Professional Development

There's a lot of discussion in the legal community about the shape and contours of legal education. One thing that isn't going to change with the economy is this: the need for professional development. So what have you done for your career lately? Attended a bar association meeting? Written a journal article? Conducted some mock or informational interviews? How about meeting with your career adviser? There's so much out there that you can do, and this is just the beginning of your long career, so getting in the habit of finding ways to continually reach out and improve yourself, your image, your network, and build your brand will serve you well for the rest of your career, no matter where it may take you.

LinkedIn on Your Resume

In general, the legal profession takes longer to embrace technology than most other fields. It is just part of the inherent conservatism of the profession. But if you are looking for non-traditional jobs or have strong recommendations in your LinkedIn profile, how can you advertise that? This article discusses pros and cons on including it in your resume, but maybe you can slip it into networking conversations or interviews as you discuss the great LinkedIn groups to which you belong. Or if you've created business cards, including it on there would be a great idea, especially because it can be your alternate resume in that networking session.

Rethinking the Questions

Many job seekers want to find the right employer for them. How about turning the question on its head and consider who else you need to add into your prospective employer list? With whom else do you need to reconnect? Thinking through your network can start with LinkedIn, but consider checking out one of our Networking titles from the Law Career Services library today!

Strategy, Psychology, & Networking

Tim Tyrell-Smith has lots of insights about the job search. His philosophy boils down to three components: strategy, psychology, and networking. He has just published a free e-Book 30 Ideas: The Ideas of Successful Job Search, which is full of ideas on how to bring to together the advice you've already heard or forgotten to put into practice. He addresses many common fears and the various ways that job searches evolve, addresses the time crunch on networking, and so much more. His blog reinforces the concepts in the book, as well as provides continued insight and stories to illustrate his philosophy. Check it all out today!

Personal Branding & Stories

Don Hewitt, the creator and former executive producer of the show 60 Minutes, left a legacy of telling stories. While it is important that you know how to give an elevator pitch, or quick introduction of yourself, in 30 seconds or less, what will you tell someone about yourself once you have them hooked? How is your personal brand interwoven that elevator pitch, into every story you tell while networking and in an interview, into every cover letter you write?