How do I choose a “commercial awareness” topic to discuss at interview?

[Peter Watson]

There are a few elements to this – and I get asked this all the time! So here is a checklist for you:

1. Know who you are talking to – the company AND the actual interviewers. You have to find out whether they are specialists or generalists and look at how the company works.
2. Understand what is important to them and talk about THAT. Ascertain the company’s top three revenue generative areas and top three growth areas for the next 3-5 years. Pick a topic from one of THESE areas. This shows that you a) understand what’s important to the company and b) that you can talk about a subject that is in their area of specialisation. If these areas don’t interest you then you’ve probably applied to the wrong firm!
3. Prepare for different sides of the argument. You may be asked to see things from the opposite point of view.

[elifbestegul]

How do we talk about these topics and swing it in a way that relates back to us? Law firms usually expect a link back to you when you are talking about the firm but I find this kind of difficult if I don’t have any experience I can link this to even though I am interested in the areas they work in.

[William Lowe]

I remember in one of your podcasts a few months ago you mentioned that it’s good to have a broad range of knowledge that is as in depth as possible, as well as how it is too simple to just talk about areas that you are interested in. Often, many new topics will stem from discussions in one topic. For example, you might be talking about the luxury goods industry whereupon the interviewer will then lead the conversation towards supply chains, and then again to IP rights. From what I have gathered, it’s good to make these links and be able to walk an interviewer around one topic, whilst obviously remaining faithful to whatever question you get asked. A good way to do this is by having conversations about certain topics with friends (or on this forum!), as this can help you to think critically about the implications that one sector will have on another.

[Author]

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