By: Kandice Thorn
Whew! This year has flown by, and I can't believe summer is already upon us. This will be my last blog post of the academic year, as I will be taking a break from blogging over the summer. Keep your eyes open in August, though, when I promise I will return to delight you with more nuggets of career-advising wisdom! And if you get really itchy for more advice while I'm gone, I urge you to explore the blog and read past posts that may be of interest.
For my final blog post of the year, I have messages for three different groups of people: (1) students who will be graduating on Sunday, (2) alumni who have just found out their February bar results, and (3) students who are currently finishing up this semester and will be returning to us in the fall.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
Should I Accept a Position as a Paralegal?
By: Kandice Thorn
"Should I accept a position as a paralegal?"
This is a question I get a lot from students and alumni looking to get a foothold in the challenging U.S. legal job market. Job seekers realize very quickly how competitive attorney positions are, and those who are especially intent on staying in the U.S. begin to look for ways to broaden their job search. In this context, the question of paralegal positions often comes up.
"Should I accept a position as a paralegal?"
This is a question I get a lot from students and alumni looking to get a foothold in the challenging U.S. legal job market. Job seekers realize very quickly how competitive attorney positions are, and those who are especially intent on staying in the U.S. begin to look for ways to broaden their job search. In this context, the question of paralegal positions often comes up.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Dream Jobs, Match Jobs: How to Conduct an Efficient Job Search
By: Kandice Thorn
In the U.S., when we apply to college, we are told to look at three kinds of schools: "Dream Schools," "Match Schools," and "Safety Schools." Dream Schools are, of course, the schools we really really want to go to, but have basically no shot at getting into. Safety Schools are those that we can be reasonably certain to be admitted into with no problem. Match Schools are those that are a good match for our credentials, and thus we have a reasonable chance of admission. Students are told that they should apply to a small number of Dream Schools and at least one or two Safety Schools, but that the majority of their efforts should be focused on Match Schools.
While there are obvious differences between the college application process and the job search process, I do think there are some parallels to be drawn that may be helpful in formulating a successful job search.
In the U.S., when we apply to college, we are told to look at three kinds of schools: "Dream Schools," "Match Schools," and "Safety Schools." Dream Schools are, of course, the schools we really really want to go to, but have basically no shot at getting into. Safety Schools are those that we can be reasonably certain to be admitted into with no problem. Match Schools are those that are a good match for our credentials, and thus we have a reasonable chance of admission. Students are told that they should apply to a small number of Dream Schools and at least one or two Safety Schools, but that the majority of their efforts should be focused on Match Schools.
While there are obvious differences between the college application process and the job search process, I do think there are some parallels to be drawn that may be helpful in formulating a successful job search.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Finals Versus Networking
By: Kandice Thorn
Anyone who has ever met with me for career advising (and anyone who reads this blog) knows that my #1 piece of career advice is to build your professional network. Network in your professional life! Network in your personal life! Network in your sleep! Never stop networking!
Apparently, I have been successful in getting this message across, because several students have come to me recently to ask a very reasonable question: How can I network and study for finals at the same time?
Anyone who has ever met with me for career advising (and anyone who reads this blog) knows that my #1 piece of career advice is to build your professional network. Network in your professional life! Network in your personal life! Network in your sleep! Never stop networking!
Apparently, I have been successful in getting this message across, because several students have come to me recently to ask a very reasonable question: How can I network and study for finals at the same time?
Monday, April 8, 2013
Careers in Compliance
By: Kandice Thorn
Compliance has always been considered an "alternative" career for lawyers. Indeed, compliance positions generally do not require a law degree, however, because of the complex laws and regulations involved, a law degree is extremely helpful and many compliance professionals do have law degrees and law practice experience.
Because compliance is a field that is growing rapidly, even as the number of "lawyer" positions in the U.S. have decreased, compliance is quickly becoming a very attractive career for lawyers. Additionally, unlike most legal department positions, which are filled almost exclusively with lawyers coming from large law firm practice, compliance department positions hire from a broader spectrum, and even hire for junior and entry level positions (also unlike legal department positions, which tend to begin at a more senior level).
Compliance has always been considered an "alternative" career for lawyers. Indeed, compliance positions generally do not require a law degree, however, because of the complex laws and regulations involved, a law degree is extremely helpful and many compliance professionals do have law degrees and law practice experience.
Because compliance is a field that is growing rapidly, even as the number of "lawyer" positions in the U.S. have decreased, compliance is quickly becoming a very attractive career for lawyers. Additionally, unlike most legal department positions, which are filled almost exclusively with lawyers coming from large law firm practice, compliance department positions hire from a broader spectrum, and even hire for junior and entry level positions (also unlike legal department positions, which tend to begin at a more senior level).
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Informational Interviews, Part IV: How to Botch an Informational Interview (Don't Let This Happen to You)
By: Kandice Thorn
Rounding out our four-part post on informational interviewing, I thought it would be appropriate to address some of the common mistakes that people make in informational interviewing, so that you can avoid making them yourself.
Below, I give you the top seven ways to botch an informational interview.
Rounding out our four-part post on informational interviewing, I thought it would be appropriate to address some of the common mistakes that people make in informational interviewing, so that you can avoid making them yourself.
Below, I give you the top seven ways to botch an informational interview.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Informational Interviews, Part III: How to Conduct an Informational Interview
By: Kandice Thorn
The past few weeks, we have been discussing informational interviewing. As mentioned in these posts (see Part I and Part II), informational interviews are an incredibly useful and efficient networking tool. In the previous weeks, we discussed myths associated with informational interviewing and how to set up an informational interview. This week, we will discuss how to conduct the actual interview.
The past few weeks, we have been discussing informational interviewing. As mentioned in these posts (see Part I and Part II), informational interviews are an incredibly useful and efficient networking tool. In the previous weeks, we discussed myths associated with informational interviewing and how to set up an informational interview. This week, we will discuss how to conduct the actual interview.
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