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[quote=Anonymous]Yes, this is accurate in the law firm context.  I have been interviewer and interviewee in private firms and agencies.

In my experience the firm interviewers just don't care that much about qualifications.  Most associates don't stay long, and few junior interviewers know what actually makes a good attorney anyway, so the the whole exercise is treated as a pointless formality.  Interviewers usually get your resume just minutes before you walk in the door, and are selected because they went to your school or something: they have no investment in you.  If they're interested in you at all (unlikely) it will be because you're fun to be around.  If you find the interview unhelpful or insulting (which is pretty common) they have little reason to care.

The government is the opposite.  Most agencies don't have the kind of culture where people work until 2 a.m. together, or get beer after work, so while it's nice to find a work-friend they really don't care about your hobbies and sports affiliations.  But government interviewers know they'll be stuck with you forever, so they want to know if you're competent and easy to work with.  They have to justify their hiring decisions in writing, so they need real questions and standardization.  And, they care more about the interviewee's experience because they want people to feel they were treated fairly and taken seriously.[/quote]

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