During the winter break, take the time to consider where you are in your professional development. Begin preparing for the spring semester by doing the following:
Update Your Resume
It's important to frequently update your resume. This can include editing format, adding new content such as jobs, awards, and accomplishments, and making corrections to mistakes. Take some time over your break to review your current resume and make edits. Proofread carefully.
After the break send a copy to or schedule an appointment with Assistant Dean Beem for a thorough review.
After the break send a copy to or schedule an appointment with Assistant Dean Beem for a thorough review.
Perform a Social
Media Audit
The winter break is a great time to work on a social media audit. Review your online profiles to ensure that each reflects you professionally.
- Linked In
- Linked In is an excellent professional tool to create an appropriate online brand. It's professional. It's used by other professionals. It's increasingly the go-to resource for hiring managers and head hunters.
- To maximize your Linked In profile, use the Job Search Checklist.
- Facebook can be lots of fun. It can also be career damaging. Be sure to review your pictures, your friends, your privacy settings, and your comments and usage. Purge accordingly.
- If you have a Twitter account, take a look at who is following you and who you are following. Be sure to adjust your settings to reflect your professional brand.
- If you have never Googled yourself, do so! What comes up? Look at the images associated with your name. Try variations on your name. Doing such a search alerts you to issues associated with your name that you do have control over (i.e., someone with the same name).
Market Research
If you're not familiar with the legal community, and therefore the legal market, begin to review resources that provide you with helpful information about the profession. Consider:
- Blogs
- Adam Smith, Esq (Law Firm Economics)
- Legal Profession Blog (What's New in the Profession)
- Lawyerist (Law Practice Management)
- For other resources, see the ABA's Blawg 100.
- Publications
- Bar Associations
Build Your Network
Building your professional network is critical. Two resources are great for finding biographical information about attorneys:
Both resources allow you to search by topics (i.e., practice areas), by law school attended, by location, and by employer. These resources can help you identify key people in your city/state of destination.
Once you identify attorneys you want to meet, an easy way to connect is to schedule informational interviews. Informational interviews are a great way to learn about people, practice areas, the market, as well as to gather advice and guidance from experienced professionals. For many students, such interviewing is rewarding and productive. For more information on informational interviews, check out the brochure located outside of the OPDs office.
Both resources allow you to search by topics (i.e., practice areas), by law school attended, by location, and by employer. These resources can help you identify key people in your city/state of destination.
Once you identify attorneys you want to meet, an easy way to connect is to schedule informational interviews. Informational interviews are a great way to learn about people, practice areas, the market, as well as to gather advice and guidance from experienced professionals. For many students, such interviewing is rewarding and productive. For more information on informational interviews, check out the brochure located outside of the OPDs office.
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