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%20(1).png?width=500&height=500&name=SWS%20Logo2%20(4lightbackgrounds)%20(1).png "SWS Logo2 (4lightbackgrounds) (1)")
(... And is now put off from applying for jobs.)
Application season is tough.
My journey into commercial law started in my first year of university. I applied to first year schemes and exclusive dinners and never made it past the interview stage for any of them. I honestly couldn't work out what I was doing wrong. My applications seemed fine, I was able to get through to the next stage on most of them. I just wasn't going any further. I'd been working since I was 14 so I had plenty of experience with interviewing generally. I just didn't know how to apply to commercial law interviews.
Looking back, there is one thing that I did after each rejection that I am forever grateful for; I got feedback from my mentors.
Due to the volume of applications, many firms don't offer personalised feedback, which can often leave us feeling dejected when we get rejected. Showing my applications and running through my interview questions with my mentors AFTER each rejection taught me 3 key things that I'm going to share with you.
Tip 1: This may sound cliché but sometimes, it's not you, it's them.
Numbers aren't my forte so I'll try and use easy ones to make this analogy simple. Imagine you are an office hiring for a new position, and you receive 100 applications in total, and you have 10 interview spaces available, and one job position available. Of those 100 applications, 20 either spell your firm's name wrong, or call your firm a completely different name altogether.
So now you're left with 80 right?
Now of that 80, 40 didn't download the firm's most recent annual report like I told them to, and they didn't demonstrate enough specific research either so the application didn't pass the "initial screening stage".
Now there's 40 left. You take a look at the 40 and select the 10 who meet all your prerequisites, and invite them to interview. So in theory, you have 10 candidates who, all things being equal, and all interviews go well, you would be happy to hire based off their applications.
The only problem is, you only have 1 space.
So what happens to the other 9 great candidates who don't get chosen but actually interviewed well?
Well they'll receive a disheartening email which starts with "unfortunately...".
So why have I made you go through this scenario with me? Because speaking to my mentors after a failed interview made me realise that a no wasn't always a reflection of my poor performance. Sometimes it was just a difficult decision, but it's a decision that shouldn't stop you from trying again.
Tip 2: It's going to hurt, but go over your interview again with someone who has been in the same position before
No one wants to admit it. But sometimes, even after all the hours of preparation you've put into it, your interview responses just were not what the firm was looking for. This is actually a good thing IF you know how to do two things.
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Identify your mistakes
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Correct your mistakes
Now this can be hard to do if you don't have personalised feedback. But there are always a number of other places where you definitely can get feedback from, like your careers service, friends who have progressed to the next stage, or even a cheeky call for help on LinkedIn if you're feeling brave.
My point is, whilst it's important to truly feel your feelings when you're unsuccessful at interview, it's also important to turn that L into a Lesson and grow.
Tip 3: Build resilience
Legal recruiters are notorious for asking about one competency in particular; resilience.
Why?
Because in a legal role, you are bound to do something wrong at some point, and it is important that you have developed the skill to reflect, learn, and grow from that wrong.
So next time your interview doesn't go to plan, come back to this blog and reflect.
If these tips don't float your boat, try the ones I've posted on Instagram (@successwstephuk) or LinkedIn (Success With Steph) instead. :)
If for nothing else, have a look at the graphic below:
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