Candidate Resources: Sample Interview Questions
Effective answering of interview questions is one of the key ways that you can market yourself to your prospective employer.
Attempting to forecast the questions that will arise during your interview can be difficult. Often this is dependent upon whether you are being interviewed by a human resources specialist where the questions may be more generic, or by a legal specialist where the questions may be more of the technical variety.
Working in the legal industry requires excellent interpersonal and communication skills. You will be expected to be able to demonstrate that you are capable of working as part of a team, as well as exhibiting strong problem solving and decision making abilities. You will have to show a motivation and enthusiasm and aptitude for your specific area of expertise, so be prepared with specific examples that demonstrate that you exhibit the traits that your interviewer is looking for.
Below are examples of questions that you may be asked in an interview situation, in order to give you an idea of what to expect and be prepared for.
Tell me about yourself?
Why are you interested in working with this company?
What interests you about this job?
What makes you stand out from other applicants?
What do you know about this organisation?
What are your future career plans?
How will working with us help you to achieve your career plans?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
Describe yourself in 1 word
What is your idea of success?
What are your expectations from this company in the future?
Are you willing to work outside of your normal office hours?
What sort of interests do you have outside of work??
What sort of management skills do you have?
Give some examples of when you have worked as part of a team.
Do you prefer to work individually or as part of a team?
How do you feel about working within a team environment?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
How do you prioritise your workload?
How do you delegate?
How effective are you at working to deadlines? Give an example.
What are the most important issues facing the legal industry?
Questions that candidates may want ask at interview.
It is important to remember that the interview stage is a two-way process. The interviewer will invariably allow time for you to ask questions, normally at the end of the interview. Be sure to make good use of this opportunity as this is your chance to assess whether the company is the right match for you.
Asking questions shows the interviewer that you are proactive and that your are actively participating in the interview. Asking the right question is another opportunity for you to demonstrate that you are interested in the role and that you have done your groundwork on the company. It is good practice to prepare at least one question, although it is recommended to maybe have up to five questions ready to ask, although this maybe time permitting.
Below are examples of questions that you may want to ask in an interview situation, in order that you can find out more about your prospective employer.
Will there be any additional training provided for this position?
Can you describe to me the culture of the organisation and the working environment?
Can you tell me more about the team I will be working with, if I am the successful candidate?
What are the main characteristics that you think I will need to show in order to be a success in this job?
How do you see me as a candidate for this postion, in relation to what you are seeking as your ideal candidate for the job?
Do you have any reservations about my skills or experience that may prevent you from selecting me for this job?
What sets your company apart from others, from a potential client’s perspective?
How does your organisation evaluate employee performance?
Are there any areas from my cv that you would like me to explain further?
How soon are you looking to make this appointment?
What is the next step in the recruitment process?
Try to avoid asking questions that you should know the answer to either from the job description, company literature or from a basic Google search. Any questions regarding remuneration are best discussed with your 121 Legal Recruitment representative, rather than being asked as a question at interview.
Confidentiality guaranteed when you register as a candidate with 121 Legal Recruitment.
We’ll be with you every step of the way in the search for your next job. We make a pledge to give you 110% support and effort in the quest to help you find your new role. For more information give us a call on 0151 244 5471, or simply register below to forward us your details, and we’ll take it from there.
