Public Policy Handbook Coming Soon!

We are very excited to let you know that we have just submitted our invoice request to access the Public Policy Handbook, a resource similar to the Government Honors & Internship Handbook which will focus on policy internships and positions. We will be adding the login information to this resource to the Symplicity announcements page as soon as it is launched in late January. In the meantime, PSLawNet is a great resource to be using for finding Fellowship, Internship, and full-time public interest job opportunities as well.

Behavioral Interviews

One of the buzz phrases in legal hiring is 'behavioral interview questions' which can provide a look at how a candidate's past experiences will anticipate future work situations and decisions. These questions are aimed at teasing out a candidate's skills, experience, temperament, and interests as a good fit for the employer's culture, mission, and strategy. To prepare fully for these types of questions, candidates need to conduct a full and thorough self-assessment of their past experiences, developing skill sets, and interests, and how those intersect with the employer's needs. Legal career require flexibility, persistence, consistent hard work, and dedication. Make sure you are ready to discuss not only anything that is on your resume but other experiences that enable you to show those attributes.

PICs Picks: Hometown Networking

As we all prepare for exams and then a long hiatus from school, it is tempting to let our job search languish. One way to help stave off this urge and help to bolster your professional network is to try and reach out to attorneys who are based in your hometown. Many people in law school have some connection to working lawyers, whether it is friends' parents, parents' friends, a neighbor, or an old coach. While you are home for an extended period, reach out to these people and try to set up a meeting with them. Lunch, dinner, or even a cup of coffee will provide a chance to either kindle a new connection or renew a dormant one. It will also allow the person to see the professional you are aspiring to be and give them a chance to learn of your areas of interest. This could potentially large dividends for your job search in law school and beyond.

SMART References & Letters of Recommendation

You are about to ask someone to serve as a reference for you. What do you need to ask them? What do you want them to highlight? This blog posting was written about Letters of Recommendation but is still provides great guidance to consider how you can ask recommenders to highlight certain accomplishments as well as show some of your strongest character traits -- flexibility, dedication, critical and analytical thinking skills, and so much more. This will also help you when you use this as a checklist with a job posting. When you are updating your recommenders on recent applications or upcoming interviews, if there is something specific that you know the employer is looking for and to which this recommender can speak, using the SMART method will provide tangible stories and evidence of your abilities.

Personal Branding

Personal branding is a part of your personal marketing toolkit. But how do you create one? First, you need to got through your CSI (Credentials, Skills & Interests) assessment. What do you bring to the table? What do you want to do with that? Second, develop your elevator pitch. Go through this Harvard Business School Exercise to develop and then determine the strength of your current pitch. Third, consider how your personal brand is (or is not) present in your cover letters, resume, LinkedIn profile, and how your references talk about you. Don't forget to make sure you're adjusting your personal brand techniques as you target different employers -- this blog posting will help you consider some key language to show that you've thought out your strengths, weaknesses, and why you'd be the right person for the job.