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Next Moves for Newly Unemployed Associates
The National Law Journal
March 05, 2009
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Monster.com. Craigslist.org. CareerBuilder.com.
More and more, today's jobs searches start by logging onto the Internet instead of with an informal face-to-face interview and a handshake.
Interview skills and networking are still key to landing a job, but locating open positions and getting a foot in the door often starts by scanning job postings and sending résumés and cover letters out into the ether. The world of cyber job-hunting presents lots of opportunity but also potential pitfalls for attorneys looking to land a position -- and there are plenty of people in that category, given the widespread layoffs hitting law firms.
Experts say it's wise to look through online job postings and job banks, but attorneys seeking work should use those postings as a jumping-off point and shouldn't neglect their other networking efforts.
"Obviously, the Internet is a great tool, but it's just one of many tools," said Charles Volkert, the executive director of Robert Half Legal, a legal staffing service. Attorneys should take a multilayered approach by looking for jobs on the Internet, tapping into work and alumni networks and possibly working with a recruiter at the same time.
One of the major benefits of Internet job sites is that they are a quick and easy way for searchers to get an idea of what types of jobs are available and which markets and firms seem to be hiring, said Steve Langerud, the assistant dean of career services at the University of Iowa College of Law. And there is certainly no shortage of places attorneys can go to look for postings, be they general jobs Web sites like Monster.com or CareerBuilder.com or law-specific sites such as lawjobs.com (affiliated with Law.com) or lawcrossing.com -- the latter of which requires users to pay for access to job listings.
But the sheer volume of postings and sites can make it difficult for job searchers to know where to look.
"The most common mistake I see candidates make is taking a hit-and-miss approach," Volkert said. "This shouldn't be like throwing darts at a dartboard. You should be thoughtful in your approach."
Being thoughtful means tailoring your résumé and cover letter carefully for each available position, and focusing your efforts on the positions you really want and are an appropriate candidate for.
Langerud said applicants should put the same amount of effort into preparing materials for a position posted online as they would for any other position -- a rule many people ignore.
"Some people see [online job postings] as a throwaway. There is a sense of, 'There are so many people applying that I'm not going to put as much work into it,' " he said. "You still need to do your diligent research about who will be reading your materials."
Instead of responding to as many posted jobs as possible, Langerud recommends taking a tiered approach and spending more time on the positions you really want, and less time on positions that are not as desirable. Some people simply aren't as discerning about what they apply for because it's relatively easy to send out résumés via e-mail, he said.
Both Volkert and Langerud said that while a job posting may be a lead, job searchers should rely on their networks to see if they know people in the firm. That connection may have information about the open position and the hiring partners. They might even hand-deliver a job searcher's résumé to firm decision makers -- which will help distinguish that searcher from other online applicants.
"You want to get your résumé to the front of the pack. Don't just attach a résumé and hit send," Volkert said.
Just because a job is posted online doesn't mean applicants can't call up the firm for more information about the job, said legal recruiter Marina Sirras, who is based in New York.
"I keep telling people to pick up the phone and call, or send an e-mail. It almost puts you ahead of the pack," Sirras said. "It doesn't hurt to say, 'I sent you a résumé on such and such day. Is there anything else you need?' " That small effort may be enough to grab the attention of hiring partners who may have been inundated with e-mailed résumés.
Yet another tactic suggested by Volkert is to search the online biographies of the attorneys in the practice area for which you are applying in order to get a better sense of their interests and histories. He also recommends checking job sites first thing in the morning or in the evening, since many sites update listings at night.
"If you are actively looking for a job, you need to be looking at the job boards three or four times a week," Volkert said.
For all the benefits of Internet job sites, they have plenty of drawbacks. Margaret Reuter, assistant dean for career planning at the New York Law School, said that many job boards carry the same postings, which can turn off searchers.
"There's a huge amount of similarities between job search Web sites, and there's a gazillion of them," Reuter said. "It's easy to be numbed by the familiarity of the same postings, as people bounce from site to site." On top of that, online job searching can be extremely frustrating, Langerud said. Some firms don't reply to applicants who have responded to online job postings.
"It does feel like constant rejection, some of which is because you've heard nothing back," he said. "That's probably more discouraging than hearing 'no.' That's what I hear from people -- that it's hardest when you have no idea what's happened in the end. There's a point where you need to hear something from someone that's helpful in your job search."
