The very fact that you have been invited for interview means that your CV has done its job and impressed an employer just enough for them to ask you along and see if you can actually do all the things that you claim you can do.

But as with many things in life, if you fail to prepare for your interview you need to be prepared to fail.

Interviews can - and sometimes are - a scary experience, especially if it has been some time since your last one. However, by understanding the interview process you can plan for every eventuality, boost your confidence and be prepared for what lies ahead.

Our consultants have successfully placed legal professionals across all disciplines with some of the regions' top law firms and legal businesses.

Based on our experience and expertise, we have prepared the following guidelines, which should only be seen as the minimum amount of preparation for your next interview.

Pre-interview preparation:

• Know the names and job titles of the people who will be interviewing you and do some research on them before the day itself. Google them, look for them on the company website and search LinkedIn to get an idea of their role in the organisation and previous work experience.
• Be aware of the interview process itself - will there be a panel, will you be expected to undertake a psychometric test?
• Find out as much about the company as you can by studying their website and find out what is being said about them via search engines, local business press and trade publications. All of this will give you a greater insight into the organisation and will help you anticipate any questions you may be asked, such as 'Why do you want to work here?' You will also learn who their key client's and competitor's are.
• Talk to friends, family or former colleagues who work with or know someone they can put you in touch with who works for the organisation to get an inside track. Ask them questions about the company, its culture and most important, what skills and attributes the employer looks for and the challenges they face.

Your consultant at EM Legal will already have much of this information to hand, but it is important to conduct your own research too.

Anticipate likely questions and prepare your responses:

• Having broken the ice with a few gentle niceties (Tell us about your current job), the questions will gradually start to become tougher as the interviewer probes more and more into your background (What achievements are you most proud of?), your motivations for applying for the job (Why should we hire you?), and your degree of self-awareness (What are your strengths and weaknesses?). So make sure you have some answers already prepared to avoid being caught off-guard. Just remember that there is no need to draw a blank or clam up if you have done your research and preparation beforehand.

On the day:

• Make sure that you know the exact time and location of the interview and allow plenty of time to get there. Allow for traffic and potential delays caused by a lack of parking. And aim to get to there at least 10 minutes earlier so you get the chance to browse through the company newsletter in the waiting area.

Know your CV

• Know your CV inside and out. Your CV is the first impression an employer will have of you so you need to be prepared to answer questions relating to its content, your career to date and explain your reasoning for choosing a particular course at university, the role you played on a major case or your contribution to your firm landing a great new client, for example.

Finally

First impressions count! Presenting yourself in a professional manner, both in terms of your attire and demeanour is essential to a successful interview. Building a rappour with your interviewer/s is not to be underestimated; it is critical that they can see you fitting in to the wider team and indeed someone they would like to work with on a day-today basis. A good firm handshake and strong eye contact upon meeting the interviewer/s is just a small step towards building the foundations of your relationship with your potential new employers.
Needless to say, you should look and smell good! Wear your best suit and present yourself in the best possible manner.