Without any preparation, you may find yourself struggling with this side of the interview. This can be the difference between getting that crucial job offer and getting a one- way ticket to filling out your next job application; so prepare, prepare and prepare again!
How do I get it?
Commercial awareness is not something that you just suddenly ‘get’. You have to work hard to build it up over time. However, you can develop your commercial awareness in a number of different ways: Work experience…
Any kind of work experience (legal or non-legal) will enhance your commercial awareness in some way. For example, even if you just worked in a retail or telesales role over the summer holidays, you should be able to answer the following questions: What did you learn about the company? How were the needs of clients or customers met? How did the organisation market itself?
When you’re working at a company, ask plenty of questions and try your best to understand the inner- workings of the business.
Extra-curricular activities…
Think about the various extra- curricular activities that you have been involved in, take a step back and look at them from a commercial perspective.
Did you manage a student society?
Did you publicise any events or deal with budgets and cost considerations? How did you attract new members?
The more you question your actions and their motivations, the more comfortable you will become
when it comes to discussing their commercial implications.
How can I improve my commercial awareness?
We may sound a bit biased, but one of the best ways to develop your commercial awareness is to head over to the AllAboutCareers News Page and check out the daily news feeds that are hand-picked and posted on the website to help you develop your industry knowledge. If you register with AllAboutCareers and create your own profile, you can even get news sent directly to your very own personalised careers information feed every single day. We’re trying our very best to make the tricky task of building your commercial awareness easier and easier!
Alternatively, if you like the look and feel of ink on your hands, you should read broadsheet newspapers, such as the Guardian, The Times, Financial Times or Telegraph. You could also watch the news. Some people find it easier to understand and
remember information which is delivered in an audio-visual format. Whichever medium you use, the trick is to make sure you develop a great general knowledge of what is going on in the business world, as well as finding out about the specific issues and developments that are influencing the legal profession.
If you’re applying to a particular law firm, take a look at their website. This may seem obvious, but before going to an interview, you should research the firm’s current activities and any recent deals they’ve been involved in. Check out any publications that they have recently released and read any articles about them in the press. Pick one or two things that are particularly interesting to you and do some more detailed research into them. Written by Jack Collins
Find out more visit
www.allaboutlaw.co.uk
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