By: Kandice Thorn
Did anyone notice the chill in the air this morning? Winter is rapidly approaching, bringing with it the end of the fall semester. Before you know it, you'll be handing in your last final and running off to enjoy a few weeks of well deserved rest. As you should. But I also want to encourage you to consider winter break as a time to review your career strategy.
Use this time to consider the following questions:
What experience/knowledge would I like to see on my resume that isn't there now?
You should look over job postings for the kinds of jobs you imagine yourself applying for immediately following the LL.M. program. What knowledge or experience are they looking for that you are currently missing? How can you gain that knowledge or experience in the coming months? Can you take a class? Volunteer with a related organization? Attend a conference? Write a paper? Organize a panel discussion? Brainstorm and be creative.
How can I meet people who are practicing in the area I want to go into?
Networking is crucially important to the LL.M. job search in the U.S. Identify the types of people you want to meet and research whether there are any associations, conferences, or other events where you can put yourself in contact with them. Instead of just attending such events, ask if you can volunteer. Volunteering will put you in the middle of the action and will make it easier to connect with others.
Who do I already know that I should reach out to?
The holidays are a great time to reconnect with old friends and colleagues. Try to think about people in your own network who may be able to help you in some way. Don't ask for help directly (that could risk damaging the relationship), just talk to them about what you are doing and see what they volunteer. In many cases something good will come of it.
What have I done over the past semester to further my career goals?
Evaluate what you have done so far - the connections you have made, experience you have gained, research you have done into the job market, etc. Update your resume as needed to reflect recent accomplishments (journal membership, bar association participation, student group membership, conferences attended, volunteering experiences, externships or clinics, etc.).
Set goals for what you should focus on in the coming months.
Whether you are graduating in December or continuing on to the next semester at Fordham, set goals going forward. Goals are best taken in bite size pieces. So, rather than setting the goal of "getting a job by May," break that into smaller bits: attend X conference; set up 4 informational interviews by X date; volunteer for an organization that does X, etc.
This will be my last blog post until the new semester begins. Good luck on all your finals and best wishes for a happy holiday season!
No comments:
Post a Comment