Top 5 Things to Avoid in a Job Search

On November 2, 2014

A good article on what not to do: Apply online. Except for people with the golden resume (top 20 law school, AmLaw training, transactional skills, prior in-house, and in the 4-9 year range), don’t expect a response for online submissions. Apply for jobs that do not match your skills. Employers are looking for immediate help, […]

Compensation, Job Search

If I’m Willing to Take a Pay Cut, Wouldn’t an Employer be Interested?

On July 13, 2014

Many applicants are disappointed when they are willing to take a pay cut and a lower position, but the prospective employer is still not interested. Why wouldn’t the company want a good deal and get a great lawyer for cheap? Some concerns I have heard from the prospective manager: If someone is too senior for the scoped […]

Cover Letter, Job Search

Why Aren’t Employers Responding to My Applications?

On May 18, 2014

Is your resume read by the right person? You need to have someone walk in your resume to the hiring manager, ideally by a former client or colleague who can vouch for your skills. Having someone put your resume at the top of the pile can be helpful. Applying online is a crap shoot. Is your resume […]

Job Search, Process, Timing

Put Your Job Search in High Gear (summer slowdown ahead!)

On March 30, 2014

Did you know the hiring process grinds to a halt 3 times a year? The longest period is summer: mid-June through August. (The other two times are the last two weeks of November and the last two weeks of December.) The only exceptions to the summer slowdown are companies in explosive growth mode (vacation be […]

Career Management, Job Search, New Job

Time to Get a New Job! What to Do Starting Now

On January 12, 2014

Act on your New Year’s resolution to get a new job: Assess your skills and target your new employer. Set aside one hour per week (such a low bar!) to research target companies and see who you know there to facilitate introductions. Get your pitch ready! Show your expertise, e.g., by writing articles or leading […]

Career Management, Job Search, Resume

What to do if you don’t have the perfect resume?

On December 8, 2013

Some ways to show you can do the job even if you don’t have the ideal resume (addressed in my Dec. 1 blog): It’s always helpful to show academic excellence, e.g., you graduated in the top of your class/with honors, you were the top-ranked student for a particular class, or you served on law review (not […]

Career Management, Departure, Job Search

What Is The Most Likely Way I’m Going To Land My Next Job?

On October 21, 2013

If you have the golden resume (which is a mid-level transactional lawyer with top 10 schools and AmLaw training, perhaps prior in-house and a tech degree), then you can actually land your next job by applying online. For everyone else, definitely use the resources available like a top recruiter or personal connections. Current or former clients […]

Career Management, Departure, Job Search

Can I Leave My Job Before I Line Another One Up?

On October 7, 2013

I get asked this one a lot. The person asking probably knows the answer, which is no. Let’s go through the questions a prospective employer will consider: Performance. Were you let go because you couldn’t do the work? Personality. Could you get along with others and adapt to demands? Judgment. Do you have a realistic […]

Job Search

How Do I Jumpstart My Job Search?

On August 18, 2013

Following the end of summer, the legal market traditionally heats up. What should you be doing to jumpstart your job search? Get on LinkedIn. Post a professional picture (you can get a nice head shot taken for less than $100). Your LinkedIn profile should contain a crisp description of what you do and use keywords for the job […]

Job Search, Thank You

Are Thank You Notes Necessary?

On August 11, 2013

I have never seen thank you notes following an interview through a recruiter help anyone get the job. In fact, these notes can hurt you if they contain typos, grammatical errors, or insincere/boring platitudes. One big exception is if the interviewer is a stickler for etiquette and expects that thank you note. In that case, […]

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