ESQAdvantage is the legal profession’s source on
how to land a great legal job. The key is to know what employers
want. For the first time, legal professionals reveal every
step you must take to be successful in your job search. Don’t
blow your one chance to make a great first impression!
“I spent the first five years in law using the same resume. I drafted it based upon on a sample a friend gave me. After sending out hundreds of letters, I kept getting rejection letters. I had enough of that and made a change. I used all of the great ideas from ESQ to build a great resume, a targeted cover letter and I got two great offers – from two different kinds of employers – an association and a law firm.” Legal Candidate
Advice From Hiring Professionals
Question: “What things on a resume immediately impress you and cause you to want to set up an interview?”
Response:
Partner at 300+ Attorney Law Firm
“Great experience. Solid academic background – with not just grades but other legal activities. Overall, an impressive legal background. A potential fit within the organization. Things that set this person apart.”
General Counsel at Fortune 500 Company
“Intellect, ability and willingness to see opportunities to succeed in new approaches.”
Corporate Attorney at Technology Company
“I like when there's a paragraph at the beginning explaining an overall career objective or something related to the type of job/position they are looking for--if it fits with the job opening we have.”
Staff Attorney at Public Interest Organization
“A resume that is appealing to the eye, with no grammar or spelling mistakes, a decent academic background, they don’t have to be at the top of their class, but they must have something that stands out, and finally, the resume with the best and most interesting experience.”
Paralegal at 800+ Attorney Law Firm “A resume that is articulate (gives straight-forward information in an easy-to-follow/logical format). Descriptions of work - if it appears that the person has more experience than what their title suggests, it appears to me that they are a hard-worker and want to learn. Advancement in a company does not always occur in some organizations/firms from a person learning outside of their designated position.”
Question: “What things on a resume cause you to want to immediately reject the resume?”
Response:
Partner at 300+ Attorney Law Firm
“Typographical errors, poorly drafted resume, inadequate experience, lack of focus.”
General Counsel at Fortune 500 Company “Poor work ethic, average performer.”
Corporate Attorney at Technology Company
“A lot of errors, or not organized in a way that's easy to read.”
Staff Attorney at Public Interest Organization
“A poorly structured resume – one that is choppy and not laid out well or spelling and grammatical mistakes.”
Paralegal at 800+ Attorney Law Firm
“It is always obvious who has spent no time preparing a resume - I would immediately reject the resumes where there is no logical order, no consistency (with the conjugation of verbs) or any misspelled words.”
Question: “If you could whisper your greatest words of wisdom to someone seeking advice on their resume, what would you say?”
Response:
Partner at 300+ Attorney Law Firm
“I would tell them that the statements need to be concise and to the point. … Keeping it all on one page is not critical. However, if the descriptions of work are not tight, I lose interest. Also, highlight items that will spark conversation, not simply state that you prepared motions and attended depositions. If you have an interesting case or type of practice - put it out there. It will create conversation with your interviewer, and hopefully land the job.
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