Job search and interview pointers to get the job you want

Your resumé should not only tell a prospective employer where you have been and what you have done, but what you've accomplished, said Kathy Morris, chief career development officer with Gardner, Carton & Douglas.

As a career counselor for more than two decades, Morris offered pointers to help job-seeking lawyers set themselves apart from the competition in a free ABA-CLE Career Counsel podcast, “Compelling Resume and Interview Tips.” Cosponsor of the session was the Chicago Bar Association.

Too often, people think of a resume as a list: a list of tasks, a list of employers, a list of schools. And while it is that, said Morris, it’s much more. A cohesive resumé should tell your story and not necessarily in chronological order.

In creating a resumé, a creative approach is important. For example, a job seeker can creatively present different careers together—such as combining a stint in journalism with law experience—when the experience gained in both endeavors shows skill development.

A resumé should include active verbs, continued Morris. White space and well-positioned margins are also important. Don’t be afraid to include activities and personal interests, but be specific in order to potentially set up a conversation about joint interests with the interviewer. Rather than listing "reading" as an interest, go one step further and list "enjoy reading historical biographies," for example.

When preparing for an interview, always research a potential employer. Consider not only reviewing that company’s Web site and articles on the organization from various media outlets, but using your alumni association and other contacts to establish a connection with one of the company’s employees.

An additional aspect of the interview preparation should include spending time anticipating questions. Most interviews include a broad, “tell me about yourself” question, as well as more specific ones asking you to recall when you’ve succeeded—and failed—in a position, and what you’ve learned from those experiences.

When thinking about your responses, remember that an interview is not just about communicating what you want say—but also getting across the information that is of importance to the potential employer.

Be a strong advocate on your behalf, concluded Morris. Too often, people don’t get offers not necessarily because of their qualifications, but because they don’t show enough enthusiasm and direct interest. Make sure you present yourself as the "employee of choice."

To listen to this podcast as well as others sponsored by the ABA-CLE Career Counsel, visit http://www.abanet.org/careercounsel/.

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