Continued advice from Belle at the Hill Life related to applying for jobs on Capitol Hill, but some good general advice for all job applicants.
http://www.caphillstyle.com/capitol/2011/3/23/the-hill-life-a-few-dos-and-donts-for-jobseekers.html
When Applying
Don’t write the person looking for an unpaid intern and ask if they have any paid positions available. And definitely don’t write the office of the Congressman looking for an unpaid intern and ask the staffer to forward your resume on to the Congressman’s committee so that you can be considered for a paid gig there.
This is presumptuous and deeply annoying and will result (99% of the time) in your resume being tossed into the ‘Deleted Items’ bin. If you really want to know about paid jobs, wait a couple of days and then forward your resume on, and don't mention the internship that you don't want.
Do call the office and ask the front desk person to whom your e-mail/cover letter should be addressed. If the contact name is not listed in the job posting, an applicant who takes the extra step of finding out sets herself apart from the horde of people who addressed their letter “To Whom it May Concern.”
Don’t call or drop by if the posting specifically says not to call or drop-in. Failure to follow this directive does not make you look like a go-getter, it makes you look like a person who cannot follow directions.
Do double check the spelling of the Congressman’s name, his district number and his committees. Writing “in the office of Rep. John Smith” if his name is spelled J-o-n, is a giant faux pas. So is getting a state abbreviation, a district number or a committee/bill name wrong. Not getting this basic information correct makes it look like you really don’t care about the job at all.
Don’t apply for two jobs in the same office at the same time. A few months ago, a friend in a Dem Senate office was looking for a Communications Director and a Legislative Aide at the same time, she received 17 duplicate resumes. None of the duplicators was hired for either position.
Do choose the job that you are most qualified for, and apply for that one only. You’re not increasing your odds of finding a job by applying for both. You can’t tailor a resume to one job and then turn around and tailor it for another job without muddying the waters for yourself.
Don’t call or e-mail a hiring manager more than twice to check on your resume. There is a fine line between being interested and over-eager and an even finer line between being over-eager and harassing. If you don’t hear back, there’s a reason. Unfortunately, some HR people just aren’t good about letting candidates know that they’re out of the running.
When Interviewing
Don’t play calendar hopscotch with the hiring manager. When I was working off the Hill, I had prospective employee who had conflicts during my first three suggested interview times, who then rescheduled the appointment, twice. When she called the second time, I told her the position had been filled and selected another applicant from the pile.
If you’re applying for a job, you need to make yourself available for the interview. You are not the only person that is being considered for the position, so it is not the HR person’s job to make time for you. Reasonable accommodations can always be made for a qualified candidate, but you need to be flexible because you are the applicant not the employer.
Do bring extra copies of your resume, writing samples and references to the interview with you. Even if you don’t need them, it’s good to have them handy.
Don’t show up to your interview late. And by George, if you are going to be late, call and let them know. But that being said, just don’t be late.
Do wear a suit to the interview. Even if it’s during recess, showing up for an interview with slacks and a polo or other casual attire is not okay. And if you're a man, you need to wear a tie. Even if you are never going to wear one again, you're trying to impress someone here, so dress for the occasion.
Don't talk smack about your last employer. Even if you separated under less-than-ideal circumstances, you don't want your interview to turn into a litany of complaints against your old boss. Someone who would speak ill of a previous employer during an interview is someone who will speak ill of any employer at any time.
Do send a thank you note to EVERY person who was in the meeting. Bring a stack with you to the interview, then go to a coffee shop or somewhere nearby, fill them out and return them to the office or immediately mail them. Even a short thank you, received in a timely manner is helpful.
Don't wait more than one business day to send the thank you note, esp. if you're using snail mail. I once received a thank you note six days after I had filled the position and 10 days after the interview took place. It didn't do the applicant much good then.
Do have a firm handshake. Nothing leaves a lasting negative impression quite like a weak or sweaty or limp-wristed handshake. Even if you're a woman, you need a good, firm handshake. Practice on your friends.
Don't get so caught up about what to wear that you forget to practice your answers and develop sample questions. You need to spend at least twice as much time learning about the company and coming up with insightful questions to ask the employer as you do picking out something to wear.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Linkedin and Your Job Search
http://www.attorneyatwork.com/articles/linkedin-and-your-job-search-step-two/
By Wendy Werner
Last week in LinkedIn and Your Job Search: Step One, Wendy Werner covered the basics of completing your profile and populating your account. Step two focuses on the places you want to work.
You’ve created a polished profile and begun building your connections. Now let’s begin using LinkedIn’s free features to find companies or firms you want to target, and connect to people who work there. In the navigation bar on your LinkedIn home page, you’ll see the People search box with a drop-down menu listing updates, companies, jobs and more. You used this search box to find people to invite to connect with you. Obviously, there are other things you can do here when you are in the hunt for a new position.
Updates
Updates is where you learn what people are doing in their professional lives. It may be an updated profile, a new position or a recent contact—sometimes one that you want to connect to as well. Typing a firm or company name into the Update search box will bring up a list of anyone on LinkedIn associated with that organization. From there, use filter tools to refine the list and find people you are interested in meeting. Before you click “add to network,” however, recognize that just because one of your connections is linked to someone you would like to meet, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are close. Reach out to your referral source and find out how strong the connection is. It’s proper etiquette—and much more effective—to first ask your connection to make an introduction for you. At this point you may want to switch from online networking to the traditional phone calls, e-mails or in-person meetings.
When find you someone of interest, you can click “Get Introduced” to bring up a list of all of your connections who also know that person.
Jobs
Click on Jobs in the navigation bar to bring up the “Search for Jobs” search bar, and you will see a list of jobs that LinkedIn thinks fit your profile. Use the search box to enter the name of a firm, a keyword or a location and you’ll see current job listings. The job description pages include a “Request Introduction” button that brings up a list of people you know. Your connections might be able to make an introduction for you, or at least give you deep background information. If you don’t like that particular job but like the company, click on “Follow” company to be alerted to their updates. If you find openings that interest you, it truly is a simple matter to get information about the organization and people who work there.
Companies
This is where to start searching for how your connections link to organizations that you want to know more about. (You might want to start here before Jobs.) A search will show you the people to whom you are connected in that company, any extended connections through your links, and the total number of people in that organization who are LinkedIn members. Theoretically, it creates the path from you to anyone in that organization. Be warned: Sometimes the path is circuitous or slow.
Groups
Belonging to Groups can also broaden your reach. These might be professional associations, college and law school alumni groups, or even company alumni groups. If you have worked at a large organization it is very likely that there is an alumni group. These not only show where former colleagues now work, they are helpful in developing ties to a whole new set of possible employers. Start by selecting “Groups You May Like” from the Groups menu.
Like any other new tool, at first LinkedIn may feel cumbersome and awkward. But you’ll get the hang of it, find some old friends in the process and make new contacts. And, while there’s no substitute for face-to-face contact when job hunting, LinkedIn can speed the process of getting your face in front of exactly the right one.
Wendy Werner is a career coach and practice management consultant for lawyers and professional services firms. She has a master’s degree in Personnel Administration and Counseling from Indiana University, and served as the Assistant Dean of Career Services at Saint Louis University School of Law. Find her at Werner Associates, LLC.
By Wendy Werner
Last week in LinkedIn and Your Job Search: Step One, Wendy Werner covered the basics of completing your profile and populating your account. Step two focuses on the places you want to work.
You’ve created a polished profile and begun building your connections. Now let’s begin using LinkedIn’s free features to find companies or firms you want to target, and connect to people who work there. In the navigation bar on your LinkedIn home page, you’ll see the People search box with a drop-down menu listing updates, companies, jobs and more. You used this search box to find people to invite to connect with you. Obviously, there are other things you can do here when you are in the hunt for a new position.
Updates
Updates is where you learn what people are doing in their professional lives. It may be an updated profile, a new position or a recent contact—sometimes one that you want to connect to as well. Typing a firm or company name into the Update search box will bring up a list of anyone on LinkedIn associated with that organization. From there, use filter tools to refine the list and find people you are interested in meeting. Before you click “add to network,” however, recognize that just because one of your connections is linked to someone you would like to meet, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are close. Reach out to your referral source and find out how strong the connection is. It’s proper etiquette—and much more effective—to first ask your connection to make an introduction for you. At this point you may want to switch from online networking to the traditional phone calls, e-mails or in-person meetings.
When find you someone of interest, you can click “Get Introduced” to bring up a list of all of your connections who also know that person.
Jobs
Click on Jobs in the navigation bar to bring up the “Search for Jobs” search bar, and you will see a list of jobs that LinkedIn thinks fit your profile. Use the search box to enter the name of a firm, a keyword or a location and you’ll see current job listings. The job description pages include a “Request Introduction” button that brings up a list of people you know. Your connections might be able to make an introduction for you, or at least give you deep background information. If you don’t like that particular job but like the company, click on “Follow” company to be alerted to their updates. If you find openings that interest you, it truly is a simple matter to get information about the organization and people who work there.
Companies
This is where to start searching for how your connections link to organizations that you want to know more about. (You might want to start here before Jobs.) A search will show you the people to whom you are connected in that company, any extended connections through your links, and the total number of people in that organization who are LinkedIn members. Theoretically, it creates the path from you to anyone in that organization. Be warned: Sometimes the path is circuitous or slow.
Groups
Belonging to Groups can also broaden your reach. These might be professional associations, college and law school alumni groups, or even company alumni groups. If you have worked at a large organization it is very likely that there is an alumni group. These not only show where former colleagues now work, they are helpful in developing ties to a whole new set of possible employers. Start by selecting “Groups You May Like” from the Groups menu.
Like any other new tool, at first LinkedIn may feel cumbersome and awkward. But you’ll get the hang of it, find some old friends in the process and make new contacts. And, while there’s no substitute for face-to-face contact when job hunting, LinkedIn can speed the process of getting your face in front of exactly the right one.
Wendy Werner is a career coach and practice management consultant for lawyers and professional services firms. She has a master’s degree in Personnel Administration and Counseling from Indiana University, and served as the Assistant Dean of Career Services at Saint Louis University School of Law. Find her at Werner Associates, LLC.
For Your "Cool Stuff" File - ABA Blawg Directory
Want to find out more about the latest in a particular practice area? The skinny on practicing law in a certain city or region? Want to see what professors at law schools are blogging about? Check out ABA's Blawg Directory.
http://www.abajournal.com/blawgs/
http://www.abajournal.com/blawgs/
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Seek Legal Career Advice from Multiple Sources
http://lawyerist.com/seek-legal-career-advice-from-multiple-sources/
by Randall Ryder
For many law students, 1L year starts with visions of glory—working for a big firm, making big bucks, and living the dream life. Reality, however, does not always align with your dreams.
As you progress through law school and consider whether to pursue a big firm job, a rural town job, or hanging your own shingle, talk to as many different people as possible to help inform your decision.
Career services is a start
Career services departments have been under fire recently, but it is a good place to start. At a minimum, meeting with someone in career services should force you to consider what you want to do after law school and why. If you have absolutely no idea, counselors are good at asking questions that will shed light on what career paths might be up your alley, and what options are probably not your cup of tea.
You might not narrow it down to two options, but you should be able to figure out some paths that merit further investigation.
Talk to multiple attorneys in that practice area
Employment law attorneys at a big firm will have a different perspective than solo or small firm attorneys. How and where you practice an area of law can drastically alter your viewpoint. In addition, try and talk to attorneys who work on both sides—you might decide you want to do defense work rather than being a plaintiff’s attorney.
For example, when I was investigating employment law, most of the big firms in town only handled class action cases and employer defense. The majority of attorneys handling plaintiff’s work are solos. If I had not met with a handful of employment law attorneys, however, I never would have figured that out.
You may also meet attorneys working in your desired field that you simply do not like, which can be an enormous turn-off. Chances are, that attorney was an aberration. At the same time, if every attorney you meet in a practice area rubs you the wrong way, you might want to reconsider your interest.
Ask your professors about their career path
You might be surprised at how your professors got to where they are. Looking at their bio will not explain why they chose to work as public defender but then switched to doing business litigation at a big firm. Hearing their war stories might spark an interest in a previously unknown career path.
On top of that, professors tend to know a lot of people doing a variety of legal work—and they are very good at referring law students to helpful sources. For example, your tax law professor’s best law school buddy might be criminal defense attorney—which just happens to be your preferred area of practice.
Doing your homework will help in the long run
The more people you talk to, the easier it will be to make a decision about a practice area or a certain employer. You will probably change directions a few times, and might even decide a previously unknown area is now your top choice.
On top of that, meeting and networking with local attorneys is always a good thing—you never know when you will run into them again and how they might be able to help you.
by Randall Ryder
For many law students, 1L year starts with visions of glory—working for a big firm, making big bucks, and living the dream life. Reality, however, does not always align with your dreams.
As you progress through law school and consider whether to pursue a big firm job, a rural town job, or hanging your own shingle, talk to as many different people as possible to help inform your decision.
Career services is a start
Career services departments have been under fire recently, but it is a good place to start. At a minimum, meeting with someone in career services should force you to consider what you want to do after law school and why. If you have absolutely no idea, counselors are good at asking questions that will shed light on what career paths might be up your alley, and what options are probably not your cup of tea.
You might not narrow it down to two options, but you should be able to figure out some paths that merit further investigation.
Talk to multiple attorneys in that practice area
Employment law attorneys at a big firm will have a different perspective than solo or small firm attorneys. How and where you practice an area of law can drastically alter your viewpoint. In addition, try and talk to attorneys who work on both sides—you might decide you want to do defense work rather than being a plaintiff’s attorney.
For example, when I was investigating employment law, most of the big firms in town only handled class action cases and employer defense. The majority of attorneys handling plaintiff’s work are solos. If I had not met with a handful of employment law attorneys, however, I never would have figured that out.
You may also meet attorneys working in your desired field that you simply do not like, which can be an enormous turn-off. Chances are, that attorney was an aberration. At the same time, if every attorney you meet in a practice area rubs you the wrong way, you might want to reconsider your interest.
Ask your professors about their career path
You might be surprised at how your professors got to where they are. Looking at their bio will not explain why they chose to work as public defender but then switched to doing business litigation at a big firm. Hearing their war stories might spark an interest in a previously unknown career path.
On top of that, professors tend to know a lot of people doing a variety of legal work—and they are very good at referring law students to helpful sources. For example, your tax law professor’s best law school buddy might be criminal defense attorney—which just happens to be your preferred area of practice.
Doing your homework will help in the long run
The more people you talk to, the easier it will be to make a decision about a practice area or a certain employer. You will probably change directions a few times, and might even decide a previously unknown area is now your top choice.
On top of that, meeting and networking with local attorneys is always a good thing—you never know when you will run into them again and how they might be able to help you.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
The Hill Life: Finding a Job
from Capitol Hill Style
See The Hill Life: Finding a Job, Part I, II, and III
http://www.caphillstyle.com/capitol/category/the-hill-life
Resumes
Holy, Typeface, Batman. For whatever reason, a lot of job seekers like to get fancy with their font choices. Don’t. Resumes should be in Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri, that’s it.
And please, for the love of Guttenberg, use only one font. You might think that it’s cute to type your name in calligraphy or Courier New but it isn’t. It reeks of vanity. So please, keep the fonts simple and utilize bolding, bullet points and other accents sparingly and with purpose.
Don’t Lie. This should go without saying. Embellishing, fudging or concealing facts on your resume is a death sentence. Here are some of the most common resume lies.
Concealing a break in employment by pretending that you left job A in April instead of February. Being three credits shy of a minor in accounting, but claiming you received it anyway. Your job title was “Junior Account Executive,” but you removed the “junior.” Having limited or no experience with Dreamweaver, Photoshop or Excel but claiming to be proficient.
These are just some of the half-truths that I’ve seen people include on their resumes. They assume no one will check, or that these little white lies won’t matter, but why would you take the chance? Especially when applying for a Hill or government job, expect the hiring manager will check everything because usually, they will. And it doesn’t matter to me if you lied about your graduation dates or your middle initial, a lie will put you at the very bottom of my applicant pile.
Getting Attached. Never, ever send a hiring manager an e-mail attachment titled “resume.doc.” Why? Because they probably already have a file on their hard drive title resume.doc, and if they have to change the title to save a copy they’re likely to save it as, “guy with zero attention to detail.”
Never save your resume as “Belle Resume 3.” Why does she have three resumes? What is different on the first two? Why wasn’t I good enough to receive resume #1? These are just some of the questions a hiring manager will ponder when confronted with your third choice resume.
Same applies for resumes titled any of the following: Bellegoodresume.doc, BelleHillresume.doc, NewResumeDraft.doc. All of these titles turn your selected file name into a cryptic puzzle that once decoded reveals things about the job seeker that you don’t want an employer to know or assume about you.
So how should you save your resume? File names should be last name(dot)first name(dot)resume. Cover letters should be last name(dot)first name(dot)coverletter. And all documents should be saved as a PDF. This will help you avoid any trickey Windows to Mac issues and it will prevent anyone from altering your attachment.
Extras. If a job posting asks for references, send them. If it asks for a cover letter, send one. If it asks for a writing sample, add one. But if it doesn’t, don’t.
When e-mailing a resume, you should include a short version of your cover letter in the body of the e-mail. And you should mention that you can provide writing samples and references upon request, but don’t include materials that people did not ask you to provide.
Update. Resumes should be one page, unless you have been working for a decade or more. today, I received a three page resume for a 23-year-old. It contained everything from her high school clubs to her hobbies. I don't care about your hobbies. After two years of working on the Hill, you won't have any hobbies anyway. (Just kidding. Okay, half-kidding.) ONE PAGE.
http://www.caphillstyle.com/capitol/2011/3/16/the-hill-life-finding-a-job-part-iii.html
See The Hill Life: Finding a Job, Part I, II, and III
http://www.caphillstyle.com/capitol/category/the-hill-life
Resumes
Holy, Typeface, Batman. For whatever reason, a lot of job seekers like to get fancy with their font choices. Don’t. Resumes should be in Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri, that’s it.
And please, for the love of Guttenberg, use only one font. You might think that it’s cute to type your name in calligraphy or Courier New but it isn’t. It reeks of vanity. So please, keep the fonts simple and utilize bolding, bullet points and other accents sparingly and with purpose.
Don’t Lie. This should go without saying. Embellishing, fudging or concealing facts on your resume is a death sentence. Here are some of the most common resume lies.
Concealing a break in employment by pretending that you left job A in April instead of February. Being three credits shy of a minor in accounting, but claiming you received it anyway. Your job title was “Junior Account Executive,” but you removed the “junior.” Having limited or no experience with Dreamweaver, Photoshop or Excel but claiming to be proficient.
These are just some of the half-truths that I’ve seen people include on their resumes. They assume no one will check, or that these little white lies won’t matter, but why would you take the chance? Especially when applying for a Hill or government job, expect the hiring manager will check everything because usually, they will. And it doesn’t matter to me if you lied about your graduation dates or your middle initial, a lie will put you at the very bottom of my applicant pile.
Getting Attached. Never, ever send a hiring manager an e-mail attachment titled “resume.doc.” Why? Because they probably already have a file on their hard drive title resume.doc, and if they have to change the title to save a copy they’re likely to save it as, “guy with zero attention to detail.”
Never save your resume as “Belle Resume 3.” Why does she have three resumes? What is different on the first two? Why wasn’t I good enough to receive resume #1? These are just some of the questions a hiring manager will ponder when confronted with your third choice resume.
Same applies for resumes titled any of the following: Bellegoodresume.doc, BelleHillresume.doc, NewResumeDraft.doc. All of these titles turn your selected file name into a cryptic puzzle that once decoded reveals things about the job seeker that you don’t want an employer to know or assume about you.
So how should you save your resume? File names should be last name(dot)first name(dot)resume. Cover letters should be last name(dot)first name(dot)coverletter. And all documents should be saved as a PDF. This will help you avoid any trickey Windows to Mac issues and it will prevent anyone from altering your attachment.
Extras. If a job posting asks for references, send them. If it asks for a cover letter, send one. If it asks for a writing sample, add one. But if it doesn’t, don’t.
When e-mailing a resume, you should include a short version of your cover letter in the body of the e-mail. And you should mention that you can provide writing samples and references upon request, but don’t include materials that people did not ask you to provide.
Update. Resumes should be one page, unless you have been working for a decade or more. today, I received a three page resume for a 23-year-old. It contained everything from her high school clubs to her hobbies. I don't care about your hobbies. After two years of working on the Hill, you won't have any hobbies anyway. (Just kidding. Okay, half-kidding.) ONE PAGE.
http://www.caphillstyle.com/capitol/2011/3/16/the-hill-life-finding-a-job-part-iii.html
Friday, March 11, 2011
Social Media 101: Networking with Twitter
By: Derren Thompson
http://studentbranding.com/social-media-101-networking-with-twitter/
In my last post I explained how you can use Facebook to create a professional profile for yourself. Now, it’s time to network. And what is one of the best resources for networking? Twitter.
Twitter is the most rapidly adopted communication tool in history, going from zero to 10 million users in just over two years. On Twitter, word can spread faster that wildfire – according to Shel Israel, social media writer and author of Twitterville. Ironically, though, when I am discussing Twitter with friends, family and even colleagues, I’m often asked, “What is Twitter?”
What is Twitter?
Twitter is a short messaging system that can quickly get information out to a small or large group of people. With only 140 characters per message, Twitter users often include links to web sites to provide further information for their readers. But, more importantly, Twitter is a community where people connect to stay informed about what is going on around them.
Twitter can be used for a number of purposes, including:
•Networking/Social Messaging – Some have said that Twitter is a cross between blogging and instant messaging. Through Twitter, users can create a spider web of connections with people they know and people they want to know.
•News Reporting – Many people use Twitter for breaking news. I am connected with CNN news and can read news feeds on an hourly base, if I choose.
•Social Media Marketing – Because of the instantaneous nature of Twitter’s messaging, this platform has been adopted by corporations, non-profits, churches and politicians alike to reach targeted audiences. This was most notable when President Barak Obama used Twitter during his election campaign.
Twitter and Your Job Search
When you’re job hunting, Twitter can be an effective tool – especially when you use it to reference and link to all of your other online profiles, i.e. Facebook, LinkedIn (more on that in my next post). It’s a great way to promote yourself, your skills and your knowledge in your career field. It’s also an effective way to network with recruiters and look for job postings.
On the @SodexoCareers Twitter page, we post new job opportunities every day and applicants are able to see the postings as soon as we post them. We also have a Twitter Job Alert page where you can have job listings directed to your account. Better yet, you can download a Twitter app for your mobile phone and get these alerts on the go!
Building Your Brand
As I mentioned last week about your Facebook profile, your Twitter profile needs to be professional in nature. This is where you create your personal brand.
One of the goals of having a Twitter account is to gain followers – as this begins the networking process. If you’re job hunting, you want people in your career field to be interested in following you. You want people to understand who you are and what you do. Here are some tips for creating your Twitter profile:
•Your bio should be a brief elevator pitch, or snapshot, of your goals and skills. For example, “An ambitious culinary arts student seeking a management position in the hospitality industry” or “A savvy IT student interested in building technical solutions for fortune 500 companies.”
•Use a nice head shot photo for you avatar. Keep it professional.
•Create a custom background for your Twitter page where you can add more information about your background and qualifications. If you’re not comfortable using photo editing software, there are a number of web sites that can help. Try one of these sites: here, here and here. Just remember to choose one that is professional.
•Link to your online resume. (Tools like VisualCV or even your LinkedIn profile can help).
•Follow industry experts and recruiters in your career field on Twitter. Tools like Twellow.com can help. Sodexo even keeps a list of all its recruiters using Twitter.
•Tweet information about your career field. Use your status updates to tweet about industry topics, tips, advice. Finding information can be as easy as doing a Google News search or reading trade journals online. Then, you provide your followers with links to the latest and greatest industry news and information. You become someone who is viewed as knowledgeable. Save the posts about your weekend adventures for your private Facebook wall.
•Be consistent across all of your online profiles. For example, use the same profile image on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Use the same bio information. Build your brand.
Connecting with Recruiters
One of the best things about Twitter is that you don’t have to know someone to follow them. So, you can easily follow recruiters who, upon seeing your profile, may decide to follow you back. Once your connection is made, you will have the ability to communicate and send them information about you and your qualifications.
If you’ve already made contact with a recruiter, you can likely find their Twitter handle in the signature on their e-mails. If you don’t know who the recruiters are at a specific company, you can try searching company web sites and blogs, or do a Twitter search. Many recruiters will list their company name and the word “recruiter” in their profile. Another resource to try is The Talent Buzz. The great news is that recruiters are looking for applicants to follow.
Twitter is so much more than an “instant messaging system.” It’s a business tool, it’s a networking tool, it’s a marketing tool and it’s a job search tool. Take the time to learn how to use it. Before long, your profile will be noticed by recruiters. Start today with a professional profile and relevant tweets. In my next post, we’ll talk about LinkedIn and how you can continue to build your professional brand through social media. Until then, have fun!
http://studentbranding.com/social-media-101-networking-with-twitter/
In my last post I explained how you can use Facebook to create a professional profile for yourself. Now, it’s time to network. And what is one of the best resources for networking? Twitter.
Twitter is the most rapidly adopted communication tool in history, going from zero to 10 million users in just over two years. On Twitter, word can spread faster that wildfire – according to Shel Israel, social media writer and author of Twitterville. Ironically, though, when I am discussing Twitter with friends, family and even colleagues, I’m often asked, “What is Twitter?”
What is Twitter?
Twitter is a short messaging system that can quickly get information out to a small or large group of people. With only 140 characters per message, Twitter users often include links to web sites to provide further information for their readers. But, more importantly, Twitter is a community where people connect to stay informed about what is going on around them.
Twitter can be used for a number of purposes, including:
•Networking/Social Messaging – Some have said that Twitter is a cross between blogging and instant messaging. Through Twitter, users can create a spider web of connections with people they know and people they want to know.
•News Reporting – Many people use Twitter for breaking news. I am connected with CNN news and can read news feeds on an hourly base, if I choose.
•Social Media Marketing – Because of the instantaneous nature of Twitter’s messaging, this platform has been adopted by corporations, non-profits, churches and politicians alike to reach targeted audiences. This was most notable when President Barak Obama used Twitter during his election campaign.
Twitter and Your Job Search
When you’re job hunting, Twitter can be an effective tool – especially when you use it to reference and link to all of your other online profiles, i.e. Facebook, LinkedIn (more on that in my next post). It’s a great way to promote yourself, your skills and your knowledge in your career field. It’s also an effective way to network with recruiters and look for job postings.
On the @SodexoCareers Twitter page, we post new job opportunities every day and applicants are able to see the postings as soon as we post them. We also have a Twitter Job Alert page where you can have job listings directed to your account. Better yet, you can download a Twitter app for your mobile phone and get these alerts on the go!
Building Your Brand
As I mentioned last week about your Facebook profile, your Twitter profile needs to be professional in nature. This is where you create your personal brand.
One of the goals of having a Twitter account is to gain followers – as this begins the networking process. If you’re job hunting, you want people in your career field to be interested in following you. You want people to understand who you are and what you do. Here are some tips for creating your Twitter profile:
•Your bio should be a brief elevator pitch, or snapshot, of your goals and skills. For example, “An ambitious culinary arts student seeking a management position in the hospitality industry” or “A savvy IT student interested in building technical solutions for fortune 500 companies.”
•Use a nice head shot photo for you avatar. Keep it professional.
•Create a custom background for your Twitter page where you can add more information about your background and qualifications. If you’re not comfortable using photo editing software, there are a number of web sites that can help. Try one of these sites: here, here and here. Just remember to choose one that is professional.
•Link to your online resume. (Tools like VisualCV or even your LinkedIn profile can help).
•Follow industry experts and recruiters in your career field on Twitter. Tools like Twellow.com can help. Sodexo even keeps a list of all its recruiters using Twitter.
•Tweet information about your career field. Use your status updates to tweet about industry topics, tips, advice. Finding information can be as easy as doing a Google News search or reading trade journals online. Then, you provide your followers with links to the latest and greatest industry news and information. You become someone who is viewed as knowledgeable. Save the posts about your weekend adventures for your private Facebook wall.
•Be consistent across all of your online profiles. For example, use the same profile image on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Use the same bio information. Build your brand.
Connecting with Recruiters
One of the best things about Twitter is that you don’t have to know someone to follow them. So, you can easily follow recruiters who, upon seeing your profile, may decide to follow you back. Once your connection is made, you will have the ability to communicate and send them information about you and your qualifications.
If you’ve already made contact with a recruiter, you can likely find their Twitter handle in the signature on their e-mails. If you don’t know who the recruiters are at a specific company, you can try searching company web sites and blogs, or do a Twitter search. Many recruiters will list their company name and the word “recruiter” in their profile. Another resource to try is The Talent Buzz. The great news is that recruiters are looking for applicants to follow.
Twitter is so much more than an “instant messaging system.” It’s a business tool, it’s a networking tool, it’s a marketing tool and it’s a job search tool. Take the time to learn how to use it. Before long, your profile will be noticed by recruiters. Start today with a professional profile and relevant tweets. In my next post, we’ll talk about LinkedIn and how you can continue to build your professional brand through social media. Until then, have fun!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Five Rules to Strengthen Your Cover Letter
excerpted from "Righting the Writing Wrongs of the Cover Letter" by Thomas C. Ksobiech, Assistant Dean for Career Services at The University of Alabama School of Law
1. Know your audience. Do you want to guarantee that you won’t get an interview? Talk about your desire to practice criminal defense to a firm that only has a civil practice.
2. Answer the two big questions. All a cover letter really has to do is explain two things: Why you? and Why them? In other words, why should this employer hire you, and why do you want to work for this employer? I estimate that one out of three first drafts of cover letters that I see fails to answer at least one of these questions.
3. Check your sender’s box. Is your address correct? Did you include your phone number and e-mail address? Did you spell your name correctly? Because these are such “no-brainers,” it’s easy to fail to check this information, and yet a mistake here can prevent an employer from contacting you.
4. Beware the mail merge. There is nothing wrong with using a spreadsheet and a mass mailing to send out résumés. It does, however, require that you be technically perfect in performing your mail merge. Names have to match firms. Firm names have to match addresses. Moreover, one mistake can ruin 70 letters.
5. Read your letter slowly one last time. Forget your handshake; this is your first impression. Don’t let it be spoiled by a missing period or an unnecessarily capitalized letter.
1. Know your audience. Do you want to guarantee that you won’t get an interview? Talk about your desire to practice criminal defense to a firm that only has a civil practice.
2. Answer the two big questions. All a cover letter really has to do is explain two things: Why you? and Why them? In other words, why should this employer hire you, and why do you want to work for this employer? I estimate that one out of three first drafts of cover letters that I see fails to answer at least one of these questions.
3. Check your sender’s box. Is your address correct? Did you include your phone number and e-mail address? Did you spell your name correctly? Because these are such “no-brainers,” it’s easy to fail to check this information, and yet a mistake here can prevent an employer from contacting you.
4. Beware the mail merge. There is nothing wrong with using a spreadsheet and a mass mailing to send out résumés. It does, however, require that you be technically perfect in performing your mail merge. Names have to match firms. Firm names have to match addresses. Moreover, one mistake can ruin 70 letters.
5. Read your letter slowly one last time. Forget your handshake; this is your first impression. Don’t let it be spoiled by a missing period or an unnecessarily capitalized letter.
Friday, March 4, 2011
What America's Lawyers Earn / Search for Average Lawyer Salary by County
What America's Lawyers Earn:
http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/what_americas_lawyers_earn?utm_source=maestro&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly_email
Lawyer Pay in Every U.S. County:
http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/search_wage_data_for_your_county?utm_source=maestro&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly_email
http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/what_americas_lawyers_earn?utm_source=maestro&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly_email
Lawyer Pay in Every U.S. County:
http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/search_wage_data_for_your_county?utm_source=maestro&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly_email
Everything associates didn't learn in law school
Getting ahead takes much more than knowing the Rule in Shelley's Case or the finer points of the tax code.
Kimberly K. Egan
The National Law Journal
February 28, 2011
What do law firm partners mean when they talk about whether an associate "gets it"? And how can students make sure that they do? Here's a running list of the unspoken and often intangible attributes that drive the profession's most successful lawyers.The bad news is that students don't learn these skills in law school or as a summer associate. The good news is that they can start developing all of them now — from day one.
KNOWLEDGE OF CURRENT EVENTS
Big law firms' most successful rainmakers can carry on a conversation with anyone about anything, even if they are bored stiff doing it. This skill is sometimes known as "cocktail party conversation." Reading the newspaper in the morning is a good habit for new associates to develop. Reading the front section and the business section, at a minimum, and one local paper and one national paper in addition to at least one general-interest publication helps lawyers discuss cultural issues of the moment with colleagues and clients.
Big law firms' most successful rainmakers can carry on a conversation with anyone about anything, even if they are bored stiff doing it. This skill is sometimes known as "cocktail party conversation." Reading the newspaper in the morning is a good habit for new associates to develop. Reading the front section and the business section, at a minimum, and one local paper and one national paper in addition to at least one general-interest publication helps lawyers discuss cultural issues of the moment with colleagues and clients.
APPEARANCE
No one has ever been accused of being "overdressed" in a law firm. The most successful associates recognize that, if a firm's leadership wears suits and dresses, they should, too. The old adage, "dress for the job you want, not the job you have," is more appropriate for the legal profession than perhaps any other.
No one has ever been accused of being "overdressed" in a law firm. The most successful associates recognize that, if a firm's leadership wears suits and dresses, they should, too. The old adage, "dress for the job you want, not the job you have," is more appropriate for the legal profession than perhaps any other.
SOCIABILITY
Lawyers are in the people business, and social skills are an important part of a new attorney's tool kit. The best place to hone these skills for a new lawyer is with colleagues. Whether associates realize it or not, they are being graded on their sociability. It means that social invitations from senior lawyers are not really optional, and treating them as work events is key. It is a good idea to avoid politics, religion and other socially controversial subjects. A senior lawyer's offer to get a drink is not an invitation for associates to let their hair down and get sloppy. It is not a career-enhancing move to be thought of as a lush.
HUMILITY
Every person in the work place deserves respect. Mail room staff, administrative assistants, office managers and receptionists are professionals and a critical component of every lawyer's success. Support staffers know a great deal about their firms and about the other lawyers in the office, and they can be a valuable source of information, support, and advice. Effective senior secretaries can make or break a career.
MANNERS
There is no excuse for rudeness, no matter the situation. The most effective new attorneys remember the adage, "The way you treat people today and tomorrow and the day after will determine whether you become the kind of person who treats people badly." A "small decision" does not exist in the practice of law. Every decision counts.
GENEROSITY
The legal profession is a profession of big egos. The lawyer who works hard to be the person who gives someone else credit will not only succeed professionally but will help create a culture of collegiality and respect, which will, in turn, help other lawyers and employees succeed professionally.
FLEXIBILITY
Effective lawyers develop coping mechanisms that help them embrace and manage spontaneity and unpredictability. Things do not always proceed according to plan in the practice of law, and one's schedule is often at the mercy of clients, judges, colleagues, weather and other external events.
PERSONAL REPUTATION
A lawyer's reputation is his or her greatest asset, and new attorneys should start developing their reputations from the moment they walk in the door. A technically skilled lawyer can fail to flourish if he or she earns a reputation for sloppiness, tardiness, laziness, obliviousness, rudeness, arrogance, pretentiousness, dishonesty, unfairness or cattiness, even if his or her legal analysis is high quality. It can happen even if the reputation is unwarranted.
CLIENT SERVICE
The most successful lawyers understand that they are a critical member of each client team and they treat each project that way. They are not just "helping out" or "pitching in" on someone else's project. A new lawyer's clients include senior lawyers in the firm as well as the company paying the bills.
PUNCTUALITY
Being on time in a law firm really means being early. Standard business etiquette requires lawyers to be at least five minutes early for every internal meeting and least 15 minutes early for every external meeting. The only person who is allowed to walk into the room at the exact moment for which the meeting is scheduled is the person running the meeting.
ENTERPRISE
Lawyers are hired to solve problems, not create them. It is a mistake for young lawyers to say that they cannot do something because they don't know how to use a certain computer program or aren't familiar with the subject area. Learning how to do unfamiliar tasks and researching new subjects are part of the job. One of the wonderful things about lawyering is all the off-beat and esoteric knowledge lawyers accumulate over the course of their professional lives.
TIME MANAGEMENT
Everything takes longer than expected. For research and writing projects, a good guide is the "double it to the next power" rule. For example, if someone says a project will take two hours, it actually will take four days. Plan accordingly. Good lawyers give themselves extra time in case things go wrong. Good lawyers are prepared for messengers to get stuck in traffic, trains and planes to get delayed and computers to malfunction. Developing good time- management skills is especially important when juggling multiple assignments for multiple clients and when more than one deadline occurs on the same day. Learning how to do it early on is critical.
DILIGENCE
The most effective new lawyers turn in completed work product, not "drafts." To senior lawyers, "draft" does not mean "work in progress," or work completed "so far." Proofreading is critical. Running spellcheck is not a substitute for proofreading. Proper grammar is not a matter of "style." And no assignment in a law firm is beneath anyone. There is no magic band of elves that comes in at night and does all the little tasks that a busy lawyer would rather not do.
COLLEGIALITY
The best lawyers never complain about a project being difficult and never complain about being busy. Clients hire lawyers to perform difficult tasks and solve difficult problems. Being busy is how lawyers make a living. From management's perspective, a lawyer who is meeting the firm's target billable hours is "occupied," not "busy." Lawyers who turn down work when they are not on target for their hours develop a reputation for laziness at best, and unprofessionalism or incompetence at worst. It is a business, after all.
FUN
The best lawyers are those who are never too busy to have fun. Lawyering is one of the most flexible and intellectually rewarding professions going. The clients one develops, the practice one builds, and the expertise one maintains are largely up to each individual lawyer. Doing a difficult job extremely well is a wonderful feeling. Learning how to be an exceptional lawyer, not just an employed lawyer, is worth the effort.
Kimberly K. Egan is a partner in the Washington office of DLA Piper and is co-chairwoman of the firm's U.S. health care sector.
http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202483306319&slreturn=1&hbxlogin=1
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Four Words to Delete from Your Cover Letter
Certain words appear in almost every cover letter. I’ve explained below why you don’t want to use 4 of these too-common words and what some alternatives might be.
If you want to make your cover letter stand out, do some editing and make sure to avoid these words completely. You might be surprised at the result.
1. HOPE
e.g. I hope to hear from you soon.
OR
e.g. I hope to be able to contribute my skills to ABC company.
Why not?
Hope springs eternal. The company doesn’t care about your hopes and dreams. They care about what you can do for them.
Alternatives:
I look forward to speaking with you further regarding my qualifications.
OR
My ability to take clear, decisive action will allow me to make an impact at ABC company from day one.
OK, now we’re talking!
2. HONE
e.g. This summer, I honed my research and writing skills through a position at XX law firm.
Why not?
You and every other person honed something. It’s an outdated and overused expression. Tell them what you did and they will figure out that you honed your skills. If you absolutely must, use “strengthened,” “developed,” or even “sharpened.”
Alternative:
My research regarding constitutional rights violations culminated in a report and recommendations that guided the ACLU in future actions.
It’s obvious this person is using some powerful research and writing skills.
3. DRAWN
e.g. I am drawn to ABC company because of its outstanding reputation and high quality service.
Why not?
You get drawn to a person across a crowded room. Companies don’t care to hear that you are drawn to them. And a bonus tip: companies with outstanding reputations don’t need to be told that you want to work there because of their outstanding reputations.
Alternative:
The relationship management skills I built while working in a state office are a match for ABC company’s commitment to outstanding customer relationships.
That’s so much better, isn’t it?
4. FEEL
e.g. I feel the relationship management skills I built while working in a state office are a match for ABC company’s commitment to outstanding customer relationships.
Why not?
Can you see how adding “I feel” at the beginning of this sentence killed it completely? Tell a psychologist how you feel. Tell a company what you can do for them. If you must, use the word “believe” instead of “feel.” But see if you can avoid this type of language altogether.
Alternative:
The relationship management skills I built while working in a state office are a match for ABC company’s commitment to outstanding customer relationships.
Delete these four words from your cover letters and I promise you more creative and powerful language will show up.
http://www.linkedin.com/news?viewArticle=&articleID=180682425&gid=138780&type=member&item=28203433&articleURL=http%3A%2F%2Ftheessayexpert%2Ecom%2Fblog%2F2010%2F08%2F12%2Fwords-to-delete-from-your-cover-letter%2F&urlhash=ZbqG
If you want to make your cover letter stand out, do some editing and make sure to avoid these words completely. You might be surprised at the result.
1. HOPE
e.g. I hope to hear from you soon.
OR
e.g. I hope to be able to contribute my skills to ABC company.
Why not?
Hope springs eternal. The company doesn’t care about your hopes and dreams. They care about what you can do for them.
Alternatives:
I look forward to speaking with you further regarding my qualifications.
OR
My ability to take clear, decisive action will allow me to make an impact at ABC company from day one.
OK, now we’re talking!
2. HONE
e.g. This summer, I honed my research and writing skills through a position at XX law firm.
Why not?
You and every other person honed something. It’s an outdated and overused expression. Tell them what you did and they will figure out that you honed your skills. If you absolutely must, use “strengthened,” “developed,” or even “sharpened.”
Alternative:
My research regarding constitutional rights violations culminated in a report and recommendations that guided the ACLU in future actions.
It’s obvious this person is using some powerful research and writing skills.
3. DRAWN
e.g. I am drawn to ABC company because of its outstanding reputation and high quality service.
Why not?
You get drawn to a person across a crowded room. Companies don’t care to hear that you are drawn to them. And a bonus tip: companies with outstanding reputations don’t need to be told that you want to work there because of their outstanding reputations.
Alternative:
The relationship management skills I built while working in a state office are a match for ABC company’s commitment to outstanding customer relationships.
That’s so much better, isn’t it?
4. FEEL
e.g. I feel the relationship management skills I built while working in a state office are a match for ABC company’s commitment to outstanding customer relationships.
Why not?
Can you see how adding “I feel” at the beginning of this sentence killed it completely? Tell a psychologist how you feel. Tell a company what you can do for them. If you must, use the word “believe” instead of “feel.” But see if you can avoid this type of language altogether.
Alternative:
The relationship management skills I built while working in a state office are a match for ABC company’s commitment to outstanding customer relationships.
Delete these four words from your cover letters and I promise you more creative and powerful language will show up.
http://www.linkedin.com/news?viewArticle=&articleID=180682425&gid=138780&type=member&item=28203433&articleURL=http%3A%2F%2Ftheessayexpert%2Ecom%2Fblog%2F2010%2F08%2F12%2Fwords-to-delete-from-your-cover-letter%2F&urlhash=ZbqG
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