The Role of Networking in Your Legal Career The term networking is sometimes overused and often misunderstood. Some people think that networking merely means using contacts to find jobs. Others dismiss it as psychobabble, a campy way to mystify something that is very simple. Both these perceptions contain grains of truth, but miss the big picture. Certainly, networking means using personal contacts in the job search... (11 views)
Preparation for an On-Campus Interview with a Law Firm The first step you have to take for attending interviews on campus is to know how to write a cover letter and resume. Research law firms by speaking to practicing attorneys, using resources such as firm literature, and reading up on associate satisfaction. This research will help prepare for your interviews. (107 views)
Writing Letters to Potential Employers Whenever possible, call rather than write to prospective employers. The telephone offers many advantages: it lets you arrange an interview immediately (letters involve delays of many days); it involves less time, less effort, and, it is in line with the personal orientation of the Job Club program, the phone permits a two-way conversation that promotes more familiarity. (689 views)
The Origin and History of Job Clubs In a study in the 60s done by H.R. Sheppard, along with Robert Jones, a psychologist people were asked how they had gotten their jobs. The results were a surprise: 66% of the job leads had come from friends, relatives and acquaintances; in 63% of the cases, the contacts provided information on specific job openings. Few of the job leads came through conventional channels:... (344 views)
Using a Job Club to Find a New Job or Career Certainly, it is harder to find work in a depressed economy. But even when inflation is raging, interest rates are high, and a recession is present, there are jobs available. Employees retire, go to school, become ill, die, move away, and change jobs. Within a single company, one division may be hiring while another is laying people off. (148 views)
The Basics of a Full-Time Job Search The very idea of job hunting may elicit a variety of negative reactions, ranging from fatigue to grim determination to despair. After all, if your only alternative were to pound the pavement, classified ads in (clenched) hand, to compete with countless other equally grim or desperate souls, you'd have a right to feel bad. However, the job-searching process doesn't have to... (23 views)
Maximizing Your Time Between Job Interviews Because job seekers tend to be disorganized about scheduling their interviews and other visits, they end up wasting a lot of time. For example, they will arrange one interview, but not make plans about how to spend the remainder of the day. However, the Job-Club method allows you to make full use of all your time in order to get a job more quickly. (18 views)
Understanding and Responding to Job Postings and Job Ads When you are looking for a job, your first duty is to ensure you are getting updated about every new job that comes online or appears in a newspaper ad ASAP. You can ensure this by checking the newspaper or job posting sources including online job boards on a regular basis and as early in the day or late at night as possible. However, there are certain misconceptions... (69 views)
Preparing for a Full-scale Job Search Before you start looking offline for a job, there are several things you can do that can get you off to a good start. This article deals with things that can help you at the preliminary stage of beginning hunting for jobs. These steps can be essential, depending upon your resources and preparedness, because going to war without a plan or supplies can be disastrous. (82 views)
Create a Job Leads Form to Simplify Your Search A problem that frequently arises during a job search is having to keep track of the incidental pieces of information about the job leads that come your way. You get job leads from different sources and different places—from want ads, from the telephone directory, from people on the phone, from friends and friends of friends, and in response to letters you have written.... (19 views)
Bypassing HR and Personnel Departments in a Job Search It isn't hard to apply for a job at a small company. Simply ask to speak to the manager or owner. This person will then either interview you or give you an application form to fill out. (19 views)
How to Use Open Letters of Recommendation to Secure a Job Most employment application forms have a space for listing people whom the employer can contact to learn more about the applicant. (You already provided this information in your sample employment application form and in your job resume.) (9258 views)
Reviewing Your Skills to Ensure You Get the Right Type of Job Before you start looking for a job, you need to know what type of job you want. For people who have had extensive experience or who have a license or certificate in one type of job, this is a simple decision. Licensed beauticians, electricians, barbers, teachers, social workers, auto repairpersons, plumbers, and so forth usually know exactly what type of job they... (5 views)
Creating a Classified Ad for Seeking Employment The classified job-wanted ad is yet a traditional way to obtain job leads. In this type of ad, you place a notice in the local newspaper, or local websites or forums stating that you desire a position. This method tends to be used by only a very small percentage of job seekers—fewer than 2 percent, yet its effectiveness can be fairly high. Job-wanted ads were the avenue... (464 views)
Overcomng Inhibitions Preventing Friends From Helping in Our Job Search One reason why job seekers may be reluctant to ask friends or acquaintances for assistance is the feeling that the other person can't help and that asking would do no good. The following statements typify this attitude: (64 views)
Preparing Yourself for a Future Job Search No job is guaranteed to be permanent. In fact, very few people remain in the same job for the same employer for their entire lifetime. Factories may close down, and even government departments and facilities may be discontinued or moved. In addition, your interests may change, your current salary may become insufficient, you may want a job change because of additional... (8 views)
Using the Job Club Approach to Find a New Job The Job-Club approach to finding a job works for a broad range of jobs, including unskilled, semiskilled, skilled, managerial, and professional. However, looking for a professional job is somewhat different from looking for most nonprofessional jobs. These differences are a matter of degree rather than of change in procedure, but they do deserve some attention. (31 views)
Finding Job Leads from Business Directories Most job seekers use the telephone only occasionally, but the Job-Club method relies on it heavily. (10 views)
Contacting Previous Employers for Jobs and Job Leads From the Job-Club point of view, a previous employer can offer especially valuable assistance in your job search. Traditionally, however, former employers usually are not contacted. Job seekers often balk at the idea of making this contact—they feel that they don't want to do the same work; that a return to an old employer is an admission of failure; that they now have... (16038 views)
Cold Calling Your Way Into a New Job Here you are at your desk, staring at your job leads list, which lists the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of businesses that can use your skills and services. (378 views)
Friends Helping Friends Find Jobs and Advance Careers The usual method: out of work but self-reliant Most job seekers avoid using friends, feeling prodded by the Merit Principle to obtain jobs solely based on ability, not personal factors. Indeed, job seekers often feel embarrassed at the mere thought of asking friends to help. At most, they may mention their need for a job only casually, or only if they happen to run into... (15 views)
How to Negotiate a Good Offer from a Law Firm Congratulations! Finally, an offer that you can seriously consider! Up to this point, you've focused on packaging, presenting, and proposing. Now, attention turns to getting precisely what you want - and the ante is raised. (2640 views)
What to Expect in an In-House Law Firm Interview The in-house interview is the "meat" of the recruiting process. This stage of the recruiting cycle requires a substantial amount of time and energy and is also the most stressful part. The best advice I can give to you at this stage of the game is to plan, prepare, and listen to what your intuition tells you. (1497 views)
What the future holds for law firm recruiting what does the future look like for law firm recruiting? What will the job picture look like for recent law school graduates, experienced attor-neys, legal administrators, and support personnel in the coming years? No one knows for sure, but I'll make a few predictions of my own, based on my years of experience in law firm recruiting. (10 views)
Preparing for a Non-Legal Job Interview The research you have completed on the career areas you are interested in, combined with the informational interviews you have conducted with professionals in the field, will enhance your preparation and control in an interview setting. Before you meet with the non-legal employer you should complete the following steps: (283 views)
Alternative Legal Careers: Chart Your Professional and Social Networks In order to begin developing a referral list, or a chart of your network, you may wish to complete the following worksheet. This should help you get organized. Consider this form as something that will continually be expanded as you consider referral sources— (21 views)
Assess New Fields and Positions with an Informational Interview The informational interview is one of the best ways to learn firsthand about positions that you think you are considering. Remember again, that this is not where the process begins. There are many ways to narrow a broad career field before you begin to utilize the time of busy professionals. (24 views)
Preparing for a Job Interview In a Non-Legal Field Procrastination is the arch-enemy of every job search program. As early as you possibly can in your final year in law school, you should begin the development of your research program, your resume and your cover letter. As has already been indicated, your letters and resumes can start going out even though your research program is only partially completed. (47 views)
Overseas Opportunities for American Attorneys How Can I Find a Job Oversees?Opportunities for lawyers in Asia and other emerging marketsHave you been having trouble finding a job in the U.S.? Do you see yourself living and working outside the U.S.? Are you familiar with foreign cultures? Are you looking for an English speaking environment? Would you be willing to start out as an intern for the right position? Are you... (7315 views)