By: Kandice Thorn
For students who are
returning in the spring, here are some ideas for steps you can take during your
break to get a jump on the spring semester job search:
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
It's the Little Things...
By: Kandice Thorn
When students come to me for career counseling, they are often surprised by the amount of time I spend on seemingly insignificant minutiae in their resumes and cover letters. I take their formatting and eliminate indentations and bullet points; I turn an en-dash into an em-dash or vice versa for consistency; I remove stray commas or other punctuation. It sometimes takes several drafts to get to a point where we can really focus on the substance of the document. This might seem trivial, but this morning as I was reviewing resumes for an undergraduate student worker position in our office, I was reminded just how important these "little things" are.
When students come to me for career counseling, they are often surprised by the amount of time I spend on seemingly insignificant minutiae in their resumes and cover letters. I take their formatting and eliminate indentations and bullet points; I turn an en-dash into an em-dash or vice versa for consistency; I remove stray commas or other punctuation. It sometimes takes several drafts to get to a point where we can really focus on the substance of the document. This might seem trivial, but this morning as I was reviewing resumes for an undergraduate student worker position in our office, I was reminded just how important these "little things" are.
Monday, November 19, 2012
I Passed the Bar Exam! Now What?
By: Kandice Thorn
Last week and this week I am writing a pair of posts addressed to those who just received their bar exam results. If you did not receive happy news, you may wish to revisit last week's post about what to do if you did not pass the bar exam. This week, I will address those who passed the bar exam.
Last week and this week I am writing a pair of posts addressed to those who just received their bar exam results. If you did not receive happy news, you may wish to revisit last week's post about what to do if you did not pass the bar exam. This week, I will address those who passed the bar exam.
Monday, November 12, 2012
I Failed the Bar--Now What?
By: Kandice Thorn
It is great to be back on the blog after a short hiatus resulting from Hurricane Sandy, among other things. Current LL.M. students have submitted their ISIP bids, and are busy preparing for finals, as they should be, so I thought I'd take a moment to address our alumni who have just received their bar exam results.
It is great to be back on the blog after a short hiatus resulting from Hurricane Sandy, among other things. Current LL.M. students have submitted their ISIP bids, and are busy preparing for finals, as they should be, so I thought I'd take a moment to address our alumni who have just received their bar exam results.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Your LinkedIn Profile
By: Kandice Thorn
Because many employers these days use Google searches to learn more about prospective candidates, it is crucial to make sure that your internet image is squeaky clean. In a previous post, I discussed how to Google yourself and clean up any extraneous information that you might not want floating around for an employer to see. In this post, I will discuss your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is usually the first thing a potential employer will click on if it comes up in a Google search of you, and it is also a valuable networking tool, so it is crucial that your LinkedIn profile be polished and professional.
Because many employers these days use Google searches to learn more about prospective candidates, it is crucial to make sure that your internet image is squeaky clean. In a previous post, I discussed how to Google yourself and clean up any extraneous information that you might not want floating around for an employer to see. In this post, I will discuss your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is usually the first thing a potential employer will click on if it comes up in a Google search of you, and it is also a valuable networking tool, so it is crucial that your LinkedIn profile be polished and professional.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Email Correspondence: Slow Down and Keep it Professional
By: Kandice Thorn
In these days of harried email correspondence, it is easy to send off emails without much thought. But remember that every email you send has a recipient. It may in fact have multiple recipients. It may get forwarded to other recipients. And everyone who reads your email messages will make judgments about you based on those messages. They will judge your level of professionalism, your professional judgment, your maturity, and your mastery of the English language (even if English is your first language--perhaps especially if English is your first language!), among other things.
In these days of harried email correspondence, it is easy to send off emails without much thought. But remember that every email you send has a recipient. It may in fact have multiple recipients. It may get forwarded to other recipients. And everyone who reads your email messages will make judgments about you based on those messages. They will judge your level of professionalism, your professional judgment, your maturity, and your mastery of the English language (even if English is your first language--perhaps especially if English is your first language!), among other things.
Monday, October 1, 2012
For Resume Formatting, it's Best to Keep it Simple
By: Kandice Thorn
Since so many students are focused on resumes right now, I'm going to stick with the resume theme and address a common mistake I see in resumes: messy formatting. Often this is a result of an attempt to use a format that is too complicated. Trust me when I tell you that in the world of legal resumes, less is more.
Since so many students are focused on resumes right now, I'm going to stick with the resume theme and address a common mistake I see in resumes: messy formatting. Often this is a result of an attempt to use a format that is too complicated. Trust me when I tell you that in the world of legal resumes, less is more.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
How to Fit Your Resume Onto One Page: Part II
By: Kandice Thorn
Last week, we discussed how to edit your content in order to fit your resume onto one page. But if you have edited your content and you are still having trouble, you'll need to look at your formatting. Almost everyone can fit their resumes onto one page without sacrificing important content. The key is to brush up on your Microsoft Word skills and to play with different formatting styles. Most people start by decreasing the font size, but this is almost never your best option. A font that is too small can be annoying to read, so you should start with a good font size (e.g., 11 pt Times New Roman or 10 pt Ariel) and only decrease after exhausting all other options. Here are some ways to alter your formatting to fit everything onto one page:
Last week, we discussed how to edit your content in order to fit your resume onto one page. But if you have edited your content and you are still having trouble, you'll need to look at your formatting. Almost everyone can fit their resumes onto one page without sacrificing important content. The key is to brush up on your Microsoft Word skills and to play with different formatting styles. Most people start by decreasing the font size, but this is almost never your best option. A font that is too small can be annoying to read, so you should start with a good font size (e.g., 11 pt Times New Roman or 10 pt Ariel) and only decrease after exhausting all other options. Here are some ways to alter your formatting to fit everything onto one page:
Monday, September 17, 2012
How to Fit Your Resume Onto One Page: Part I
By: Kandice Thorn
Almost everyone can fit their resumes onto one page without sacrificing important content. Yet fitting a resume onto one page can sometimes be tricky, particularly for international students who are accustomed to lengthier CVs. When looking to shorten a resume, there are two things to look at: content and format.
Is your resume too long because you are trying to put too much content in the resume? Or is it too long because your formatting is too generous and needs to be cleaned up? Or (as is most often the case) is it a combination of the two? Part I of this post will address issues with content. Part II, which will be posted next week, will address formatting issues.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Should I Use a Legal Recruiter (Headhunter)?
By: Kandice Thorn
Each year, I receive several inquiries from students and alumni regarding the use of legal recruiters to find jobs, so I thought it would be worth devoting a few words on the blog to this topic. On the surface, it seems like an attractive option: "A legal recruiter is someone who is going to go out and find me a job. How easy is that?" It's not so simple, as it turns out.
Each year, I receive several inquiries from students and alumni regarding the use of legal recruiters to find jobs, so I thought it would be worth devoting a few words on the blog to this topic. On the surface, it seems like an attractive option: "A legal recruiter is someone who is going to go out and find me a job. How easy is that?" It's not so simple, as it turns out.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Resume Formatting: Using Tables to Align Text on the Right
By: Kandice Thorn
One of the biggest mistakes I see in resume drafting is sloppy formatting. Often, sloppy formatting is a result of an ill-fated attempt to make the formatting look extra clever or professional. Before you try anything fancy with the formatting, do an honest assessment of your computer skills. Unless you are very good with computers, I generally advise you to stick with a simple format.
One of the biggest mistakes I see in resume drafting is sloppy formatting. Often, sloppy formatting is a result of an ill-fated attempt to make the formatting look extra clever or professional. Before you try anything fancy with the formatting, do an honest assessment of your computer skills. Unless you are very good with computers, I generally advise you to stick with a simple format.
Monday, August 27, 2012
A New Year for Networking
By: Kandice Thorn
Welcome back to our returning students, and welcome to our new students! I hope you are all refreshed from a wonderful summer and ready to begin an exciting new semester. From a career perspective, I hope you will channel this energy into the single most important aspect of your job search: networking.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Your Post-Graduation Job Search
By: Kandice Thorn
It's hard to believe it's already mid-May and graduation is upon us! For the past year, your job search has likely taken a back seat to your studies, but once you have graduated (and taken the bar exam, if that's your plan), the job search will move to the front and center. It's no secret that
the job market is tough these days.
Here are some tips to help you have a successful post-graduation job search:
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Make the Most of Your Summer
By: Kandice Thorn
Those of you who are graduating will likely spend your summer doing one of two things: (1) studying feverishly for the bar exam, or (2) going on vacation. But for those of you who started your program in the spring semester and will return to finish your programs in the fall, you may be wondering what you should be doing this summer to make the most of those lazy summer months. Some of you have full-time internships lined up--if you do, that's fantastic. But if you find yourself with time on your hands this summer, here are a few things you may want to consider:
Those of you who are graduating will likely spend your summer doing one of two things: (1) studying feverishly for the bar exam, or (2) going on vacation. But for those of you who started your program in the spring semester and will return to finish your programs in the fall, you may be wondering what you should be doing this summer to make the most of those lazy summer months. Some of you have full-time internships lined up--if you do, that's fantastic. But if you find yourself with time on your hands this summer, here are a few things you may want to consider:
Monday, April 30, 2012
Cover Letters: Be Concise
By: Kandice Thorn
I said in a previous post that one common mistake I see in cover letters is that they are too long. This is actually the most common mistake I see in cover letters, so common that I thought the topic deserved its own blog post. First, I am going to describe what a concise cover letter should look like, then, because I like lists, I am going to give you the top five reasons you should keep your cover letters short and sweet.
I said in a previous post that one common mistake I see in cover letters is that they are too long. This is actually the most common mistake I see in cover letters, so common that I thought the topic deserved its own blog post. First, I am going to describe what a concise cover letter should look like, then, because I like lists, I am going to give you the top five reasons you should keep your cover letters short and sweet.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Translating Legal Education: Describing Your Foreign Law School Grades
By: Kandice Thorn
What is the difference between a sehr gut and vollbefriedegent in the German system? A 7 or 10 in the Argentine system?
Unless you are ensconced in those countries, it is unlikely you would know. Even if you can translate the grades, you would need to have a strong understanding of the cultures and traditions that govern legal education in those countries to fully comprehend what the grades mean. Most employers will not have this information easily at hand. As a candidate from a foreign country, if you choose to provide grade information in your resume, you also need to be sure you are providing the appropriate context so that an employer can understand the information. Otherwise, the information will lose its effectiveness.
Unless you are ensconced in those countries, it is unlikely you would know. Even if you can translate the grades, you would need to have a strong understanding of the cultures and traditions that govern legal education in those countries to fully comprehend what the grades mean. Most employers will not have this information easily at hand. As a candidate from a foreign country, if you choose to provide grade information in your resume, you also need to be sure you are providing the appropriate context so that an employer can understand the information. Otherwise, the information will lose its effectiveness.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Translating Legal Education: Why You Shouldn't "Equivocate" Your Foreign Law Degree
By: Kandice Thorn
I see a lot of resumes that state "J.D. equivalent" as a way of easily and simply stating foreign legal degrees. But what exactly is a degree that is equivalent to a J.D.? In what respect is it equivalent? Is it equivalent in the number of years of study required? In that it qualifies you to practice or sit for a qualifying exam? In that it is a doctoral level or professional degree? Or is a J.D. a master's level degree?
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Advice for Career Changers
By: Kandice Thorn
Most LL.M. students come to the program as the logical continuation of a career path that has been already well defined. However, we also have a number of students who pursue the LL.M. degree as a way to move their career in a new direction. For these students, the question of how to market themselves to employers can be tricky.
Most LL.M. students come to the program as the logical continuation of a career path that has been already well defined. However, we also have a number of students who pursue the LL.M. degree as a way to move their career in a new direction. For these students, the question of how to market themselves to employers can be tricky.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Being Nice
By: Kandice Thorn
First, I must confess that this is a topic I have been wanting to address for some time, but I have been a little lost as to the right way to approach the subject. The gist is something that should be quite obvious: if you are nice, people will like you and want to help you; if you are mean, people will not like you and not want to help you.
Professional Email Etiquette
By: Kandice Thorn
Repeat after me: "Email correspondence is professional correspondence."
We live in a world where email is frequently our primary method of communication. We send our friends two line emails to make plans; we dot our correspondence with smiley faces; we use abbreviations and slang. But it is important to remember that, in the professional world, email correspondence should reflect your professionalism and should be treated with the same level of care you would have used in drafting a hard copy letter in the days of yore.
Monday, March 19, 2012
What to Bring (and NOT to Bring) to a Job Interview: A Checklist
By: Kandice Thorn
Keep this checklist handy and refer to it whenever you have a job interview.
Keep this checklist handy and refer to it whenever you have a job interview.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Google Yourself
By: Kandice Thorn
Monday, February 27, 2012
How to Describe Your NY Bar Status on a Resume
By: Kandice Thorn
We all know the importance of being truthful on our resumes, however I frequently see resumes from foreign-trained students/attorneys who have inadvertently misstated their bar credentials. Potential employers make very specific assumptions about your bar status depending on the language you use to describe it, and it is critical that you be aware of these assumptions to avoid any appearance of dishonesty.
We all know the importance of being truthful on our resumes, however I frequently see resumes from foreign-trained students/attorneys who have inadvertently misstated their bar credentials. Potential employers make very specific assumptions about your bar status depending on the language you use to describe it, and it is critical that you be aware of these assumptions to avoid any appearance of dishonesty.
Why You Should Perfect Your Resume Now
By: Kandice Thorn
You never know when you will suddenly need to send someone your resume. Having an up-to-date resume ready to go at all times shows that you are organized and dedicated to your job search. If you meet someone who says to you, "Please send me your resume," and you don't have one ready to send, or you send one that is thrown together hastily, you may miss out on a valuable opportunity.
Keep in mind that resume review doesn't happen overnight. Ideally, you will go through several drafts before finalizing your resume, and those drafts will be reviewed by numerous people. This is a lengthy process. Start now, and the next time someone asks you for your resume, you can answer with confidence, "Of course, I'll send it right away!"
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Are Unpaid Internships Legal?
By: Kandice Thorn
It is not uncommon for students and law graduates these days to be offered unpaid internships with for-profit companies and law firms, but in most cases, such internships violate the Fair Labor Standards Act. Click on the link below to see the Department of Labor's test for unpaid interns.
http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs71.htm
It is not uncommon for students and law graduates these days to be offered unpaid internships with for-profit companies and law firms, but in most cases, such internships violate the Fair Labor Standards Act. Click on the link below to see the Department of Labor's test for unpaid interns.
http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs71.htm
How to Get Your Resume Noticed (and not Thrown Away) when Responding to a Job Posting
By: Kandice Thorn
Responding to job postings can be tedious. Often, it feels like you'd be better off rolling your resume up, popping it into a sealed bottle, and sending it adrift on the ocean hoping that a vacationing law firm hiring partner will pick it up somewhere off the coast of Belize. Most job postings these days get dozens of responses, if not more, and most resumes get barely a glance. But there are things you can do to improve your success rate when responding to job postings, and there are common mistakes you can avoid to ensure your resume doesn't go straight to the trash bin. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of this method of applying for jobs.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Useful Websites: New York Law Journal
By: Kandice Thorn
It
is a good idea to get in the habit of perusing the New York Law Journal
frequently to get a sense of the important issues being discussed in the New
York legal community. Some features of
note include "Firms in the News," which shows the latest headlines
involving New York law firms and "Q&A," which features interviews
with leaders of the New York legal community.
Current members of the Fordham Law community can access the full content of the New York Law Journal free of
charge through the Fordham Law Library's "Electronic Resources" at http://lawlib1.lawnet.fordham.edu/eresources/eresources2.html. Please contact a reference librarian if you
have any trouble accessing this resource.
Five Common Mistakes in Cover Letters
By: Kandice Thorn
Cover letters are perhaps the most daunting job search-related document, and for good reason. They are highly customized, so a one-size-fits-all formula doesn't really work. Because they are so particular, they also require a great deal of revising for each position you apply to. Yet a cover letter is the first "writing sample" a potential employer will see, so the writing must be impeccable. This week, I will address the top five mistakes that I commonly see in cover letters. Take care to avoid these pitfalls in your cover letter, and you will be well on your way to an effective cover letter.
Cover letters are perhaps the most daunting job search-related document, and for good reason. They are highly customized, so a one-size-fits-all formula doesn't really work. Because they are so particular, they also require a great deal of revising for each position you apply to. Yet a cover letter is the first "writing sample" a potential employer will see, so the writing must be impeccable. This week, I will address the top five mistakes that I commonly see in cover letters. Take care to avoid these pitfalls in your cover letter, and you will be well on your way to an effective cover letter.
Welcome to LL.M. Career Corner, the New GPDP Blog!
Welcome to LL.M. Career Corner! This blog will replace the "Tip of the Week" and "Website of the Week" features of the Graduate & International Student eNewsletter.
If there is ever a topic you want to see addressed in this blog, please email me at kthorn1@law.fordham.edu. I hope you all enjoy, and I look forward to reading your comments and feedback!
Fondly,
Kandice Thorn
Director of International and Non-J.D. Programs
If there is ever a topic you want to see addressed in this blog, please email me at kthorn1@law.fordham.edu. I hope you all enjoy, and I look forward to reading your comments and feedback!
Fondly,
Kandice Thorn
Director of International and Non-J.D. Programs
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)