The Best Way to Prepare for a Job Search and Interviews

Several years ago when looking for a position in Los Angeles I interviewed with numerous law firms. In virtually every one of these interviews I ran across an attorney who knew not one, not two, not three—but numerous, numerous attorneys in my current firm. If this is the case in a market the size of Los Angeles (and the market in Los Angeles is huge), I cannot even imagine what it must be like in smaller markets. For example, I am from Detroit. I grew up in a suburb of Detroit. When it came time for me to decide where to work after law school, when I started interviewing with firms in Detroit I knew many of the attorneys before I even arrived at the interviews–they were the parents of people I grew up with. The following are my suggestions for the best way to prepare for a job search and interviews: 1. Know you are always being watched, observed and judged When I was in high school I remember that one of the best looking girls in my school was known to be a prude and someone who would date boys but never let anything all that exciting happen. She was also a star athlete and a student counsel leader and a very respected student. My parents were divorced and lived about an hour apart. I lived with my father. The funny thing is that this same girl [Read more]

How to Explain ”Job Hopping”

”Job Hopping” Most people switch jobs and there is nothing wrong with doing so. However, if you are looking at your third or fourth job within the past few years, something is wrong. I see resumes of people attempting to do this several times a day and, for the most part, cannot help such people. “Employer hopping” is taken into account by employers assessing your qualifications. Having moved several times in a short time span can, in fact, impact your ability to get a job because it leads employers to question your loyalty and long-term commitment to what you are [Read more]