Follow These 4 Steps to Find the Job You Love
By
Jamy J. Sullivan, J.D., Robert Half
As legal professionals, we spend most of our waking hours working. It’s no wonder that so many of us are looking for a job where we can find satisfaction, have a chance to excel and receive the rewards that come with doing our best work. Achieving this trifecta is possible if you follow these four steps to find the job you love.
1. Get to know yourself better
Make sure your career plan includes concrete goals such as obtaining specific certifications, tailoring your resume or LinkedIn profile to your career priorities, and preparing for tough interview questions. Each step should be part of one cohesive strategy toward finding the job you love. Be open-minded about taking risks and stay alert to opportunities outside your comfort zone. This could lead to unexpected openings that may be very fulfilling.
2. Get help from people in the know
3. Stay ahead of the curve
Virtually all legal specializations are rapidly evolving, so staying abreast of changes in legislation, regulations and technology may uncover opportunities you never even knew existed. Courses related to your ideal job that you take the initiative to find and pursue will help keep you updated on current trends, making you more attractive as a candidate. If you include courses outside of your preferred field, you’ll broaden your knowledge base — a great asset for succeeding at job interviews or working with clients from different backgrounds or industries.
4. Partner with the experts
As rewarding as finding a job you love can be, getting there can be overwhelming when you’re trying to juggle personal and professional responsibilities. If you ask for some help from a talent solutions firm, you gain access to a much larger pool of openings than you’d find on your own, plus additional support such as resume writing assistance and interviewing tips.
Finding a legal career you enjoy is a very personal and subjective process — one person’s dream job may be another person’s nightmare. That’s why it’s crucial to trust yourself. You know yourself better than anyone else, so make sure that any decision feels right for you. Good luck!
Jamy J. Sullivan is executive director of the legal practice at Robert Half, the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions firm. Robert Half offers contract, temporary and permanent placement solutions, and is the parent company of Protiviti®, a global consulting firm. Visit RobertHalf.com.