I’ve only put in a few applications in my job search so far, but I’m wondering if I should look for a different type of job. There doesn’t seem to be many job openings for attorneys and so far I’ve just gotten the one interview and they never bothered to contact me about my status after the interview. At this point I can figure out I wasn’t hired. I’m wondering if I should set my sights on a more easily obtainable job.
I delivered pizza before law school and during law school so now that I’ve finished law school I could probably get another pizza delivery job. This isn’t the type of job that I ultimately want, but at least I would be making some money. A pizza job or other entry-level job wouldn’t be very impressive on my resume, but not having a job doesn’t look good on my resume either.
It is possible that I might not even be able to get a pizza job. A potential employer would have to wonder if I would leave as soon as I found a better job. And I would have to admit that I would leave for a better job. If I do take an entry-level type job I will still be looking for a job that utilizes my law degree.
For now, I am going to continue looking for a legal job. I’ll also look for a part-time job that can bring in a little money. Hopefully, I can find something more professional than delivering pizza that would be ok to include on my resume.
How about a paralegal type job, get your foot in the door at a firm? I am a vet and sometimes new vets take jobs as vet techs until they pass boards, get licensed. Which is sorta like passing the bar.
Being a professional is not all its cracked up to be, I’ve always thought being a janitor sounded great… I mean, you get paid to CLEAN. Seriously, how hard can that be? Nothing life or death, no one is going to sue you if you leave streaks on a window. Or starbucks…you get paid to serve COFEE. You already have the frugal thing down, so money shouldn’t determine your choice of job, and any job will bring in a fortune if you maintain your frugalness.
A paralegal type job is a possibility.
I’ve been a janitor before and it isn’t great. I like things to be clean but I don’t like to clean. And I really don’t like cleaning up after other people.
I’m not in law, but I have friends who are. Staying within the legal industry should be goal number one. It’s good to have at least some hands-on at any level than have to explain unrelated jobs on your resume.
What about a temporary agency? Perhaps you could get your foot in the door and perhaps stay? Have you checked State and local openings? Just a thought. How about instructor type jobs at local community colleges – instructor jobs?, places that offer crash courses for the LSAT?
I’m going to a job fair at a temporary agency next week. I’ve checked for local government openings, but haven’t seen anything. I’ve applied before to be an LSAT instructor, but I’ll look into that again or maybe just doing tutoring on my own. I did score in the top 5% on the LSAT, but I’m not sure how to teach it.
I would be concerned about the cost of using your van to deliver pizzas because it can’t be fuel efficient, so you’d be spending a lot more on gas than you should.
As far as how it looks, I wouldn’t worry too much. The way I see it, you don’t have to put it on a resume. A resume should highlight what is relevant. All this time you have been a professional blogger – that’s what you include on the resume. The fact that you flipped burgers on the side or whatever you end up doing doesn’t need to be mentioned. At least that’s how I see it.
I probably won’t actually deliver pizza since my van isn’t a good vehicle for it. The pizza job was just an idea of the type of job I’m looking at taking.
Do more mystery shops. You can make that look great on a resume.
I’m doing mystery shops that I think are worthwhile. I’m not sure how I would present that on a resume.
I would stick with your side ventures like blogging while looking for your main job. Then, in an interview, sell it as entrepreneurship!
Yes, I got to get better at presenting my blogging. With the right spin it could look impressive.
Did you follow up with the employer? You never really should wait for them to call you back…that’s kind of job seeking 101. You have to show that you want it.
I’d suggest you check out a book called “48 Days to the Work You Love.” Great read and Dan gives some really good practical ways to go about interviewing and applying for jobs. It’s different than the norm and I wouldn’t be suggesting it if it wasn’t pretty good.
I used his method to get my job and my wife used it to get her first job out of school.
I did follow up with a thank you email, but I never got a reply. I’ll check out the book.
How about doing legal work at a place like Legal Services Corp? I’m guessing the pay is low enough (relative to what the universe of attorneys earn) that jobs at LSC are shunned by most attorneys, so the competition might not be so keen.
There is still plenty of competition for those jobs. I did apply with the office in Springfield. I’ll try the Kansas City office as well.
I think getting a pizza delivery job is noble. There are people out there that let life happen to them and those who happen to life. I like to be the latter, an initiator not a responder. Good luck in the job hunt and if you are interested, check out how I got a second job in 8 days: http://wellkeptwallet.com/2010/04/a-second-job-in-8-days/
You got that second job fast. I probably won’t get a pizza delivery job since my van uses a lot of gas, but it is an option.
That’s a tough call. Sure, you can make money delivering pizzas, but how would that slook on your resume? I agree that you could stick with something like your blog and you can spin it as entrepreneurship if need be.
I don’t have to put the pizza job on my resume. It would just be for income. I could still use the blog to cover that period of employment.
Best wishes in your search! My friends who were lawyers largely had their jobs in place before graduation, so they didn’t have that stress. I do believe that sometimes, you have to take a job you may feel is “beneath” you, if only to protect your financial stability; it’s always easier to”find a job when you have a job”… or so I’ve heard 🙂
I wish I would have had a job before graduation, but that didn’t happen.
I think the most important thing about a job is what you learn when your doing it. For me this is number one to help achieve my goals and get out of the job asap. I currently don’t have a job and just work online and love it!
I’d like to do my own business full-time, but I’m not making enough money to do that yet.