do they get really funny about it when you haven't been taken on at your current firm? Because the reason for me is that 'billing is low' and 'we cannot afford another solicitor next year'. That's not my fault they can't penalise me for that?!
I heroicly avoid the temptation to slag the firm and their lousy salary offer into the ground, and instead just mention that they made me an offer but that I didn't feel the career development opportunities would be available for me there. I then mention that most of the staff in the litigation team left before me (true) which would have left me working virtually alone, and then segue neatly into some guff about being a team-player and prefering to contribute within a strong, supportive team culture etc. Spin, spin spin...!
It was bad enough being harassed in one interview for a NQ position about why I was not staying on at my firm, but I feel like asking people at non-legal interviews, what more do you want? You invited me where for an interview, so either you agree I am a potential candidate for this or your just wanted to satisfy some sort of morbid curiosity about why I am not doing what you think I should be doing. ARGH!
Ahem. So good to vent!
I pretty much expunged my entire training contract from the last job application I completed as it was totally irrelevant to the role I was applying for, whereas some of my other work experience was spot on. Problem was, it was an online application and at the end, I got to the declaration where you have to state that all the info you have given is true and complete, on pain of being dismissed if you are found to have excluded anything. Hhm! So, I went back and included a very brief resume of the last two years in an "additional career info" box! What I didn't want was for my TC to appear as the first and most recent employment - because many recruiters would stop right there and bin the whole thing without reading further. I've been told that 10 seconds is the average time spent on the first look at your cv/application - so you have to get the hooks and role-specific buzz words in right up front!
I'd prepare yourself for that question Del, but remember the old chestnut about being positive about your new firm rather than just negative about your old one, even if it is indirectly negative as in, I had to leave due to the firm's situation. Maybe, the firm's situation gave me a chance to re-evaluate....? They just want to hear you say how great they are but also will be straight onto any bs.
I pretty much expunged my entire training contract from the last job application I completed as it was totally irrelevant to the role I was applying for, whereas some of my other work experience was spot on. Problem was, it was an online application and at the end, I got to the declaration where you have to state that all the info you have given is true and complete, on pain of being dismissed if you are found to have excluded anything. Hhm! So, I went back and included a very brief resume of the last two years in an "additional career info" box! What I didn't want was for my TC to appear as the first and most recent employment - because many recruiters would stop right there and bin the whole thing without reading further. I've been told that 10 seconds is the average time spent on the first look at your cv/application - so you have to get the hooks and role-specific buzz words in right up front!
Gawd, the last four years of my life have been devoted to studying and then the blimmin training contract! Gotta do a skills cv, with work sidelined to second page.... that is a pain you had to shoe horn it back in to your application! Who would have thought that a training contract would be such a millstone! Yeah, I've heard that 10 second thing too... it makes me feel even more devalued, but that's just where I am right now!
Quick question! I am curious if this is recruiter nonsense: do you think it is wise NOT to send out speculative cvs and cover letters to firms? I have not done so as many firms do a range of work I would want to apply for, given the chance. Then a recruiter also said no, don't send speculatively, because if and when they start looking later down the line and they find you are still interested, they will think you have been spinning your wheels since contacting them, and they'll think there is something unemployable about you. Utterly frustrating!! But possibly true?
Quick question! I am curious if this is recruiter nonsense: do you think it is wise NOT to send out speculative cvs and cover letters to firms? I have not done so as many firms do a range of work I would want to apply for, given the chance. Then a recruiter also said no, don't send speculatively, because if and when they start looking later down the line and they find you are still interested, they will think you have been spinning your wheels since contacting them, and they'll think there is something unemployable about you. Utterly frustrating!! But possibly true?
I don't really know whether it's nonsense or not! The advice I got was that a speculative phonecall is better than writing, provided you have done your research first, i.e. identified the right person to talk to (usually by-passing HR and going straight to a decision-maker if you possibly can!), identified a potential need the company may have and have rehearsed your sales pitch for how you think you could fulfil that need. In other words, your approach needs to be: "This is what I can contribute to your organization" rather than "Please do you have a job for me?"! I'm not sure how well that approach would work with law firms, though, especially in the current climate? I don't know about you, but I detest cold-calling and the idea of doing this completely gives me the willies, even on a good day, never mind when I'm feeling like.... well, like an unemployed person usually feels! Trouble is, I suspect that the majority of speculative letters and cvs don't even get looked at if the firm is not actively recruiting.
I have had some success (a good first interview and a call back for a second) from a speculative email approach. However, it was to a CEO I'd met at a networking event. She'd given a presentation about her company and I'd asked some questions, so I had a "hook" to hang my enquiry on - she remembered me. They were considering creating a completely new position and it just so happened that my timing was good. Dumb luck, really, so I don't know whether I'd recommend it as a standard approach.
Is it just the three of us then? No one else wants to join the "Woe is me" Unemployed Solicitors Club? If there were a few more of us, I'd suggest we band together, get ourselves some snazzy costumes and hit the streets to fight crime and solve mysteries. But we probably need a few more people for that.
And a talking dog.
Well I'm not in the club yet but I don't think I'm far off. I qualified in July this year and I was offered a 6 month position which finishes end of January. It started well and I have exceeded all of my billing targets for each month but the work has suddenly died off over the last few weeks and cash flow at our firm is dire. I had a meeting this morning with my boss who has suddenly decided to increase my original billing targets- they have doubled. I have been told in no uncertain terms that my future job prospects hang on whether or not I can meet my targets. So I'm feeling the push : ( and so the job hunt begins...
Hi LM27! I am sorry about your situation, it reminds me that being employed has downsides too, exploitation being the main one. Your boss sounds like a [don't particularly want to barred from this site], maybe they have someone leaning on them too but I am not feeling too sympathetic for anyone up the food chain today. Start looking and getting your cv out now - this is not meant to sound unduly negative about your situation. I am just warning you not to think you can predict or control your situation, or even influence it by doing your best work under the most difficult conditions. If they need to save money they will. Best to beat them to it if push comes to shove. Really.
Good to hear from you Fengirl! I hoped you would have some wisdom to share. I thought this might be your opinion re law firms. I wish I knew people to network with, will make that my next project!
Meanwhile, recruiter mania today at my end. Had to chase and chase one particular recruiter of doom today, from a well know recruitment agency, who has been a ["] on a previous occasion and today confirmed that my application will not been taken forward. He clearly wasn't expecting to hear back from me and had no intention of letting me know this. But we all know to expect little from recruiters, right? Still infuriating. Got calls from two other new ones today. I just cannot help but feel reliant on them in relation to legal positions. This is such a ridiculous situation! Which is why I am going to focus on non-legal jobs and my transferrable skills, I think.
And finding a talking dog.
Thank goodness for this thread, it is keeping me sane. Just!
Welcome to the thread, LM27 - I'm sorry to hear about your situation. It sounds like your boss is doing a bit of pre-emptive blame-shifting, so that if push comes to shove, the firm can say they're not retaining you due to performance issues. Is there any chance that there was a carrot attached to this stick - e.g. your remuneration will double if you DO hit your new targets?! Ha! No need to answer. Doubling billing targets in the midst of a recession is just insanity. Have everyone's targets doubled - or has he just singled you out? In any case - I hope things improve for you.
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