Looking for a job in the legal profession? But finding it hard to get a good one? Here are tips on how to find the best legal recruiters to help in your legal job search.
If you are experiencing difficulties finding the legal job you really want, seeking the assistance of a legal recruiter might be the solution for you. There are numerous advantages to turning to legal recruiters to find a job. For instance, they not only have access to legal jobs that might not be otherwise accessible to the general public or known to you, but they are also focused on making the right “fit.” Therefore, they will more likely offer you positions that are best suited to your level of expertise and professional goals.
Legal recruiters, also referred to as attorney recruiters, legal headhunters, or legal placement firms, can help identify numerous available legal positions on your behalf, as well as assist you with your cover letters and resumes. That said, choosing a legal recruiter can sometimes be just as daunting as finding a job. If you happen to select a legal recruiter that does not have a good reputation in the marketplace or the right expertise, you may not only lose your chances of getting that dream job, but even worse — you may risk getting blacklisted.
Many legal recruiters advertise themselves to be the best in the business. In addition, legal recruiters tend to meet different kinds of recruiting needs. Are you looking for a law firm, in-house, or government job? Are you interested in permanent, temporary, or contract positions? Is you search limited to a particular geographical area? Prior to contacting legal recruiters, you need to first determine your job search parameters.
Many legal recruiters differ in their specialization. When looking for a legal recruiter that best suits your professional goals, narrow down your list to those that meet your search goals. Now that you’ve narrowed down the type of legal recruiter that is best suited for you, how do you find out if those legal recruiters are the best in their field?
Word of mouth might be the place to start. Ask your peers and colleagues if they can recommend a legal recruiter. Acquaintances in the legal profession may provide you with useful information. Some may have even used legal recruiters in the past to assist with their job search or recruiting needs. They may save you research time by recommending a legal recruiter that provided them with excellent service in your particular target area.
When researching legal recruiters, be cautious of the ones that look good on paper (or on a website), but are only one or two years old. Jumping on the bandwagon solely based on their glossy brochure or website, might spell trouble for your job search. Before using their services, conduct a little due diligence, ask around; obtain the number of clients they have successfully helped in the past. Conduct a Google search, check out blogs, testimonials, and groups, and see what is being said about these legal recruiters. Not all of these legal recruiters are the best in their field, so it pays to look them up. In most cases, it is wiser to choose a legal recruiter that has operated for at least five years. Longevity in this competitive field usually translates into dependability, expertise, and success.
Legal recruiters vary in terms of the services and assistance they provide. Some legal recruiters only focus on identifying positions on your behalf. Others offer additional assistance that can include resume, cover letter, and interview coaching to help you sell yourself to possible employers.
How to find the best legal recruiters is not a simple task. When looking for legal recruiters, narrow down your needs before searching for and committing to a specific legal recruiter. Many excellent legal recruiters can be found on the web if you take the time to research them. Always keep an eye out for bogus-over-exaggerated ads – like everything else in life, if it’s too good to be true, chances are it isn’t.
Written on: 11/02/10 PDF Version