Common Mistakes

How can I best posture myself for success?

Underselling yourself or negatively framing experience

“Falling down is not a failure. Failure comes when you stay where you have fallen.” - Socrates

Insecurities and self-doubt are common pitfalls of prospective law clerks when applying for positions. Sometimes we don’t understand that in our attempts to remain humble, we may come across as insecure or not convincing to the interviewer when trying to explain our experience. Interview preparation is essential if you tend to do this. Exercises to improve reframing your answers include:

• By yourself: Read through your resume and be able to list at least three tasks from each role, and both a positive and negative experience from each. Write next to these experiences the Situation, Task, Action and Result. Are your answers framed from a growth perspective? Do you now do things di erently? Have you learned something from this experience? How do you apply the lesson learned?

• With a friend: hand them some ashcards with common interview questions (which can be found elsewhere in this article). Practice verbalising, with positive and open body language, how you identi ed a problem and your method and rationale for overcoming that issue. The STAR method is a helpful framework. Use these questions to demonstrate a growth mindset regarding problem-solving, which is a highly valuable skill in any professional setting.

Situation:

Result:

PRACTICE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

Tell us about a time when you had

Not warning your referees

A surprisingly common yet easily avoidable mistake. Ensure that your referees ful ll the requirements stipulated by each rm. You will usually require either a recent direct manager or supervisor, along with another professional recommendation and perhaps a third personal or academic reference. These individuals will ideally need a copy of the role and responsibilities to understand the context of what you are applying for, including the date you applied for the role and when they may expect a phone call. During your application process, you may or may not be asked to provide the name and contact details of your referees. Unless stated, it is a frequent practice to write “available upon request” in the contact detail section for respect of privacy.

Your network of referees are people who have worked directly with you and seen how you have grown through overcoming challenges professionally. Hopefully, they are also people you admire and like. Building your personal network is a rewarding exercise in cultivating personal growth through seeking a rmation of your skills and practicing humility by asking for assistance.

Not doing your homework on firms and their areas of practice

Not all rms have the same areas of practice available. Check each rm’s website and thoroughly research the types of work they do and what eld of law. If you have a particular area of law you wish to gain experience in, yet the rm reading your Cover Letter does not handle those sorts of matters, your application will likely not be very successful. A simple 5 minute search can save a lot of time!

Using the incorrect file format for your CV or cover letter

Practice your attention to detail by uploading the correct le format of your paperwork, commonly Word or PDF. Not doing so can cause format readability issues for the Hiring Manager, who will not look favourably on an applicant who cannot adhere to simple formatting requests.

Silly spelling or grammar mistakes

Once again, an opportunity to practise a paramount skill in professional elds, paying attention to grammar and spelling. Using the correct “practice” vs “practise”. Editing overly long sentences. Utilising grammar checkpoint software such as Grammarly in Microsoft Word. In the legal eld, a large focus of responsibility will be on accurate writing. Actively demonstrate your aptitude from the beginning with a concise and well-edited Cover Letter and Resume.

Forgetting about LinkedIn

Many Hiring Managers will do a simple search of your name online when sorting through applications. Ensuring you have a grasp on your public digital identity will convey professional self-awareness, and prevent any embarrassing photos or posts from hindering your chance of success. LinkedIn is a common platform for professional social media networking and o ers an easily accessible digital resume when applying for jobs. At many professional events, business cards are no longer swapped; networking and job vetting take place immediately via phone apps. Having your LinkedIn up to date and re ecting accurate information will ensure you are ready to put your best foot forward at any opportunity available.