It is always considered the best option to look for a new job when you already have one, but what should you do if you are unemployed at the moment when you are looking for something new? What are your options?
Your first priority, of course, should be making sure you can pay the bills. This may mean taking on positions that aren’t in your field and may pay much less than you’re used to, but in a tough economy, it’s important to be flexible and broaden the range of jobs you’d be willing to take. us. This doesn’t mean you’ll be stuck in a seemingly dead-end job forever; it simply means that you have the maturity to do what needs to be done until you find something that is more appropriate for your skills and background.
Of course, don’t make the mistake of taking a low-paying full-time job that won’t leave you time to look for your real job; this is counterproductive and leads to a low return on investment (ROI), that is, working long hours but not getting anywhere near your career goals.
Let’s say you’ve taken care of paying the bills and have several opportunities coming your way that could lead you to a promising full-time position. However, recruitment can be a long-term process, taking months as companies often interview many candidates for a position and take time to make a decision. What can or should you do in the meantime?
A good option is to look for interim or short-term work. This is a possibility in most professions, including law. As companies remain reluctant to add full-time employees to their payrolls, they continue to turn to contract employees or consultants—those who have the necessary experience and skills to get the job done but who don’t require an outlay of benefits and other costly add-ons. that make full-time employees an expensive proposition.
Many then wonder how to find this type of job, as many avenues in the employment sector are geared towards full-time employment. The first thing to do is let people know that you are interested in short-term opportunities. Your friends, former classmates, and connections on LinkedIn are a great place to start. Be as specific as possible about your skills and where and how you think you can add value. Now is not the time to be shy! The more people know what you can contribute, the better.
It’s certainly also worth identifying and contacting staffing companies in your area that specialize in short-term legal placement. In all major markets there are at least several branches of national staffing companies and often several locally owned companies as well. While it’s true that most of the assignments offered through these companies are tedious document review projects, not all of their assignments fall in this realm. And even if you end up working on a Document Review AssemblyLine, you’re putting yourself in an environment where you at least have a chance to make new connections or distinguish yourself in some way. These types of jobs can also help you create a resume of relevant experience that will add to the profile you present to potential full-time employers. If your resume reflects a desire to succeed in the legal field, potential employers will recognize that effort.
