Have you interviewed for multiple in-house counsel jobs and been rejected time and time again? You may be wondering why the employers did not pick you. Julie Brush of Solutus Legal Search – or The Lawyer Whisperer as she is also known – sheds some light on this issue in a blog post. As she points out, while employers reject candidates for many reasons, one of the top reasons is one that candidates can actually work on. And by doing so, they will increase the chances that they land a coveted in-house counsel job. If your goal is to eventually climb to the upper echelons of the legal department with a Deputy General Counsel job or even the General Counsel role, developing and demonstrating this valuable quality may very well tip the scales in your favor:
“In today’s professional world…enthusiasm…is one of the most highly regarded and sought after qualities out there in an individual. In today’s market, it is the most common reason provided by employers for rejecting job applicants. So its importance has skyrocketed. Whether an employee, manager, colleague or candidate, your career success is connected to your ability to project excitement, curiosity, engagement and a positive attitude to those around you…and the work you perform. And in no setting is it more critical than the job interview. Employers closely assess and judge candidates on their level of “enthusiasm” for an opportunity – and are unforgiving when a deficiency exists. So regardless of how qualified a candidate may be, a move forward can be won…or lost on this single expression. Given this reality, it is critical to tend to this aspect of your interview prep and overall career development. But some professionals are uncomfortable in this pursuit because they’re not quite sure how to do so without being unnatural. So how does one successfully project enthusiasm without being phony or awkward?”
Read: Why employers reject candidates post job interview at The Lawyer Whisperer