Motus Recruitment Insights

Interviewing at NQ level always has particular challenges.

It may be that you haven’t had many/any interviews before, or that you still have relatively little hands-on experience at this stage, so the whole process is an unknown, and can feel daunting.

Interviewing at NQ level is a topic we get asked about a lot, so we thought we’d pull together a few thoughts gathered from our experience in the hope they prove useful.

So, in no particular order:

Prepare and practice

As with anything, you will probably feel more confident if you feel ready. So, before any interview take the time to really prepare and practice as much as possible.

Try and find out as much as you can about:

• Who you will be meeting and interviewing with, and what they’re like
• The role or vacancy you’re interviewing for
• The firm as a whole, their office locations, departments/teams, strongest practice areas, overall profile and reputation etc.

News sections on a firm’s website and industry news websites are essential resources to review for interesting background information. This preparation is all about being ready for the opening ‘So, what do you know about us’ question!

Likewise, if you have interviewed with them already and you’re returning for another round, think about what you can learn and improve upon going forward.

It is also a really good idea to re-read your CV before an interview. Remind yourself what you have said and the examples you have given about the experience you have gained so far so that you’re ready and able to expand upon them as and when required.

Experience is a broad topic

NQ level interviews are often as much about potential as they are what you know and can do at this early stage in your career.

Naturally, the interviewers will want to ask you about your seat(s) and the work you got involved with. They’ll want to know how hands-on it was, what you learned and gained and so on, but at NQ level, they are really interested in you, how you come across, your ambition and self-awareness.

They want to know about the phenomenal 2yr PQE lawyer they can see you’re going to be.

Talking about the experience you have is all rear-view mirror stuff; important, but not everything. A good NQ interviewer will ask you a lot about the forward-facing stuff, so be ready.

What are your ambitions, why do you feel you want to work in this area, what are your strengths (and weaknesses), what interests you about the firm?

Essentially, they’ll want to know why you are someone they should be excited to invest in over the coming years.

When it comes to personal attributes, these can be awkward to talk about, but try and balance confidence with an understanding and awareness that you still have lots to learn.

Your energy and ‘want’ to learn and progress are vital, so make sure they realise that if they offer you this opportunity, they can have every confidence you will 100% grab it with both hands!

And remember, experience is a broad topic and can incorporate what do you do in your wider life, positions of responsibility you have taken on, challenges and obstacles you have overcome, and others you have helped along the way.

It also covers your achievements in a far wider context, so travel experiences, sporting success, raising a family etc.

Don’t think ‘interview’, think chat in a wine bar

It is likely the interview will be a really friendly two-way chat with genuinely nice people who just want to get to know you and find out more about you (whether your interview is in person or a ‘virtual’ meeting). It is the wrapper around the meeting that calls it an interview that can make it feel so scary!

If you bumped into and perhaps got mutually introduced to these people after work on a Friday evening, glass of something in hand, you would feel comfortable chatting and telling them about yourself and what you’re up to at the moment. You would probably have lots of things you wanted to ask them too, so try and channel that feeling, keeping a level of professionalism of course.

And remember, it isn’t a driving test, pass or fail. Whoever is interviewing you is on your side and is probably willing you on and hoping you’re going to be great… Know that they will look to help you as much as they can!

Follow up… it’s easy to do, and it’s noticed

If after an interview you feel it went well, and you’re really interested in the opportunity, take the chance to pop the interviewers an email just thanking them for their time, appreciating they are probably busy people with hectic diaries, and reiterating your interest and enthusiasm.

An interview is always a ‘win’

Lastly, it’s important to keep everything in perspective.

An interview is a chance to gain something extra that you don’t have at the moment, but equally, you have nothing to lose. The worst thing that can happen is that particular role isn’t the right one for you, but there will be others.

Keep in mind that every interview is a chance to meet interesting people, build your network while gaining experience and improving your interviewing skills and instincts. 

If this has been useful and you’re approaching qualification at the moment, we’re on hand to give you the tailored advice you need to ace your NQ interview. 

Please feel free to get in touch with Matthew Goodwin or Joe Davy-Taylor who’ll be happy to help:

matthewgoodwin@motusrecruitment.com
07926 168 848

joedavytaylor@motusrecruitment.com
07808 522 727