Résumés/cover letters/applications
Top mistake
Too many goals/objectives from candidates with little or no experience.
Desirable length is one page each for résumés and cover letters.
In cover letters, always address the letter to the person listed in the job ad, unless no one is listed and you cannot figure it out from the firm’s website. In that case, use “Dear Sir or Ms.”, “Dear Hiring Committee”, “Dear Hiring Manager”, etc. Use “To Whom It May Concern” only as a last resort. The tone should be formal. (You may need to tailor the résumé to the job as well, depending upon your level of experience.) If there are gaps in your employment history, explain them succinctly in your cover letter. Tailor the cover letter to the job by specifically addressing why you are qualified. There should be no fluff or flowery language in the letter.
Do your homework about the firm. Your cover letter should echo the résumé. They must go together and reflect the work of the firm in some positive way.
If you include career goals, write specifically. Project the attitude that you want to be part of the income generating team; for example, that you want to contribute research that is viable. Show that you understand that the law firm is a business. Never say “I love to read” or “I am detail oriented.”
If you have no experience, write about what there is about the LAW (not libraries) that attracts you to working in it and orient your words to the firm’s specialty.
If there’s a gap in your employment history explain it in one sentence in your cover letter or indicate it on your résumé in the proper chronological sequence.
If you are sending a résumé cold, research the firm. Use the letter to introduce yourself and make it clear that the firm is so attractive to you that you want to work there as soon as there’s an opening.
Interviewing/Follow-up
The applicant’s appearance should be conservative; dark skirt suit for women; dark suit and tie for men. Women should wear hose, low-heeled pumps with closed toes, very simple jewelry, no perfume, well-kept but short fingernails. Even if you are told to be casual, stay on the conservative side.
Attitude
Be alert, courteous, interested, and rigorously punctual. Beyond these, be yourself. Don’t say negative things about anybody from your previous work experience.
Expect questions such as:
- What do you know about our firm/practice? If they don’t ask, know the answers and find an opportunity to insert that information into the discussion.
- What is your willingness to put in long hours? They want some indication about your commitment. Be honest—if you can’t do it, don’t say that you can. They can’t ask about your home life, but you can mention it if you think it’s to your advantage. If it’s possible for you to work late, say something about how long hours at the firm would be consistent with the time you’re putting in while in school—you hit the books all night...so this would be an easy transition.
Ask no questions about salary or benefits during the interview. That is only permissible at the time of callback. To get an idea of the salary parameters look at the AALL salary survey and judge where the salary should be by the description of work and the geographic location of the institution. If you’re going to negotiate salary, know that firms don’t negotiate to their disadvantage. They won’t necessarily make a counter offer. If you are made an offer and it is low, ask if there’s some leeway in the salary and be prepared to state something concrete about what you can bring to the firm that makes the higher figure necessary.
The right attitude to have when going into an interview is that even if the job isn’t a good fit or the salary doesn’t turn out to be what you need, the interview itself is a networking experience. You will meet people in your interviews—HR people and librarians—and they all talk to each other. Ex: If you make a good impression on a firm librarian when interviewing for a job that’s not a good fit for you, she may know about a job at another firm that is a good fit, and she may call that firm’s librarian and/or send you there.
Get business cards, hand them out, and get the cards of every person with whom you spend time during the interview. Remember names! Right after you leave the interview, sit down and make notes about all the people you met. After the interview, send a thank you note to every person you spent time with. Personalize those notes. Ex: “I was particularly interested in your project to do ____, and given my background/interest/studies, I would love to work with you on it.”
NEVER address people by their first names unless they ask you to do it—especially partners and senior people. If you go to lunch or dinner, don’t order the most expensive thing on the menu or an alcoholic beverage—even if others do.
Don’t discuss politics except in the most impersonal way.
Treat the interview like a first date—you want to make the best possible impression.