15.03.07 Making a job application after 25 years in the same post
We often get very senior solicitors and executives registering with us, and needing to make an application for work after many years in the same post and wondering what on earth they need to do. Very often they send a CV through which is for about 1/2 page, and just says name, address, name of current firm, title and references to be supplied on request. It goes back to my comments below about solicitors requiring respect and status for all their hard graft, and why should they have to produce a long winded CV to explain who and what they are? Unfortunately, this often counts against them, unless the firm they are applying to knows them. There have been cases where we have sent such CVs through and had nothing from firms, followed by a full CV after much cajoling and suddenly interviews are being arranged.
Anyone who finds themselves in this position when searching for legal jobs after being a solicitor for so many years can either use a service like our careers centre, where you pay us to prepare a CV (which of course still requires significant input from you) or alternatively sit down and write a covering letter and CV to send out. It almost always pays for itself in the long run, as not only does it explain who you are, it also helps to focus your mind on making sure you present yourself well to a firm. In a nutshell, what recruiters are looking at for such senior roles is firstly your geographical locations to date, your experience and outline of cases and involvement, the value of your following if any, your billing levels and your marketing and fee generating ability. If you bear this in mind when preparing your CV you shouldn't go too wrong!
Jonathan Fagan, MD of Ten-Percent Legal Recruitment - no.1 online UK legal recruitment agency - save time, skip the legal job boards and let us do the work - register online at www.ten-percent.co.uk/register.htm
We often get very senior solicitors and executives registering with us, and needing to make an application for work after many years in the same post and wondering what on earth they need to do. Very often they send a CV through which is for about 1/2 page, and just says name, address, name of current firm, title and references to be supplied on request. It goes back to my comments below about solicitors requiring respect and status for all their hard graft, and why should they have to produce a long winded CV to explain who and what they are? Unfortunately, this often counts against them, unless the firm they are applying to knows them. There have been cases where we have sent such CVs through and had nothing from firms, followed by a full CV after much cajoling and suddenly interviews are being arranged.
Anyone who finds themselves in this position when searching for legal jobs after being a solicitor for so many years can either use a service like our careers centre, where you pay us to prepare a CV (which of course still requires significant input from you) or alternatively sit down and write a covering letter and CV to send out. It almost always pays for itself in the long run, as not only does it explain who you are, it also helps to focus your mind on making sure you present yourself well to a firm. In a nutshell, what recruiters are looking at for such senior roles is firstly your geographical locations to date, your experience and outline of cases and involvement, the value of your following if any, your billing levels and your marketing and fee generating ability. If you bear this in mind when preparing your CV you shouldn't go too wrong!
Jonathan Fagan, MD of Ten-Percent Legal Recruitment - no.1 online UK legal recruitment agency - save time, skip the legal job boards and let us do the work - register online at www.ten-percent.co.uk/register.htm
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