8 Myths of the Legal Job Search…During a Pandemic
MYTH #8: I MUST LIMIT MY RESUME TO ONE PAGE.
Fact: It is perfectly fine to have a two-page resume. Just avoid letting it go any longer.
This is a perennial issue that, it seems, will just never to go away. There are still plenty of people touting this myth, but the fact is: It is preferable to have an attractive, easy-to-read resume with white space rather than a cramped, ugly one-pager where you have extended margins and used a small font.
Have more experience? Be strategic.
If you are more experienced, you can reduce your resume length strategically by cutting down on school activities and details of what you did during long-ago jobs. Focus on your recent relevant credentials to show what value you will add to your new employer.
For more, read: Is a Two-Page Resume Ever OK? by Yolanda Owens (The Muse)
MYTH #7: I NEED TO TALK TO ANY HEADHUNTER WHO CONTACTS ME.
Fact: Not every headhunter is worth your time.
Be especially cautious when dealing with cold calls by headhunters. That search they are calling about? It may be posted on the firm’s website or on a jobs board in which case, you don’t need them. And while some search firms will tell you that they have an exclusive with the hiring firm, this is unusual so ensure that you work only with a recruiter who is well-regarded. This is especially relevant during the COVID-related law firm hiring freezes and related cutbacks on salary and staff.
If you want to consider working with a headhunter…
Ask friends and colleagues for recommendations so as not to become entangled with an unscrupulous recruiter. Work only with someone who observes the NALSC (National Association of Legal Search Consultants) Code of Ethics and confirm by email that they will only submit your details or resume with your express written advice.
For more, read: When the Headhunter Calls, Here’s What to Say by Liz Ryan (Forbes)
MYTH #6: I SHOULD EXPECT TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE TO EVERY APPLICATION I SUBMIT (AND IF I DON’T, I NEED TO FOLLOW UP ON MY APPLICATION).
Fact: Unfortunately, only a minority of employers nowadays will reply to every applicant. Following up with an internal recruiter or HR professional is generally not a good use of your time.
This is especially true for online applications submitted through jobs boards and hiring portals. While it would be polite and likely not very time-consuming to acknowledge receipt and to update the status of each application, it is not likely to happen. Rather, spend your time finding a contact in the relevant practice or legal department or someone who might be able to get your resume out of the applicant portal into the hands of a decision-maker. You may also find yourself being ghosted by organizations after you have participated in an interview. It can be frustrating but is unfortunately commonplace.
For more, read: Top 5 Reasons You Never Hear Back After Applying For A Job by Meghan Biro (Glassdoor)
MYTH #5: THERE’S TOO MUCH GOING ON FOR THE PEOPLE IN MY NETWORK RIGHT NOW AND I DON’T WANT TO BOTHER THEM.
Fact: This is less the case now, months into our “new normal.” People want to connect, and they want to help!
At the beginning of the pandemic—as everyone struggled to adjust to the new reality of working from home—it might have seemed tone deaf to reach out and it might have been perceived as a bother or, more likely, the email or phone message might have become lost. Now, do not hesitate to reach out to your network and schedule a call, virtual coffee or happy hour. A Zoom coffee with a former co-worker is a pleasant respite from long, boring Zoom meetings and the isolation of #WFH.
For more, read: How To Network During a Pandemic by Rose Costello (Welcome to the Jungle)
MYTH #4: IT’S A FULL-TIME JOB TO FIND A JOB: I NEED TO STAY AT IT ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.
Fact: Even if you really tried, you can’t maintain spending all day, every day job searching.
There is a lot of momentum at the beginning of a job search -- getting your resume ready to go, editing your LinkedIn profile, drafting a list of contacts and looking for relevant job postings. That said, once you have this down, it should become a routine. There will be days where you get into the flow, time flies and you’ve been at it for 8 hours. More likely, you will apply for several jobs, do some online searching, have a virtual coffee, send some emails and then have time left over. There will be days when your momentum flows and days when it doesn’t.
My advice? Set a schedule and cut yourself some slack!
A job search is more likely to be a marathon, not a sprint. Be sure to look after your physical and mental health throughout the process.
For more, read: Why You Should Not Treat ‘Looking for a Job’ as a Full-Time Job by Priscilla Christopher (Huffpost)
MYTH #3: A GAP ON MY RESUME WILL KILL MY CAREER.
Fact: A gap on your resume is NOT a career killer—although you will need to be prepared to explain what you did with your time during the gap.
In the time of COVID it likely will be assumed that a gap is pandemic related. To get ahead of a resume gap, figure out what you will do during the gap (other than say you were job searching). It can be as simple as “I took time off to spend with my family” or if COVID-related, “I took the time to handle homeschooling my child.” You can also use the time to volunteer for a cause that is meaningful to you, even if it is just 10 hours/ week. And, it doesn’t have to be related to the law.
Right now, I know of several attorneys volunteering for political campaigns. I’ve also known people to use a break to train for a marathon or to ride with the Tour ‘de France, attend the Olympics, take an extended trip – obviously in non-pandemic times.
My advice? Keep the explanation short.
During an interview explain the gap in a straightforward manner, don’t over explain, don’t apologize, just state how you spent the time.
For more, read: Ten Questions Employers Have About Your Employment Gap by Caroline Ceniza-Levine (Forbes)
MYTH #2: I’M VERY STRESSED BUT I CAN’T TAKE ANY TIME OFF FROM JOB SEARCHING.
Fact: It is crucial that you schedule time to take care of yourself.
From the start, it is worth remembering that there are going to be up days and down days. If it’s a down day, don’t beat yourself up. When you begin to feel stressed take a walk, do virtual yoga, take a remote Barre class, watch a little Netflix. Don’t force yourself to sit at your computer all day long. If the stress continues or begins to turn into depression, then please consider consulting your firm’s EAP or a private therapist. There are multiple support services available. You do not need to manage depression alone.
My advice? Set a routine.
Are you a morning person or do you function better in the afternoon? Try to schedule daily calls or virtual coffees, lunches or happy hour – if you are more extroverted, then maybe more and, if you are an introvert, then one’s likely enough. What you want to avoid is spending all day binging on Netflix or playing video games. Also make sure you get dressed! No hanging around all day in PJ bottoms and your bunny slippers. There will be productive days and there will be days where you get no traction. If it is a no traction day – don’t hesitate to sign off, get some separation, and get back at it the next day.
For more, read: How to Look for a Job When Everything Feels Hopeless by Julia Pugachevsky (Vice)
MYTH #1: WHY BOTHER, THERE ARE NO JOBS.
Fact: While it is a difficult market, there are jobs out there.
The challenge of this job market is the uncertainty. As I write this, we are 6 months into the “new normal” which is an ever shifting “new normal.” As we realize that the “old normal” isn’t returning and if it does, not anytime soon, employers are starting to fill open positions.
At the beginning of the pandemic there were arguably “no jobs.” As the pandemic/stay-at-home orders/quarantine evolved, many employers started moving their job searches forward. Some employers weren’t hiring but instead identifying candidates and getting applicants in the queue. For others, the process slowed down due to the shift from in-person to virtual in terms of interviewing and onboarding. Now, as we approach Labor Day and the fall, I’m beginning to see movement in the market as employers reconsider hiring freezes and the related salary cuts and furloughs.
So, where do you find these jobs? Look to your network.
As my colleagues and I have coached attorneys through this job market, one thing has been made clear: Reaching out to and expanding their network of contacts is the key to getting their resumes to the top of the pile.
My advice? Stretch the margins.
We always coach attorneys to go to the margins of their networks – but, where are the margins? The margins consist of your second- and third-degree contacts (a.k.a. people you don’t know personally). The margins are contacting people who are adjacent to your desired ideal job. The margins are expanding your search geographically. The margins are incorporating your personal network. And the margins are pushing forward when you feel like you are hitting a wall.
For more read: Look to the Margins to Land Your Next Legal Job by Nancy Carver (Thine)
