Is a 5 month job search a sign that grades are a limiting factor?
This article was edited and reviewed by FindLaw Attorney Writers
| Last reviewedThis article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw’s team of legal writers and attorneys and in accordance with our editorial standards.
The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area.
A: I wish I could advise you otherwise, but in today’s job market, a five-month job search is often just the opening round in a job campaign. Your law school credentials may be a factor, though at this stage in your career, I would encourage you not to list your GPA. I assume your headhunter has reviewed and critiqued your resume; I often find clients with good legal backgrounds whose resumes are old-fashioned and poorly focused. Your litigation, tax and public accountant experience should be a major plus. To maximize your strengths, you will need to wage an aggressive and persistent job campaign. I would encourage you not to rely too heavily on the assistance of a headhunter, or on mailings. Instead, you will need to network through the phones, in visits to firms, bar association gatherings, and in a myriad of other ways. (Read Kim Waltons’s book on “Guerrila Tactics to Get the Legal Job of Your Dreams.”) Set aside a minimum of one daytime hour for job campaign activities every day, and persist. I often tell clients that looking for a job is like hitchhiking (if you’re old enough to remember the days when it was more or less safe to do): you may feel terrible waving your thumb at cars passing you on the road, but all you need is one good ride to pick you up. Then you feel like a million bucks. Keep up the good work.
Stay up-to-date with how the law affects your life
Enter your email address to subscribe:

Enter your email address to subscribe:
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.