As an in-house recruiter, I talk to both hiring managers and job seekers for a living. I’ve been doing this for well over a decade and have seen multiple boom and bust cycles. What separates successful job seekers from unsuccessful ones, no matter the market? A track record that hiring managers understand. They can see you will immediately add value, grow with the company, and want to stay.

Indicia of success could be training at a leading firm under known leaders, representing top clients, and doing great things at respected companies in a similar space or function. The more of these factors you can communicate and the clearer your story is, the greater the chance you will get a look by the hiring manager.

Often the factor that pushes candidates over the top into getting the job is their people/communication skills. Managers wants lawyers who are easy to work with, come vetted, and will partner with business clients.

The takeaway? Work on the hard skills needed to get the job done and on the soft skills so you get along with people and show you can get things done.