Professional Help Wanted

[C0ckney]

i've been at my current job for a few months now, the money is decent and i like the people, but i'm getting a bit fed up with finding ways we can avoid paying old ladies cancer claims and other fun stuff like that :/

my plan is to get into a law firm, as i've got a degree in it. i've got a big list of local firms and am going to send out a letter with my CV to them, offering a once in a lifetime chance to employ me. however before i invest in 100 envelopes and 1st class stamps, i want to make sure my letter won't be put straight in the circular file.

i'm looking for someone to have a read through my letter and tell me what they think, what could be improved etc. ideally someone who works in the legal field or another professional person. i'm not really looking for the opinions of students and unemployed peeps here.

if you'd like to help, then great. post here or drop me a pm.

[Lorizael]

I'm a professional data entry specialist. Also, I dropped out of college, so I'm not a student.

[Japher]

I'm a professional slurpee pumper
and I dropped out of High School
so I'm not a student

[Kontiki]

Isn't Laz and the Gimp a UK lawyer type?

[Kontiki]

Also, I don't know how things work in England, but here sending out 100 letters and CVs by mail is pretty much equivalent to putting 100 letters and CVs in the garbage.

[SlowwHand]

Your professional life is only going to get worse as Baby Boomers get screwed to the wall.

[C0ckney]

[Ming]

The letters are worthless unless you can target the right individual within those firms. A "to whomever it may concern" letter is truly a waste of postage, time, and paper.

Find out one of the key players at a firm, find out what you can about him, then send a cover note that plays to what you have learned. If you spend the time and effort and only send 10 GREAT letters, you will for sure do better than sending 100 form letters.

When I read over letters, I give real credit to those who have taken the extra amount of time to learn more about our firm, and myself. That kind of effort makes a great impression, and helps you stand out from all the other pond scum

[-Jrabbit]

Willing to help. Have assisted other Poly ppl similarly.

I write for a living (self-employed), and have done my fair share of hiring during my 2 decades in corporate world.

The basic idea is pretty simple: Keep it short, to the point, and honest. Yet positive. And without being too much of a BS machine.

FWIW: Kontiki and Ming make a good point. Your mailing should be as targeted as possible. Many of these firms likely prefer online submission of CVs. since you have a gig, you're in a strong position.

I strongly encourage you to do firm-by-firm research. A mass mailing will help you feel good for a few days, but it's pretty rare that this tactic results in an interview.

I also strongly encourage you to think about what you'd really like to do at one of these firms in terms of career path. Otherwise you'll likely be having the same conversation with yourself again.

[Aabraxan]

Don't forget your connections. Who do you know? Got a friend at a law firm? Maybe that one's not hiring, but maybe your friend knows (or can find out) who is. Even if you don't have any friends at law firms, talk to the friends that you do have. Chances are that at least one of them has a friend or a relative who knows somebody that can help. I think most people, even a "friend of a friend of a friend" will be willing to let you pick their brains about their field, how to find a job, who's hiring, etc. Call 'em up -- offer to take them to lunch or buy them a beer after work. Someone who's already in the field should be a good source of information of the type that Ming is talking about. And, yeah, avoid "To whom it may concern" mass mailings.

[Jon Miller]

Who else thought he was talking about being commited?

JM

[Lorizael]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
Who else thought he was talking about being commited?

JM

How do you go about that, btw? I really think a few years locked up in a loony bin could do me some good.

[Jon Miller]

the police can take you to one.. I think

I don't remember how it is done to be honest.. but it definitely can be, and even on a relatively short time period

Jon Miller

[Jon Miller]

I do know that I have not seen any hot crazy chicks at one.. either they can to a special one or thety never get arround to actually being commited.

JM

[C0ckney]

jrabbit - thanks i'll pm you a copy (and that also goes for the other kind person who offered via pm ).

cheers guys for the solid advice - i've already done a fair bit or research into who to contact at the various firms, so i'll at least be able to put 'dear mr smith' rather than 'dear sir/madam'. obviously i'll be targeting firms that specialise in the areas that i'm interested in, although a lot of the firms on my list are fairly small and deal with all sorts of legal work. of course i guess that a smaller firm is less likely to take me on, but it couldn't hurt to gain experience of several areas at this stage of my career.

as for career path, i'm hoping to start on my qualifications to practice as a solicitor next year, so really at the moment, i'm looking to gain some practical experience and knowledge for the next 12 months. i like to keep an open mind though, and if i find a job doing something i enjoy and find interesting, then who knows, i might put off qualifying for a while or maybe the firm will be able to support me through it. of course i don't want to say that at the outset, because i don't want them thinking i’m just looking for someone to pay my tuition fees.