AO_Logo_RED_RGB © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 String 7.12.2010 Eva Urbanová Application, CV´s and Interview Skills © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› –Introduction –Applications, CV’s –Successful Interview Technique –What is commercial awareness © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› Applications and CV’s © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› Qualities sought by law firms –Academic ability –Intellectual skills –People skills –Drive for achievement –Motivation –Commercial awareness – © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› How to develop these –Academic projects –Work Experience / Part Time jobs –Voluntary / Charity work –Clubs & Societies –Sports –Family Commitments – © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› Think about the key areas of the form –School, university –Interests and achievements –Vacation work/ work experience –Extra-curricular activities –Competency based question(s)… Describe a situation… –Why you have chosen this career –Why you want to work at this firm –What you want to know about this firm © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› Completing the application –Become familiar with the selection criteria –Prepare the best examples to demonstrate your skills –Draft, edit, re-edit –Get someone else to read it –Word limits –Spelling & grammar –Quality vs quantity © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› Examples of mistakes in CV’s –CV should be accompanied by a cover letter – not in a form of essay – brief, factual, polite –Position / role – applying for a job now, or next year when you complete some studies? –University not mentioned –Timing –Your main expectations (full, part time job) –Spelling mistakes – © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› Making your application stand out –Get the basics right –Don’t rush it –Highlight your skills –What makes YOU stand out? –What are we asking you? –Think about the level of detail –Be yourself © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› Successful Interview Technique © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› An interview is… – –A conversation with a purpose –A two-way process –Your personal introduction to a potential employer –Your chance to ask questions – © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› Preparation – think about…. – –What is the employer looking for? –What evidence do you have of the required skills and qualities? –What are your main achievements? –What do you know about the firm? –What questions do you have? © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› Before the interview - tips – –Dress code –Know what’s going to happen to you! –Get a good night’s sleep –Check your journey – and your destination © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› On the day –What to wear –Make a good first impression –If you are late… make sure you call –Body language –Smile –Sit up straight –Mirror – © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› In the interview –How much should you talk? –It’s your interview! –Back up all your answers – evidence is key –Don’t be afraid to stop and think –Nerves are not to be feared © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› Questions you might be asked - some examples –What motivates you to succeed? –How do you manage your time effectively? –What role do you usually play within teams? –How would your friends describe you? –What is your proudest achievement? –Why does this career/firm appeal to you? –How do you keep up to date with current affairs/business issues © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› Challenging Questions –Think of a challenging question that you may be asked –What skill(s) do you need to improve on? –Why do you want to join our organisation? –Probing questions… Why did you do that? How did that feel? What did you learn? –Contrary evidence… –Give me an example of when things didn’t go to plan. –Have you learned from your mistakes? – – – – © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› What is commercial awareness? © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› What commercial awareness is –Awareness of events in the business world –Awareness of other current affairs –Understanding how companies work –Some knowledge of business concepts –Some knowledge of the firms business –Seeing things from clients’ perspective –Drawing from your own experiences © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› What commercial awareness isn’t –Knowing lots of jargon (but not understanding what it means) –Reading the newspaper 5 mins before an interview (and not knowing the details or facts) –Quoting deals from our website (without understanding what happened… and what if your interviewer worked on that deal…) –Making sweeping statements about the economy (and not having the evidence to back this up) © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› General commercial awareness –Read business pages regularly, follow stories –Research our deals (form an opinion) –Business games / workshops –Portfolios / shadow trading –Clients’ websites –If you don’t understand something you read about – look it up / ask someone to explain © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› General commercial awareness (2) –Be prepared to discuss your thoughts and opinions on issues –Why has the situation arisen? –What are the causes? –Who are the main players? –What are the implications of the situation? –What would you do to turn the situation around? © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› Using your own experiences (1) –Part-time job –Vacation Placements –Society / Club roles –Voluntary work –Charitable work © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› Using your own experiences (2) Think about these questions… –How is the company structured? –What are the main products / services on offer? –Who are the main competitors? –How do they differentiate themselves in the market? –Who are the target audience / clients? –Strengths / weaknesses? –What changes would you make if you were in charge? © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› Employers… they’re a business too! –Visit their website –Recent news / deals etc –Trends in the market place / industry –Issues facing the organisation –Employers want to know you have thought about their business and how it works © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› And finally… your questions –Prepare topics about which you genuinely want to learn more –Learn from the interviewer’s experiences –Demonstrate your research –Prepare at least 2 questions – – • © Allen & Overy LLP 2010 ‹#› Questions? www.allenovery.com/careeruk These are presentation slides only. The information within these slides does not constitute definitive advice and should not be used as the basis for giving definitive advice without checking the primary sources. Allen & Overy means Allen & Overy LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. The term partner is used to refer to a member of Allen & Overy LLP or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualifications or an individual with equivalent status in one of Allen & Overy LLP's affiliated undertakings.