LCD Graduate Fellow
An email by a partner at a large national law firm has gone viral across the Internet in the last month. In the message, the partner complained that sending thank you notes after your interviews with BigLaw firms is “Just a complete waste of everyone’s time.” The subtext is that thank you notes add very little value to your prospects of landing the job but cost large firms money by clogging employees’ inboxes with unwanted emails. Whether this advice translates to small, midsized, or public interest law firms remains to be seen, but a general guidepost is probably: “when in doubt, leave it out.”The bigger picture issue is that hiring and training new employees costs money—some estimates range as high as $300,000 per new lawyer.
As a new lawyer entering the marketplace to find your first job, the last thing you want to do is waste employers’ time at any point in the hiring process. If you can show that you can seamlessly transition from job applicant to employee without any wasted time and effort on the part of the employer, you stand significantly improved chances of landing the job.
To do that, here are five tips for helping employers help you in the job hunting process. Further, these tips will help get your resume to the top of the pile and increase your chances for scoring the job:
1. Make sure your resume, cover letter, and other materials are completely error free by having them vetted by the pros. One sure way to waste everyone’s time is by including spelling and grammar typos in your resume and cover letter. Unless you want to instantly wind up in the “reject” pile and leave the employer shaking her head, these must be completely error free. To that end, the best way to avoid typos and ensure a perfect resume is to show it to your career counselors here at GGU. Consequently, before responding to your next job posting, submit your materials to Law Career Development or book an appointment with a counselor now.
2. Put the employer hook at the beginning of your cover letter. To be sure, the first question any employer asks when reading your cover letter is, “Why do you want to work here?” So don’t bury the lede! Right in the first paragraph of your cover letter, spell out exactly why you want to work with that specific employer. Does something in your backstory resonate well with this employer? Did you study a particular relevant case in law school that got you excited? Why did it get you excited, and what does that have to do with this job? Say it right up front. Including personal details like this—tailored to specific employers—will prove that you are a best fit for the company.3. Work your personal connections. The old adage “it’s who you know” is true now more than ever—even in this digital age. It really is the quickest way to find a job. Similarly, networking helps speed up the job-filling process for employers. Think about it: Firms spend tremendous amounts of time, money, and energy to post job listings, sift through the pile, and then bring in job seekers for interviews. You can cut out all of these middleman steps by sparking and kindling relationships with employers from the get-go.
Some tricks: Reach out right now to that attorney you impressed during your 2L summer internship. Or check the right-hand side of this webpage, where you will find listings of dozens of events happening in the SF Bay Area over the next few months. Get out there, network, get your name out, and make it quick and easy for an employer to hire you—rather than go through the whole process of posting blind job listings.
4. Don’t neglect the “Activities and Interests” section of your resume. Let’s face it, at the end of a long day reviewing job candidates, all resumes start running together and look the same to the employer. You can get ahead of the herd by highlighting interesting personal details in the “Activities and Interests” section. Are you a huge Warriors fan excited about this historical season they’re having this year? Say so. Many lawyers are huge sports fans who love talking sports. Alternatively, are you proficient in a musical instrument? This can spark a great discussion about music during the first part of the interview when the employer is getting to know you. The point is, this oft-neglected section of the resume offers you a great opportunity to make a connection with an employer before she has even met you—speeding up the decision in the employer’s mind to bring you in for an interview.
5. Make sure your Facebook page—and other online presence—is appropriate, professional, and marketable. No doubt about it: If an employer is considering bringing you in for an interview, they are stalking you on Facebook and other social media.
The potential problem: As a lawyer, you are now being held to a higher standard, and that translates online too. You want to come across in all aspects of your life—including online on Facebook and elsewhere—as trustworthy, professional, and honorable. Make sure your Facebook page reflects this. If you appear dignified and professional online, an employer will have an easier time choosing you for the job.
Some quick tips: Obviously, nix any drunken photos and antics, to start, and make sure your LinkedIn photos look “lawyerly” (i.e. you’re wearing professional attire). But also remember to use correct spelling and punctuation in your posts. You are being judged on that, to be sure. In addition, avoid making personal attacks on anyone online from here forward. No matter how much your ignorant cousin annoys you with his conservative posts, don’t bash him. Again, when in doubt, lay out.
And if you are posting with respect to any topical legal issues, make sure you know what you are talking about. Demonstrate critical, well-researched thinking, logical arguments, and reasoned legal analysis.
And finally, never, never, never re-post any of those privacy notices that constantly go around Facebook. These have no legal effect and make you look ignorant of the law.
