Archive for the 'Careers' Category
This is the final part in our series on jobs vs. careers. Be sure to read Part 1 and Part 2.
So far we’ve talked a lot about focusing on your career vs. the individual job in which you are working. We’ve looked at applying this concept to the jobs you select. Now, it’s time to understand how to apply this to your career connections.
Keep networking
Everyone understands the importance of networking. It’s the key to getting the job you want. It’s how you reach more clients, make more sales, and earn that next promotion. Sure, you have to work hard, but you also have to network with the right people.
You can’t stop networking just because you’re in a job you like. Focus on the bigger picture: your career. If you settle into your current job and stop networking, your career will suffer.
So what do you do instead?
Most importantly, maintain your current network. Don’t stop networking. Keep in touch with your contacts. And also, expand your current network. Think about where your career might take you next and start networking in that direction. Lay the groundwork for your next job with the connections you make today.
Don’t burn bridges
Hopefully this goes without saying. However, I’ll say it anyway. Don’t burn any bridges. This is definitely part of continual networking to help your career.
Just because you don’t like your current job or had a run-in with a coworker, you should be sure to keep everything professional. Every job and professional you encounter should be an addition to your career and your network. But if you burn the bridge, that doesn’t happen.
This is not to say that you should love every job you have in your life. But you should definitely see how it fits into your career. Also, every supervisor you have should be able to provide a decent recommendation about the quality of your work. If that isn’t the case, make sure it’s not your fault.
Think “career”
Since that’s the mantra for this series, it’s worth saying one final time. Whenever a job opportunity comes your way, evaluate it in terms of your overall career. Don’t sabotage your career by burning bridges. And always keep up your network. If you keep the forest in mind, you’ll do much better with each individual tree.
This is Part 2 in our series on jobs vs. careers. Be sure to read Part 1.
In the first part of this series, I illustrated the difference between a job and a career. We talked a lot about the long-term nature of your career versus the short-term nature of most jobs. Now it’s time to apply that.
Think “career”
Throughout the remainder of this series, our mantra will be “think ‘career.’” Why? Quite simply, your goal should be to have the most rewarding career possible. That might mean making lots of money, having time to raise a family, or being famous. No matter what ultimate goal you have for your life, your career is likely the means to get there.
In your working life, you will have many decisions to make. Some do not have obvious long-term implications. However, they all must fit in with your overall career plan. That’s why you should focus on your career, not the individual decisions.
Does a job fit?
Part of the difficulty in guiding your own career is in determining whether or not a particular job fits your career path. This is why you should focus on the career, not the job. If you think about your career goals, it becomes easier to see what jobs to pursue.
For example, it might seem that a job making tacos would not fit into the career of being a lawyer. However, you first have to get through college and law school. If making tacos helps you achieve that, it is likely a decent job to pursue. Once out of law school, it is hard to see how making tacos will further your career.
Another type of job to consider is one outside the typical career path, but where you will gain crucial experience for your career. An example of this might be working in a related job field or in the same industry at a different position.
A friend of mine worked for a large advertising company before law school. Now he is getting a job representing advertisers on the legal side of their business. He is working in the same industry as before law school, but he shifted job positions. His previous advertising experience will be vital to his success as a lawyer.
The lesson to be learned here is simple. Don’t shortchange a job just because it does not seem to fit in with your career at first. Keep your eyes open to future possibilities and applications for your work experience. Great careers can begin in even the most unsuspected places.
Be sure to check back for the next part of this series. Or subscribe to Job Tuition for easier reading.
You may be thinking to yourself, “What’s the difference?” Hopefully I can help you out with this subtle, yet important, distinction. Even more importantly, we’ll see why it matters.
Jobs
What was your very first paying job? I mowed lawns to earn some pocket money, but my first real paying job was at Taco Bell. Did I want a career in the restaurant industry? Certainly not. However, this job put gas in my car through high school. I also learned some general job skills, along with gaining customer service experience.
The point is that a job is a specific position you fill with a specific employer. It is the tree in the forest. Some are small, some tall. Some may fit like a glove, while you might hate others.
Just like all trees eventually wither and die, jobs are almost always temporary, when compared with your entire working life. Very few people begin and end their working life at the same job.
Careers
Now that you see the tree, let’s look at the forest. In essence, your career is the sum total of your education and work experience. Think of it as the coherent theme on your resume. It’s even broader than your resume “objective.”
I started off with lawn mowing and Taco Bell. I am now only six months away from my first full-time position as a lawyer. Does that mean that this position completes my career? Of course not.
I’m excited about my first real lawyer job. But it’s just that: a job. My chosen career is to be a lawyer. Thus, this job will fit in great with that, especially in me gaining some vital experience and on-the-job learning. However, I will definitely keep my eyes open for where my career might lead me next. What other paths does the forest have?
Eyes on the trail
Of course I have to keep up the metaphor! But seriously, all this talk about jobs versus careers is really important. As you now see, jobs don’t usually last your whole life, but your career will. This has profound practical implications on your everyday life.
In a nutshell, you should never give up your professional efforts at sustaining your overall career. If you focus too narrowly on your current job, you might find yourself unemployed some day without a clue about where to go next.
Since there is a lot to digest here, we’ll break it up into several posts. For now, please think about your job(s) versus your career. Separate the two in your mind. Check back here at Job Tuition for the rest of this series. Or subscribe by RSS for easier reading.
If you are a third year law student, most of your classmates have probably accepted jobs for after graduation. If you’re reading this, you might not be in that position.
Fortunately, there are still many available job opportunities, even once your final year of law school has started. You just have to know where and how to look.
What type of job do you want?
There are plenty different jobs still available at this point. You need to decide the kind that interest you, and then start researching them. Here is a partial list:
- Large firm - These firms are almost constantly hiring. They have regular hiring cycles, and usually hire a large class of incoming lawyers every year. Your career services office probably knows at least some firms who are still looking for people to fill their needs in the incoming lawyer class. You can also contact firms directly via email, mail, or phone, to inquire whether or not they have space.
- Small firm - Smaller firms have irregular hiring practices. They can’t afford to pay lawyers who don’t have work to do. Thus, they only hire when there is a strong need. Lucky for you, some of these firms will be hiring in the coming months. The key is to get in touch with them and make sure they think of you.
- Public interest - Non-profit organizations have differing needs, depending upon their size, purpose, etc.
- Government - Like public interest groups, government agencies have differing needs. Judicial clerkships are a definite option to consider during your third year. Also, prosecutors’ offices will usually accept applications during your third year. There are also a plethora of agencies at the state and federal level. Many of these have ongoing needs where you can get your foot in the door.
Contact early and often
After you know where you want to work, it’s now time to get in touch with your prospective employers. An important concept of job searching during your third year is to get your name in front of the employers and stay in contact with them. Since many needs are changing and evolving over time, you need to remind employers that you are looking and interested in them. Do not let employers forget about you, but don’t harrass them either.
Part of the contact during this process is maintaining network relationships. These are key during the third year job search. You must expand your network into prospective job areas and keep in touch with your contacts.
Don’t give up
The hardest part about looking for a job during your final year of law school is handling the stress of the process. Third year is hyped as your time to relax, and your friends are doing just that. But you can’t let that get you down. There are lots of legal jobs available, and one is waiting for you. You just need to be flexible, maintain contact, and keep searching.
Do you want to find a summer law firm job? If so, this is the article for you. You should not take this question lightly, though; there are many different summer opportunities for law students. You could do pro bono work, study abroad, work for the government, clerk for a judge, and the list goes on. The point is that you should take some time to explore your options, consider what you want out of your career, and try to tailor your summer goals accordingly.
The Timeline
Before we head off to law-firm-land, you must understand the timeline. Fortunately for you, some things are set in stone.
November 1 - This is the date when your career services office can actually begin talking with you about jobs. The National Association for Law Placement (NALP) sets this date, and law schools are supposed to comply with it. If you keep an eye on your school calendar or bulletin boards, you should see different job meetings and discussions for first years cropping up in the beginning of November.
December 1 - Prior to December 1, employers and law students are not supposed to contact each other. Once again, this date is set by NALP. Thus, you really do not need to worry about speaking with employers until December. For now, you have time to think about what you want out of your career.
January, February - Most likely your law school will host interviews with employers on campus. You should be able to sign up with employers in which you have an interest, and hopefully you will receive some interview offers. Your career services office will publicize all the information you need for this process.
April - By this time, you really want to have firm job plans. Interviews should be over, offers made and decided upon, jobs in hand. You don’t need to have your dream job for your first law school summer. But by April, you should have something. With that said, do not let that keep you from looking for something in addition to, or instead of your current job prospect. However, be honest with employers if you are still looking, or if you are waiting on offers from other employers.
May - Finals, then work!
Continue reading ‘How To: Find a Summer Law Firm Job’
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