How many times have you applied for a legal job to either (1) never hear anything in response or (2) receive an automatic response confirming that the employer received your application, resume and cover letter only to never hear anything further?
It’s easy to get frustrated, and it’s okay if you feel a bit frustrated, especially if you’ve been actively searching for a new or different position for months or years.
Just don’t let the frustration of not getting hired overcome you. Try to look at the matter objectively.
A good starting point is realizing what you are up against practically every time you apply for a job. To say it’s tough out there is an understatement.
Prior to becoming an attorney, I advised hiring authorities and worked as a human resources professional for a number of years.
It is from that perspective that I can advise you that for every legal job posting an employer puts on the employer’s website or elsewhere it is not unusual for the organization to receive hundreds of resumes, applications and cover letters in response.
Therefore, every time you apply for a position the odds are somewhat against you that you will receive an invitation for an interview. This is most particularly true if you don’t have an insider’s track to the position – such as a friend or colleague who knows the hiring authority or works for the organization and is pulling strings for you to get an interview.
As wonderful as that victory is in your job search objectives, there’s still much more work to be done if the ultimate objective is to have an offer tendered.
See the following articles for more information:
- Top 10 Ways to Get Your First Job after Law School
- How to Land Your First Job as a Lawyer
- How to Land Your First Job as an Attorney
In a way, the work has really just begun. If you’re not thinking of a job search as a job, you really should. It’s going to take some strategic planning, drive and yes WORK to go from applicant to employee in today’s fiercely competitive job market.
Step #1 is to cast a wider net than you might otherwise be doing. Tell everyone you know to tell everyone they know you're in the job market.
This short video will help you transition from applicant to employee as you "work those contacts!"
Click here for more information about the author, Kathleen M. Bonczyk.
