JAG's advisors will prepare you for and guide you through the interview process.

Have you ever been asked a difficult question you didn't know how to answer?  Such as, what do you consider your greatest weakness?  Or, What is your opinion of the last firm you worked for?  

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Potentially Tricky Interview Questions

During the interview, you may be asked a variety of questions. There are no perfect answers, yet some thought and discussion about potentially tricky subjects can help you avoid disaster.

This is the classic opener and gives the interviewer time to size you up - if you let them. Give a brief overview of your career (prepared and rehearsed in advance), beginning with your education and taking them through key job changes. Add one or two major accomplishments and then turn the interview back to them.

Say neutral or positive things, no negatives. Try to focus on situations in which you learned and/or contributed something.

Stress opportunity and potential. "What is your range?" "I think my experience would put me near the high end of your range, don't you?" (SAY IT - ASK IT). Do not volunteer information about your past salary. Try to put the salary question aside. Can we delay this until after we've looked at all the aspects of your current need?

If yes, have a good explanation worked out and tested with friends.

Go to your list of strengths and then tie each of them to an accomplishment. Look at your list of weaknesses and relate the weakness (excess) back to your strength.

Do not pause - have your answer ready, "Yes, for a super opportunity. What did you have in mind?"

Again, this needs preparation. "I'm seeking a long-term opportunity where I can learn and grow. Does this come with the position we are discussing?"

Think this out clearly. Be positive about discussing former firms.

Money, opportunity, growth, a chance to learn, nice people, fair play...any others?

You know you are going to get this one, so here's your cue. Be positive.

Here is your chance to elaborate on your best accomplishments. "Is that the kind of attorney you seek?"

Have some examples of the kind of team player you are. This is a good time to bring up that you are a nonpolitical person.

Tie your answer to goals that could conceivably be realized in the interviewing firm. Limit your goals to just the short and medium range. Be realistic. A good reply is oriented toward growth in one's job through learning, experience and accomplishments.

Remember where you are when you answer!

Your reply could be based on their reputation for clients, work product, technology, as a nice place to work and grow. Know their policies and potential for you.

If you know the job requirements, and match up some accomplishments, say, "...If there are opportunities to do that and more here, then this is a great fit. What do you think?"

Be careful! Better know a little about the firm and the position you are after. If not, push in the direction of excellence based on former accomplishments (benefits).

Pick one of your most significant accomplishments tied to their needs.

Discuss this one with friends before the interview. If it can be something you were later able to correct, it becomes a learning experience.

Stress action, performance, and results rather than administrative work.

Use the ABC principles and you will have some good answers. (Accomplishments=Benefit [Need]; Do the Conversion [ABC]).

Catch-22 question. Frustrations are a normal part of any job. Relate some the bottlenecks you experienced, but more importantly, indicate what you did to overcome them.

Creativity means how you developed an idea, a new theme or a new program and how it improved the firm’s operation.

If you have been doing the kind of work you enjoy and have accumulated some accomplishments.

By now you should know the requirements of the job. Match your accomplishments against needs and mix with an interest in what you have seen/heard so far. As for the other candidates, you really cannot answer, nor would you want to answer from what you feel you can do.

You can choose the best. As for the least: "At this point I see no important negatives, that's why I'm so interested!"

Do not be in a hurry on this one. There normally is a period of transition to learn the ropes. "If the transition goes to plan, I would guess relatively soon. What would you expect?"

If you are, say so - but without detail. If not, "I have some irons in the fire" is enough.

Stick to accomplishments. Think of their job requirements.

Pick something that will not be a deterrent for this position. Better computer skills, speak better Spanish, or...?

Here is your dream question! Pick the ones that pertain to the job in view. You know you have struck pay dirt when someone asks, "How did you do that?"

As many as needed to get it done and then some.

Be on your toes. If there were politics in your past position, you might indicate that. Be careful.

It is the job that counts. Stick to the job specification and do not get sidetracked on implications.

By now you should know how much travel the job will require; otherwise, it is a good time to ask. This could be a trick question if you have a family. Think it out.

If you do not have a job description, you should ask for one so that you can reply item by item.

If this is firm policy, you have no choice. Try, though, to arrange beforehand to see and review the results. This way you will learn something about yourself.

Be careful. Your answer could come back to haunt you. "I've grown just about as far as I can and see no further opportunities. At the appropriate time I expect to let my firm know and, of course, when I'm ready to move, will do everything to make the transitions as smooth as possible."

Your answer could be based on growth, interest, opportunity or increased responsibilities. Tie this into the job at hand.

You sure do...!

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