Join Us
Tips for Virtual Interviews
General
- Make sure your WiFi connection is stable and won’t be disrupted for the duration of the interview.
- Have any notes or documents ready and neatly organized, just as you would for an in-person interview.
- Be punctual, but not early. The meeting host may have a meeting directly before the interview. Best practice is to join two to three minutes before your scheduled interview time.
- Test the link before your interview to ensure that you have downloaded any relevant software connected to the virtual interviewing platform.
- Minimize distractions: Turn off phones and email alerts. If there are others in your home, consider letting them know that you will be interviewing and that it would be best if they do not interrupt you during your scheduled interview time.
Visual
- Check your self-view before the call, ensuring you are centered, the camera is focused, and the lighting looks good.
- Project confidence: sit up straight and make eye contact – look at the interviewer or the camera, not at your own image.
- Wear professional attire. Even though you may be at home, dress as you would for an in-person interview.
- Remember, when using video, you are ALWAYS on-camera – even if you don’t have your local image displayed.
- Project a professional and organized space: declutter the area in the camera view and be mindful of posters, images and pictures that are not business appropriate. A blank wall or a business appropriate virtual background are best.
Audio
- Test your audio connection before the call.
- Microphones can be very sensitive. To eliminate background noise, stay muted unless you are speaking.
- In an open environment, use headphones or earbuds.
- Even with the fastest Internet connection, audio can be slightly delayed over video conferencing applications such as Zoom. To combat this, speak slowly and clearly enunciate your words. Pause frequently to give the interviewer an opportunity to respond.
Interviewing@Goodwin
At Goodwin, we use an approach to interviews called Focused Interviewing. Focused Interviewing questions are behavioral questions that allow you to share your past experiences and how you reacted to certain situations. The questions we ask are tied directly to job-related competencies, like communication skills, project management or teamwork. We believe Focused Interviewing helps us to select the most qualified candidate for the job and for Goodwin.
We look forward to meeting you and learning more about you. Click on the videos below to hear advice from our lawyers and Global Operations team members on interviewing at Goodwin, and keep scrolling after the videos to get some tips on meeting with us virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reach out, get to know the people at the firm, understand its culture and you’ll find out whether you’re a fit.
It’s not only about your resume…it’s who you are and what you bring to the firm.
Figure out what makes you the key, integral puzzle piece to the greater group.
We look for people who are entrepreneurial, collaborative and care about who he or she works with…be yourself.
When you’re looking at a firm, the most important thing to consider are its people.
Leadership is about judgement…make sure your interviewers know you have the ability to make those calls.
Coaching, mentoring, training, communication…those are key leadership traits.
Diversity, Equity + Inclusion
Goodwin is committed to promoting diversity in our law firm and in the legal profession. We are also committed to an inclusive environment in which each employee can excel and thrive. Diversity, Equity + Inclusion are core to our business and our values, and our Chairman-led Inclusion Advisory Committee ensures that we make our efforts in this area a top priority.
Learn More
Pro Bono
Very often those who most need legal representation can least afford to pay for it. Whether it’s guidance on housing, immigration, criminal defense or small business development, free and reliable legal counsel can make real and lasting changes in people’s lives and livelihoods. That’s why pro bono work is one of the cornerstones of our firm.
Learn More
Learning + Professional Development
Goodwin’s Learning + Professional Development team is committed to helping you leverage your strengths, find your passion and build the legal and professional skills and networks you will need to succeed wherever your career may take you. Our team’s dedicated group of experts includes directors and managers who are former practicing attorneys and are nationally recognized as leaders in their field. We are committed to ensuring that everyone at the firm is equipped and inspired to be best and brightest across all that we do.
Learn More
