How to Search for a Position
How to Search for Satisfying Positions
NEW - LEXIS HUB FOR NEW ATTORNEYS IS PUBLISHING WEEKLY A SERIES OF FOURTEEN ARTICLES I HAVE WRITTEN. HERE IS A LINK TO THE MOST CURRENT ARTICLE, (YOU MAY HAVE TO REGISTER FIRST TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE CONTENT) THE THIRD OF FIVE ON THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE CAREER SEARCH. THE FINAL NINE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN BEING POSTED LATER THIS MONTH - NOVEMBER 2010 - ARE TO A GREAT EXTENT AN EXPANDED VERSION OF WHAT APPEARS IN THIS ARTICLE.
The following is, in part, adapted from my book Lawful Pursuit published by the American Bar Association The Search Now you know what setting you want to be in, the field within that setting and the description of the duties and responsibilities of a position consistent with your personal and professional goals. Remember - only a small percentage of openings are advertised in writing so don't spend much time responding to ads. In fact, a high percentage of professionals persuade employers to create positions which take advantage of their unique experience and talents. Many others start organizations and become their own bosses. Packaging Yourself NOW and only now can you prepare the material you need to describe yourself - after you have gone through the process of exploring your goals, skills and options and have decided what you are going to do. You can't promote yourself if you don't know who you are and what you are seeking. We refer to "material" because you may not need a resume in the beginning. In fact, if you choose not to be an employee, you may need a brochure or a proposal. In any event only now can you present yourself as someone with the desired qualifications, commitment, and potential. Who Practices In Your Chosen Field Now you have to develop a list of potential workplaces. Many resources you have always known become useful tools once you know where you are heading. If you want to practice with a small firm in the area of family law or tax law in a medium size firm or work as a lawyer for a software developing company or as an advocate for a non-profit involved in workplace safety - find out about alumni/ae from your law school who do that, talk to staff at a bar association, go to: Justia – Legal Practice Areas – to learn more about your chosen area FindLaw Legal Practice Areas – to learn more about your chosen area Lawyers.com to find lawyers who practice in an area of your interestRead about Solo Practice University where I am a Career Resource Unemployed Lawyers – more resourcesAnd continue to enlist the help of friends, family, and other lawyers.Promoting YourselfYou have compiled a list of many individuals and organizations, and numerous places where you might like to work. (H)owever, you do not know of any openings. What you have to do next has been described in many ways including "networking" and "self-advocacy" or "promotion." Highlight the names of those people you spoke to during informational interviewing, and others likely to be "warm" contacts. Send those you feel most comfortable in contacting (even if you do not know them) making it clear that you are not asking for a job and attempt to set up a "promotional interview" in person or over the telephone.. Remember that the objective is to make the interviewer aware of your background, commitment to the area and availability so that if he or she hears about an opening elsewhere, your name and resume will be passed on. Get Involved As soon as you have decided what you want to do, take your choice seriously - get involved with those doing it. You need not wait until you are employed or earning money in that field. Take courses, work or volunteer on a part time basis, and join a professional organization. You will not only make contact with others but also have the opportunity to grow as a professional in that field. Selling YourselfYou have an appointment to talk about the opening. Remember that since you were looking for positions not publicly advertised, you may be the only person under consideration. Your primary competition is yourself. From your perspective you should know the skills and experience needed and show you have them. From their perspective the interview is a time to get a sense of your commitment, your experience, your potential and your personality. Making A DecisionIf you are offered a position, the question is "Do I want it?" Retake the Evaluating Your Present Situation, now prospectively for the position you are considering and determine how consistent it is with your goals and values. Have the strength (if at all practical) to reject it if there is a clear and strong conflict. Congratulate yourself if you accept it. You are on the road to career satisfaction. Reassessment and the CareerYour first position may not be perfect, but because you chose it based on what you thought was good for you, it is much more likely that you derived some benefit from it. The next one will be easier to find because of what you have learned about yourself. What you do and where you end up are to a great extent up to you.
NEW - LEXIS HUB FOR NEW ATTORNEYS IS PUBLISHING WEEKLY A SERIES OF FOURTEEN ARTICLES I HAVE WRITTEN. HERE IS A LINK TO THE MOST CURRENT ARTICLE, (YOU MAY HAVE TO REGISTER FIRST TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE CONTENT) THE THIRD OF FIVE ON THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE CAREER SEARCH. THE FINAL NINE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN BEING POSTED LATER THIS MONTH - NOVEMBER 2010 - ARE TO A GREAT EXTENT AN EXPANDED VERSION OF WHAT APPEARS IN THIS ARTICLE.
The following is, in part, adapted from my book Lawful Pursuit published by the American Bar Association The Search Now you know what setting you want to be in, the field within that setting and the description of the duties and responsibilities of a position consistent with your personal and professional goals. Remember - only a small percentage of openings are advertised in writing so don't spend much time responding to ads. In fact, a high percentage of professionals persuade employers to create positions which take advantage of their unique experience and talents. Many others start organizations and become their own bosses. Packaging Yourself NOW and only now can you prepare the material you need to describe yourself - after you have gone through the process of exploring your goals, skills and options and have decided what you are going to do. You can't promote yourself if you don't know who you are and what you are seeking. We refer to "material" because you may not need a resume in the beginning. In fact, if you choose not to be an employee, you may need a brochure or a proposal. In any event only now can you present yourself as someone with the desired qualifications, commitment, and potential. Who Practices In Your Chosen Field Now you have to develop a list of potential workplaces. Many resources you have always known become useful tools once you know where you are heading. If you want to practice with a small firm in the area of family law or tax law in a medium size firm or work as a lawyer for a software developing company or as an advocate for a non-profit involved in workplace safety - find out about alumni/ae from your law school who do that, talk to staff at a bar association, go to: Justia – Legal Practice Areas – to learn more about your chosen area FindLaw Legal Practice Areas – to learn more about your chosen area Lawyers.com to find lawyers who practice in an area of your interestRead about Solo Practice University where I am a Career Resource Unemployed Lawyers – more resourcesAnd continue to enlist the help of friends, family, and other lawyers.Promoting YourselfYou have compiled a list of many individuals and organizations, and numerous places where you might like to work. (H)owever, you do not know of any openings. What you have to do next has been described in many ways including "networking" and "self-advocacy" or "promotion." Highlight the names of those people you spoke to during informational interviewing, and others likely to be "warm" contacts. Send those you feel most comfortable in contacting (even if you do not know them) making it clear that you are not asking for a job and attempt to set up a "promotional interview" in person or over the telephone.. Remember that the objective is to make the interviewer aware of your background, commitment to the area and availability so that if he or she hears about an opening elsewhere, your name and resume will be passed on. Get Involved As soon as you have decided what you want to do, take your choice seriously - get involved with those doing it. You need not wait until you are employed or earning money in that field. Take courses, work or volunteer on a part time basis, and join a professional organization. You will not only make contact with others but also have the opportunity to grow as a professional in that field. Selling YourselfYou have an appointment to talk about the opening. Remember that since you were looking for positions not publicly advertised, you may be the only person under consideration. Your primary competition is yourself. From your perspective you should know the skills and experience needed and show you have them. From their perspective the interview is a time to get a sense of your commitment, your experience, your potential and your personality. Making A DecisionIf you are offered a position, the question is "Do I want it?" Retake the Evaluating Your Present Situation, now prospectively for the position you are considering and determine how consistent it is with your goals and values. Have the strength (if at all practical) to reject it if there is a clear and strong conflict. Congratulate yourself if you accept it. You are on the road to career satisfaction. Reassessment and the CareerYour first position may not be perfect, but because you chose it based on what you thought was good for you, it is much more likely that you derived some benefit from it. The next one will be easier to find because of what you have learned about yourself. What you do and where you end up are to a great extent up to you.
