Interviews

I figured I would start a topic concerning interviews for Paralegal jobs. I have had many interviews over a good period of time and have accumulated a pretty decent list of interview stories.

Right now, I'm very discouraged because I just finished an "interview" 90 minutes ago that was rather humiliating. I sent a resume and cover letter directly to this firm via an online ad they placed on one of the free sites (not Indeed). I got a call within a few weeks to come in for an interview. The caller spoke to me entirely on speaker phone to set up the interview. I found this to be unprofessional and demeaning. The woman said they had an opening at a specific time on a specific date, and I acceded.

Today, I presented for this interview. I looked at my phone just as I was getting off the elevator. I was six minutes early for the interview. I checked in with the receptionist and sat down for approximately two minutes before I saw the guy who'd interviewed before me walk out. The interviewer was right behind him and called me directly in to the conference room. That guy's interview either lasted approximately 15 or 30 minutes, assuming they were conducting them in half hour increments.

I sat down, and the interviewer asked me a few questions. She wanted to know if I'd worked since my last job, what my job responsibilities were at my last job and what I liked and disliked about my last job. Those were all the questions she asked. She went over what the job would entail, why the job was open, that they'd be conducting a second round of interviews and that she would be in contact with me regardless of whether or not I'd be interviewed again.

The time elapsed between the time I stepped off of the elevator to the time I stepped back onto the elevator? Twelve minutes.

I just don't get it anymore. The mind games involved in filling out online applications and going through these interviews can get to you.

-Cont'd-

Are there just so many people out there applying for work that employers treat you like you're on a conveyor belt? The way you have to jump through the hoops online with redundant applications (mostly on primitive sites) and the way employers conduct interviews is just irritating. It feels like some sort of psychological testing to see if you can take it.

As I said, I've accumulated quite a few interview stories. Here are a few:

- Recruiter who never showed and never emailed or called to reschedule.

- Interview with someone with whom I attended high school, didn't get the job despite 15 minutes of chit chat re high school at the end of the interview.

- An interview scheduled where the interviewer never showed up for the original interview or the rescheduled interview the following day.

- A 20-minute interview where the last five minutes were spent talking about the upcoming Bears game. Really?

- And now the 10-minute interview held today.

There are others I'm leaving out. It's a rough world out there, job seekers. All I can do about this one is send my perfunctory follow-up thank you email and write it off.

No responses? Sort of reminds me of the market for Litigation Paralegals in my area. It's like everyone is gone but nobody wants anyone to know they're gone.

Here's another doozy for you. One time, I got an interview on my own at a mid-sized firm and ultimately didn't get a call back. About a year later, I got called in by a recruiter to go on an interview at the same firm. The recruiter made it sound like they knew who I was and wanted to talk to me again. I bought it.

Well, I showed up to the interview, which was with both the HR person I interviewed with the first time and one of their Paralegals. I knew almost immediately that the HR person I'd interviewed with previously didn't recall who I was based on the name and resume. I don't know if she recalled my face. I definitely recalled her and brought up the prior interview. That's when I knew I'd been snowed.

It was clear that the HR person did not recall me and didn't call me back for this interview through the recruiter based on her recollection of me being a good candidate. What happened was that the slime ball recruiter felt I'd (read: she'd) have a leg up based on my being called in for the prior interview.

Wrong. I didn't get the job. Oh, and this particular firm with which I interviewed twice has been in constant need of paralegals based on ads I've seen for years. Nice, huh?

It seems as if we've had similar experiences in the interviewing process, DLP. I got a few laughs out of your unfortunate stories. It helps to read stories like yours to make me feel a bit better and know it's not just me.

The woman who interviewed me the other day gave me her card, told me I'd hear from her regardless of the direction they go and asked me for my references. I played the game and presented them to her. But I'd still be shocked if my goose isn't cooked after a paltry 10-minute interview. Who do people think they're kidding? I don't even think I can give them the satisfaction of a thank you email.

As to recruiters/headhunters, I can't blame you or anyone from staying far away from them. Your headhunter story is similar to mine. The only difference is that I bit and was humiliated for buying it. How do these individuals live with themselves? They're worse than car salesmen.

Headhunters are deplorable individuals who are not to be trusted. They never really "have" anything. They're only hoping to *get* something, i.e. your warm fanny in a chair owned by the guys with the deep pockets. I do respond to some headhunter ads just for kicks, but it's pretty much a waste of time.

Thanks for the posts.

It's just so odd the way employers treat candidates. I don't think they realize or care how it reflects on them.

I don't know if there's a thread on this or not. I sent out a resume or two via Career Builder in the last few days. Now, I am being flooded with this obvious spam asking me to contact them. Career Builder is worthless. Is it about anything other than just clicks? I don't call that a service at all.

Indeed it is. Immediate delete. And it's always immediately after I've sent a resume in via CB. Spam. I'm convinced I also receive spam from CL replies. And there are some job links on here that lead you to sites where I can tell they just want to sign you up to send you spam. Lame.

Hey, DLP, I'd like to get your thoughts on a couple of experiences I had while interviewing. I was a paralegal back in the 90s. I had an interview at the small downtown L.A. office of a New York based law firm. I was interviewed by their one paralegal (female) and she introduced me in passing to a male attorney, who was probably in his early to mid-30s and was fairly good looking (I don't remember if he was a partner or an associate). At the end of the interview, the paralegal said they would be in touch.

A few days later, that male attorney called me at my job in Century City on the west side of Los Angeles and I thought he was going to offer me the job. Instead, he said he was in Century City, had just gotten out of a deposition, and asked if I could meet him for a drink to discuss the job. I declined, saying I had to work overtime. I thought this was very unprofessional and I was suspicious of his motives. Needless to say, I didn't get the job, but I thought that was probably for the best. I had several other interviews lined up and accepted an offer a week later.

Now, in retrospect, I think it's possible that I was being considered for the job, but the attorney was too busy to meet with me at the office, and thought this would be a good way to squeeze in an interview. DLP, since you have many years of experience as a paralegal, I would like to get your take on this. (Another similar experience is described in a second post below.)

A few years later, I was again looking for a paralegal job. I had an interview at a small (maybe 8 attorneys) firm in Century City. The partner who interviewed me left the room 4 times with no explanation. I suspected he left the first time to instruct someone to make calls to confirm my work history (each time he left, he took my resume with him), and the subsequent times he left he was probably getting feedback from the calls.

He ended the interview with some noncomittal comment. This firm's practice was PI (I don't remember if it was plaintiff or defense) and I didn't want to work in a PI firm. Also, the attorney mentioned that his wife worked as an attorney in that office and I didn't want to work in a mom and pop firm.

A few days later, the attorney called me after I got home from work (I was living in Orange County, about an hour's drive away from his office). He said he was going to be in the area the following day and asked if I could meet him for a drink to further discuss the position. I felt we had discussed the position ad nauseum during the interview and I didn't want the job anyway, so I gave some excuse, he easily accepted my refusal, and we hung up.

DLP, I thought since you're a guy, maybe you would have some insight into these invitations from male attorneys to female applicants for paralegal jobs. This guy was married, so perhaps it was innocent enough but how should women react to such invitations? Thanks in advance.

Clearly inappropriate in both instances.

The behavior of the two attorneys in Linda's story is wholly inappropriate.

The lunch interview DLP had with the guy who butt ended him is shady. I don't know if I'd agree to an interview held off site. Why mess with a candidates mind even more by holding an interview out of the office? I wouldn't call it inappropriate, but I would call it odd. Also, to call such an interview off site and then never bother to give the candidate an answer? Unprofessional. The whole thing stinks.

I have to ask. Did the jerk pay for your lunch? I imagine he did, but it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't, considering everything else.

Well, I had another interview at a firm with very posh offices. I met with the head of HR. Apparently, the plan the entire time was to meet with this person and then meet with the head of the litigation department.

So I met with the head of HR for about 20 minutes, briefly glossing over my background. This conversation went well. Then, she said she wanted me to meet the head of litigation, and off she went. Ten minutes later, she popped back in to indicate she was still looking for the attorney. And off she went again. Five minutes later, she came back and indicated the attorney had a CC and wouldn't be available to meet me. She said she'd have to have me back next week. I take her at her word because I feel she's genuine.

Still, it has become common that people who know they are to conduct interviews don't show or aren't available for them. This has happened to me more than half of the time. I just don't get it.

I suppose I could also look at my interviewing history and glean that the common denominator in it all is me. But why? Where is the professionalism? Where is the respect?

I have found short interviews are never a good sign. When I have gotten jobs, they all but tell me in the interview that I am the one. I have had plenty of short brief superficial interviews that led to nothing. The jobs I did get - and I am on job 4 as a paralegal - it was crystal clear in the interview I was going to be offered the job. Attorneys made time to talk to me.

Talking to recruiters and HR people so much of is it age, appearance, dress, being "normal" as in no tats, nothing weird, outgoing, friendly, confident. Weight doesn't appear to be an issue. I worked for a couple of attorneys who liked meaner aggressive support staff, too.

The HR woman I met with for 20 minutes gave me a mini-interview over the phone prior to coming in, so she knew my background. We went over it again in general during the 20-minute tete-a-tete. I'm pretty sure the woman liked me and was sending me on to the next phase of the interview with the attorney. For whatever reason, he had a CC scheduled and couldn't meet me.

I don't know how to judge this one. I'm banking on the woman having liked me and being genuine about the attorney not being available. I got all positive vibes from her, unless she had me totally snowed.

Now, the 10-minute non-interview I had recently, I knew I wasn't getting. That was crystal clear. And it was unprofessional on her part. She was very aggressive and curt. I knew I was a dead duck immediately in that one. What a beast she was.

I've never been offered a job at an interview. The way things are these days, I don't foresee this ever happening. Perhaps, in a tiny law firm, I could see this happening, but in a bigger firm with lots of candidates, it's doubtful.

It's been 10 days since the interview I had with the HR lady where the attorney who was supposed to meet me afterward could not meet me because he was occupied. I sent my thank you letter by email indicating my willingness to come back to interview further with the head of litigation a week ago. No response back by email, phone or snail mail. What else is new?

I guess nobody posts here anymore. It can't be because everyone has a paralegal job. Perhaps, everyone gave up on pursuing paralegal jobs?

I've interviewed at three firms in the last two months. I had two interviews at one of those firms. It's just a brutal process. You're always up against who knows how many resumes, likely 12-20 other people interviewed and the highly demanding expectations of the prospective employers.

The interview I had two months ago I figured I wouldn't get and had zero expectations. No notice was ever received back.

The next interview the week before Christmas went great. I thought I had it. I even got notice from references that they'd been called. Three days later, the second interview was held. This interview was the single most humiliating and brutal interview of my life. Blitzkrieged. I know the first guy who interviewed me wanted to hire me, but the second guy gave me the worst attitude right off the bat and didn't let go. That took a bit of time from which to recover.

The next interview was just recently. At this point, I can only go, do my best and hope I get it. I know I'm up against 15 other people or thereabouts. I believe the position is going to basically be a trial position. That's all I can divulge. I did my best and can only hope for a result. It's bad for the psyche to dwell on it any further. After two second interviews that left me crestfallen, I believe it's best to interview, follow-up if necessary, let it go and keep looking and applying.

It's still very rough out there, people. I'm not seeing any improvement in the paralegal job market.