The days of the standard in-person interview process have disappeared during this COVID-19 pandemic. Firms are turning toward phone interviews and virtual interviews as a necessity, but this is a trend which has been growing for years and is undoubtedly here to stay – virus or no. At the base level, an interview is an interview and much of the same traditional wisdom applies. However, each…
Over the past week or so, my conversations with attorneys have shifted. I hear a lot of uncertainty. I hear about the deals being postponed. I hear that the struggles you faced and the goals you’d set for yourself three weeks ago are still on your mind. Maybe it’s not the right time to seize a lateral opportunity in the next few weeks (maybe it is), but it is definitely the right time for us to have targeted, goal-oriented discussions and develop a relationship so I can help you grow and reach your goals when the time is right.
Cover letters can be tricky, especially for someone who has been off the market for some time. You want to show yourself in the best possible light, but many cover letters focus on the wrong elements and can easily lose the attention of the decision-makers that are reviewing your submission package.
The best use of the cover letter is not to re-state your resume in paragraph form, but to anticipate questions that the recruitment coordinator or partners may have and to provide these answers in a concise, yet comprehensive way.
You have all of the right qualifications. Your resume lists the skill set that the firm most desires. You are the perfect “on paper” candidate. Now, you have an interview. Shoe in, right? Not, exactly. An interview is much more than proving that you can do the job. It can all come down to personality.
Here are the qualities that make for the best and most successful interviews:
You would be surprised how many partners with major law firms do not have Business Plans and when they start looking into other law firm possibilities, do not realize they need one. For some reason, the thought of putting together a “big-B” Business Plan is very scary to some attorneys. In actuality, the Business Plan is probably an easier document to draft than the resume because the information needed is pretty cut and dry. This article is designed to take the “scary” away, by giving you the elements necessary to put together a successful Business Plan.
Recruitment coordinators are handling their summer associates and preparing for the incoming class of new attorneys. Partners are taking off on vacation. Why should you concern yourself with your job search now? Why not wait until the fall? Once we hit mid-September, you will start your discussion with a recruiter, prepare your resume, review job openings, and submit your materials to law firms with enthusiasm and dedication.
