Sunday, October 4, 2009

Putting Your Best Foot Forward in the On-campus Interview (OCIs)

Below are some general tips that every student should keep in mind as you prepare for and go through the interviewing process. These tips were shared by an alumnus who conducts campus interviews for their firm.

1) You (or a friend) can never proofread your resume too often. Any typographical errors on a resume indicates to a potential employer that you do not have an eye for detail and that you are not serious about employment.

2) A resume should never be more than one page long unless it includes some extraordinary experience that warrants it (i.e., clerking for a Justice on the United States Supreme Court.)

3) A resume should never include any information that is even remotely misleading. Not only does it indicate to a potential employer that you are untrustworthy and that you believe your own accomplishments to be insufficient, it is also unethical.

4) A potential employer should be able to understand all of your relevant history by looking at your resume for 5 seconds. A poorly-formatted resume will prevent this from happening; so will neglecting to include all of your employment history (potential employers want to know about all employment history, whether or not it is exciting or glamorous.)

5) A potential employee should always be relaxed, but professional, in an interview. This does not include using curse words, chewing gum, or making any inappropriate comments. It also does not include inappropriate attire, and any concerned person should err on the side of dressing conservatively.

6) While cancelling an interview in advance is acceptable, not attending a scheduled interview is not. Aside from permanently ruining your chances of being hired by that law firm, you risk being associated with unprofessional and impolite behavior in a profession that is founded on being personable. Further, it is simply rude.

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