If you are an attorney or legal professional who is looking for a job, you have probably noticed that the job market is competitive, and it takes a long time to get an interview. There are a few steps you should follow when you are searching for a job.
Research Law Firms in Your Area
Before you even begin your job search, you should research the law firms in Miami. Know what type of law they practice and how big their firm is. Find out their median salary and how it stacks up against other law firms in the area. Read reviews and see what former and current employees have to say about them.
If you want to make things easier for yourself, you should Google “Legal Recruiter Miami.” A legal recruiter works a little like an employment agency. They bring lawyers and law firms together. However, they do much deeper research. They will be able to give you detailed information about the firms that work in your area of law or in the area of law you would like to get into.
The best legal recruiting firms will be run by people who are lawyers themselves. They will know what questions to ask lawyers and law firms to see if they are a good fit for one another. The recruiters belong to various legal societies so they will be in the know when a major law firm in the Miami area is looking to hire attorneys.
Networking
Anyone who went to law school probably has more than a few Facebook friends who are attorneys. You probably also get an alumni newsletter that announces when certain companies have jobs available or when graduates start their own firms. You may want to take an alumnus to lunch and let them know why you would be the perfect associate for their new firm.
Professional organizations are also a great opportunity to network. Not only will you meet people in the legal industry but it will also look great on a resume.
Know the Best Time of Year to Apply For a Job
In most industries, Fall is the best time to apply for a job. However, January to May is considered the hiring season for most attorneys. This is because law firms tend to get the most business at the end of the year. They need more personnel to help them do all of that work.
Update Your Resume
Having a well-written resume is more important than most people think. A potential employer will want to know how well you communicate and a resume is a good indicator of that.
The first thing you should do is make sure all of your contact information is current. You would be surprised at how many people have the wrong phone number or their old email address on their resume. If you have relocated since you last updated your resume, make sure the physical address is correct.
Most resumes open by stating job goals. You should put as much information in this two or three-sentence statement as possible. Be sure to update your work history as well. Add any new skills that you have. Your resume should cover the last seven years of your employment.
Be sure to search the web for the latest resume fonts. There are some fonts that have gone out of style and using them might make you seem out of touch.
Looking for a job can be frustrating. If you follow the right steps, you can find a firm with a great salary and life-work balance.