Interviewing...
I need a new administrative assistant/legal secretary/paralegal to work for me and 1/2 of another attorney here in Brookline. We've cast a wide net, mostly because the basic job is administrative scutwork. On the other hand, for those with the interest and aptitude, I can train/educate for more paralegal/law-clerky type tasks which are more intellectually challenging.
1. Unless you know your potential employer is looking for a short-termer, don't tell your interviewer that you want to go to graduate school for [insert specific profession] in order to find out if you want to become [insert professional]. While interest in the subject matter of the job is a plus, your employer is probably not excited that in a year you will (a) leave them to go to graduate school, forcing them to hire someone again or (b) hate the type of work and think about leaving for a different position, forcing them to hire someone again.
I should note that I have decided to interview numerous just-graduating seniors knowing full well that these are real possibilities and that one of them (a Swattie, no less) was a favored candidate who got snapped up by someone else before I could get my boss to agree to a second interview.
2. Research the job (like searching for the employer online) but have questions prepared no matter what you find. It shows interest, engagement in the conversation, doesn't force the employer to carry the interview, and in a small firm shows that you're pleasant person with whom to share an office space.
3. Send a thank-you note. This could tilt the balance on a maybe-candidate for a 2nd interview.
4. If you feel educationally over-qualified, don't raise the issue but have a positive, self-respecting, and forward-thinking response as for why a graduate of a top college/university is looking for an essentially pink-collar job. Your interviewer may ask outright, WTF are you thinking applying for this position?
5. Read the invitation to apply (craigslist, paper ad, online ad, whatever) carefully. If it says "provide salary requirements" or "fax and email only", pay attention. Even if you respond "Salary negotiable", at least you've shown that you are detail-oriented enough to respond to all of the terms of the ad.
6. When sending a resume, cover letter, or other application via email to a formal-style business, use formal writing styles for the body of the email unless you have a specific reason. I immediately cut tens of applicants who emailed "i saw yr ad on craiglist" or the equivalent. We're a law firm, people!
7. When providing attachments to an email, reference them in the body of the email and provide some alternate formats. "My resume is attached for your review in Microsoft Word (.DOC) and Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) formats. If you have any technical problems opening the document, please let me know and I will address it immediately." Most sophisticated (i.e. Word and WordPerfect) software programs will permit you to 'publish' or save documents in PDF and HTML formats, and I know that _I_ don't fault anyone for the technical problems.
8. At the interview, while maintaining boundaries (don't comment on the interviewer's stinky-breath) comment on easily observed personal aspects. During one interview, Wolf called to ask about substitutes for vegetable oil in baking brownies, and she and I chatted about the range of options (veggie oil, margarine, butter) and their healthfulness. The interviewee, who patiently sat there, commented when I was done about children and health and mentioned in her thank you note "Hope you enjoyed your daughter's brownies!" She was a strong candidate anyway, but the personable presentation was a big part of bringing her to the 2nd interview despite her being over-qualified.
Whew. I feel better now. If you know anyone thinking about such a position here in Boston, pass them this email: brookline[at]smythlawpc.com for sending their resume and salary requirements.