do so many people make these
lessons in manners, and being polite is a www.annaivey.com
mistakes? Although much of Ivey’s advice
very simple way to stand out amongst the
may seem like common sense, interviews
pool of applicants. The Ivey Files
are nerve-wracking ordeals, and common
www.iveyfiles.com
sense often goes right out the door.
Telephone etiquette is another major factor
when it comes to landing your first job. The Definitive Budweiser Whassup Pages
“Interviewing is scary and uncomfortable.
When giving a recruiter or interviewer your www.bud-true.com
It’s a learnable skill, and with practice,
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