Grad Fellow
Law Career Services
Tip #1: Continue to network.
Many jobs in this economic market are not listed on the internet, rather they are advertised via “word-of-mouth” exchanges. This means you should enhance and maintain your network, in addition to conducting traditional online searches, in order to increase your chance of landing a job.
Tip #2: Adaptation will enhance your ability to actually obtain a job.
Make sure your search is not too broad or too narrow, find a balance. Petrasek recommends that you adapt to the jobs available, rather than pigeon-hole yourself into one field or one type of practice. Also, be open to temporary positions, like contract work, part-time employment, and pro bono opportunities. Essentially, these positions give an employer the opportunity to sample your work ethic and work product before making a commitment to hire you. This means your part-time position can be the bridge to permanent employment.
Tip #3: Be prepared for your interview.
Often, employers ask questions about your resume, so keep your resume updated. Be sure to include experience, pro bono work, education, etc. that relates to the job opening for which you are applying. Moreover, become extremely familiar with the content of your resume to enable you to hold a conversation about every item, if this should occur. In addition, researching the employer may help you predict interview questions. Don’t limit yourself to the employer’s homepage, however. Do some digging. Travel through the various windows on the employer’s website, or try to locate articles about the employer on the itnernet.
Tip #4: Do not mention the word “job” too soon in the interview.
Have a discussion about the company and employer, rather than focusing on the job alone. Similarly, do not make the entire conversation about yourself. If the dialogue feels like it is heavily centered on you, then ask questions about the company or the employer. Not only will this gesture display your interest in the employer, but it will also allow you to gain more insight into the company itself. In addition, it will send the employer a message about the expectations that you have in a work environment.
Tip #5: Pay attention to body language and the strength of your voice.
Be sure to make eye contact, smile, and speak clearly. According to Petrasek, "[s]tudies have shown that if you talk with a strong voice, you exude confidence and a potential employer is more likely to hire someone who appears to be very confident.”
To read the full article click here.
For tips on drafting a resume, check out the American Bar Association teleconference on Top Strategies for Crafting a Better Resume in a Tough Legal Market on June 10, 2015. Click here for details
If you need help with job searches, resume and cover letter review, mock interviews, etc., LSC is here to help! Contact us at (415) 442-6625 or lawcareer@ggu.edu.
