Wednesday April 20, 2011
I recently posted an online job ad to hire a new employee. While I received many resumes in response to the ad, a number of applicants did not include a formal cover letter. Instead, these candidates merely stated that they were applying to the job ad and directed me to review their attached resume.
In the age of electronic resumes and online job applications, it's easy to skip the process of writing a formal cover letter. However, a cover letter is an important sales tool. According to Dave Willmer, executive director of Office Team, "Submitting a resume without a cover letter is like not shaking hands when meeting someone for the first time. Those who aren't including cover letters with their resumes are missing an opportunity to make a good first impression and set themselves apart from other job applicants."
Over one hundred candidates responded to the job ad I posted. Reading the cover letters helped me decide which resume-attachments I wanted to open or save for future review. In today's competitive job market, employers don't have time to open every attachment and read every resume. Your cover letter should showcase your skills and show how you are the perfect fit for the position. If you fail to include a concise and compelling cover letter, not only might the employer pass you up for an interview, he might never even read your resume.
Need some guidance in creating a compelling cover letter? These articles can help:
Monday April 11, 2011
Legal receptionists are the gatekeepers of a law firm or legal department. Since the receptionist is often the first person with whom clients and visitors interact, he or she is vital to the image of the firm.
Working as a legal receptionist is a great way to break into the legal field or get your feet wet at a law firm. Legal receptionists have the opportunity to network with all levels of personnel within the law firm - from copy room staff to senior partners - as well as clients, opposing counsel, legal vendors and other visitors.
Legal receptionists who excel on the job are often promoted to other positions within the firm such as legal receptionist supervisor, legal secretary or paralegal.
Employment is projected to grow faster than the average for receptionists, according to the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job growth, coupled with the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force, will generate a large number of job openings for receptionists.
To learn more about the roles, education, skills, work environments and salaries of legal receptionists, review this legal receptionist career profile.
Other entry level legal careers:
Friday April 8, 2011
Law school is getting a lot of bad press lately. The job prospects of new lawyers are not as promising as in decades past and becoming a lawyer is no longer a sure-fire path to a life of social and economic privilege. With the high price of a law school education and the dearth of jobs for young lawyers, you must weigh the risks and benefits carefully. Below are a few things to consider:
- Do you have a realistic view of law practice? Review these 5 myths regading the practice of law.
- Do you have what it takes to succeed as a lawyer? Check out these 10 things every prospective law student must consider before choosing a career as an attorney.
- Should you explore another legal career path? The legal field offers many opportunities such as paralegal, litigation support professional, mediator and more.
Law still a noble and respected profession. Just be sure you are aware of the pros and cons before you embark on your legal journey.
Tuesday March 29, 2011
Are you a lawyer or paralegal who enjoys writing? Would you like to build your writing portfolio or establish yourself as an expert on a niche topic?
Paralegal Today, a national magazine serving the paralegal profession, seeks writers for news and feature stories. Features offer readers new insights into the various aspects of the paralegal profession, with an emphasis on providing practical information in an easy-to-read, "how-to" format. Features range in size from 1,500 to 3,000 words, including sidebars.
News stories are between 600 and 1200 words in length and are timely, investigative and written in straight news style on topics relating to paralegals and the legal industry.
The magazine also seeks writers for its career, legal research, corporate and litigation columns.
I've written in the past about the importance of publishing to advance your career. No matter what job you hold, publishing can help you get your name out there, build your writing portfolio, establish yourself as an expert, and open doors to new opportunities such as speaking engagements and new contacts. A little extra income can't hurt either.
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