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You’re Hired! Job Hunting Advice For Law Students and Young Lawyers
What Employers Look for in Resumes
Yes, employers are looking for great grades from great schools, with law review this
and moot court that. But let’s be honest – folks with stellar resumes don’t need much help with their resumes. Those who didn’t graduate in the top 10% of their class from an Ivy League law school, while being an editor on their law review and winning their moot court competition need help. So what are employers are looking for, and how can you distinguish yourself when you don’t have the best grades from the best schools?
Here are Some Suggestions
◗ Emphasize trial and deposition experience.
◗ Emphasize relevant practice area
experience.
◗ Emphasize leadership roles.
◗ Emphasize military experience, collegiate
sports, public speaking and published
articles.
◗ List references, preferably law firm senior
or managing partners.
◗ Tell a story with your resume.
◗ Couch your resume in terms of the firm’s
mission, vision and values.
◗ Tip your hand and have some reference
or indicator in your resume that clearly shows this resume is specifically geared to that law firm. This resume was crafted with that specific law firm in mind.
One Size Does Not Fit All
As mentioned in the last section, each resume you submit should be geared specifically toward the firm to which you are applying. The skills, experience, the language, the values and vision included in and conveyed by your resume should be geared to the firm receiving that resume. Am I saying you need to tweak your resume each time you send it to a new or different firm? Yes. That’s exactly what I am saying.
©2020 Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
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SECTION 08 RESUME