Tips for Virtual / Zoom Interviews
Even though you have been on hundreds of zoom meetings, take a minute and review these simple tips.
- Wear business casual clothing as a minimum. Sports jacket with collared shirt.
- Make sure you review the bio links of those you will meet. Also, review data on the firm prior to the meeting. Try to find common connections among those on the line-up, such as shared previous workplaces, connections, schools, etc.
- Make sure you have a light on your face or sit by a window.
- Hop on five minutes early and make sure you test your audio and video prior to joining the call. The optics of beginning the call with technical issues set a bad first impression. And once you connect, make sure your audio and video connections are set correctly. This is especially important for Webex and Teams. With Teams, sometimes you need to unmute yourself. Check the mute setting before you begin speaking. This is also especially important if you are taking the meeting on an ipad.
- Make sure that you have the camera situated so it looks like you are looking at the interviewer as much as possible when you look into the camera.
- Make sure you smile! (I once suggested a partner write ‘smile’ on a yellow sticky note and put it on his monitor. He was so intense and focused on listening that he forgot to smile over the video so it made him look grumpy.).
- Write down your questions prior to the meeting and feel free to refer to your list.
- Stay away from asking questions related to compensation unless they bring it up during your first call. If they open the door, you can walk through it but let them start that part of the conversation, which rarely happens during the first meeting.
- If they ask a question, answer it first, and then elaborate. Once I had a partner interview who loved to tell stories but he never seemed to get to the point. So I suggested to answer the question succinctly first, and then elaborate and it solved his issue. He seemed circuitous and rambling in his answers before, so always remember to give the answer first and then elaborate if you have time.
- During the first meeting, look for reasons as to why it may be a non-starter (such as conflicts or office locations, etc). Try to rule it out. If you can’t rule it out, then, as you continue on in your subsequent meetings, look for ways to ‘rule them in’ and consider integration ideas.
- If you are interested, then you need to say this. Don’t hold back enthusiasm if you see possibilities. Firms want to know partners are interested in them. “From what I have seen so far, I am interested in continuing the conversation.”
- The goal of the first meeting is to find out if this can create a ‘mutual satisfaction of needs.’ It has to be a good fit for both sides.
- Be sure to ask questions that also convey to them that you are a good firm citizen. It’s important to show them that you are a “giver and not just a taker”, and the best way to convey this is by asking questions related to it. “What opportunities exist for me to mentor younger attorneys?” “How can I help my colleagues get better?” etc. But it needs to be natural and genuine and not contrived.
- If I am working with you on your move, then shoot me a note (scott@attorneysearchgroup.com) when you’re done and let me know how it went while it’s fresh on your mind.
- Send a nice thank you email. This helps to open up a channel if necessary as the process moves forward.