Resume Review Workshop

Description

In this webinar, Harrison provided invaluable insights during the Resume Review Workshop, offering a comprehensive guide to optimizing your resume for legal professionals. The session began with a meticulous review of common mistakes, emphasizing the significance of adhering to fundamental rules to enhance job application success.

Harrison's detailed analysis covered various topics, from the pitfalls of excessive resume details to the importance of concise and focused resumes, particularly in the legal profession. Attendees gained practical advice on resume crafting, including tips on summarizing experience, avoiding misleading titles, and tailoring resumes for specific practice areas.

The webinar delved into real-life examples, demonstrating the transformation of a seemingly unemployable resume into a highly marketable one. Harrison highlighted the power of a well-crafted resume in opening doors to numerous job opportunities, emphasizing the need for strategic approaches, especially for those transitioning between practice areas.

As the session progressed, participants learned about the significance of showcasing relevant skills, experiences, and achievements, with an emphasis on clarity, consistency, and professionalism. Harrison provided guidance on handling challenges such as transitioning from transactional to litigation roles and strategically navigating career shifts.

The webinar not only covered resume optimization but also touched on broader career considerations. Attendees received valuable advice on exploring alternative paths, evaluating career satisfaction, and recognizing the diverse opportunities available in the legal field.

In conclusion, Harrison's Resume Review Workshop offered a wealth of information and practical strategies to refine resumes for success in the competitive legal job market. Whether you are a recent graduate, a mid-career professional, or considering a change, the session provided timeless principles to elevate your career trajectory. Craft a polished and targeted resume to unlock new possibilities and propel your legal career forward.
Transcript:

Resume Review Workshop

Harrison Barnes's 29 Rules to Make Your Resume More Marketable

Alright, let's get started. I'm pulling up resumes and other documents. We reviewed resumes, entered data into the database, using pseudonyms for searches. We'll demonstrate how to find jobs based on your resume and the revised version. You'll receive a document covering essential rules; it's a quick guide. There might be a misspelling – the apostrophe should follow the 'S,' not an additional 'S.' I recall this from my law practice days, causing confusion.

Today, many resumes violated crucial rules leading to job application issues. If you're struggling with interviews or job offers, chances are your resume flouts these basic rules. The document I'll send will quickly reveal your resume's shortcomings. We had numerous submissions, notably from foreign attorneys, academics, and government professionals. I'll briefly discuss these rules before diving into resume reviews. If we can't get to your resume, this guide will help you rectify issues.

Now, some common mistakes: avoid excessive details about not practicing law. Summarize your experience clearly, steering away from unnecessary information at the beginning. Be cautious about listing multiple short-term jobs – it's advisable to consolidate them. Don't emphasize starting businesses or leading groups excessively; firms prefer manageable individuals. Employers lean towards specialists over generalists and prioritize younger candidates in most cases.

Avoid titles unrelated to practicing law; they can be misleading. Be mindful of short stints on your resume – employers might question stability. Maintain consistency in practice areas and settings; focus is key. Excessive information on your resume can be detrimental; keep it concise. Partners in large law firms often have one-page resumes, showcasing quality over quantity.

Adhere to these rules to increase your chances of success. The document I'll send will be a valuable resource for refining your resume. During reviews, I'll illustrate how to find jobs and provide insights into well-structured resumes. The goal is to assist, not embarrass, as these rules are fundamental for securing a legal position. Now, let's dive into the resume reviews.

Harvard Law School is well-known; no need to mention it's the number 2 rank permanent. Avoid unnecessary repetition, like stating a firm is the 23rd rank in environmental science. Keep it concise; looking good means saying less. Highlight upward mobility in your career, moving for a reason. Be cautious about showcasing downward or sideways mobility.

Foreign candidates aiming for U.S. jobs can leverage connections. A recommendation letter from a reputable source can be powerful. A brief, impactful resume is more effective than a lengthy one. Focus on strengths, minimize weaknesses. Avoid self-compliments; let the reader draw conclusions.

Basic bar admissions are presumed for attorney positions; no need to highlight passing on the first attempt. Maximize strengths, minimize weaknesses in your resume. Run resumes through grammar check tools like Grammarly and ProWritingAid. Clear, well-written resumes are crucial for legal professionals.

Now, reviewing a sample resume. Avoid listing class rankings unless you're in the top tier. Irrelevant details like classes taken for interest should be omitted. Grammar and spelling errors reflect poorly; use tools for proofreading. Some resumes may lack proper guidance, leading to missed opportunities.

Highlight achievements; don't overemphasize roles. Move the focus from the school to experience, especially for non-top 10 law schools. The resume should evolve over time, placing recent experiences at the forefront. Remove unnecessary details and honors that may not add value.

Expressing leadership through roles like a track and field captain may not be relevant. Streamline information about honors; professional experience speaks louder. Showcase recent experience and minimize emphasis on the law school. Provide specifics about recent roles to paint a clearer picture.

Avoid drawing attention to being a staff attorney; emphasize the attorney role. Keep job descriptions concise; too much detail may dilute the impact. Tailor resumes for the legal profession; a well-crafted resume is crucial for career success.

No, it's not impressive for any law firm that you worked with clients. It's impressive to clients that you just did these things. There's almost no explanation needed for having worked at someplace for one month. Because you were an associate, and then suddenly, you're a contract attorney. This looks like an insurance defense associates. This person worked in an insurance defense firm. Just for those who don't know, this is a highly marketable practice area with lots of job opportunities.

This person has had this job for only 5 months, but they were doing insurance defense. That's good; there's nothing wrong with that as a practice area. I don't know why this person is doing securities litigation now, but they haven't. Really just need to talk about what they did. I'm assuming they wrote briefs and did discovery or whatever. You don't list things that don't sound important. If they're not important, see litigators do motions, write memos, do discovery, go to court, take depositions. List things relevant to what a law firm needs and hires people for.

They don't hire people who have to analyze pretrial motions. Okay, that's it. But you don't need to say if somebody needs to file a pretrial motion, they do. They always have to look at the rules of civil procedure. Looking at the rules before filing a motion is like saying, "I'm a lifeguard in a pool, and I use my lifesaver to help rescue people." So, say, "Lifeguard held life, looked at best practices with the life." These are things anybody does. You can't put that; you need to put things that are relevant. There's no reason to put that, and there's also no reason to talk about a job from one month. I don't know what happened there, but it's not something that belongs there.

That's just my opinion. You could ask your law school or what they think. I'm not an expert in the morality or professional responsibility of listing a job you've had for two weeks. So maybe you can look that up. I'm not telling you to do something illegal or that violates any rules, but I am trying to help you. I probably would not say this to one of my candidates because I don't want them to get in trouble or violate rules. But I need to be honest with firms that I don't know that makes sense. Listing a job for one month is not good. It's not something that belongs there.

Now the person says, "manage discovery." Again, there are all these issues. Be frank and fair and agreement mistakes. There's a lot of pressure with people from insurance defense firms because they often don't write well, make mistakes. This may not even be caught if the person's applying to another insurance defense firm because they don't necessarily need to write well. Insurance companies typically don't have a lot of money to spend, so attorneys don't need to write well. These errors are very common.

For a law firm for almost 2 years, drafting a resolution, 15 firm clients' assessment of merits, facts, and recommendations is not impressive. You wouldn't say 10 or more motions; you'd say motions to compel, discovery motions to dismiss. There are all these issues managed; add an article. Then this person was an intern for four months, managing a calendar is not something to be proud of. A lot of this information can come out. You don't want a lot of detail. Law clerk, that's great, volunteer experience is actually very good.

This resume could be marketable with a focused approach. If you want to do insurance defense, make sure your resume reflects that. Remove irrelevant details, be concise, and highlight relevant experiences. It's crucial to present a polished and targeted resume for better job opportunities.

They won't even know their practice area. This person, and by the way, I just wanted to make sure you understand if this person in the current resume would never in a million years get BCG, wouldn't work with them. It's impossible with the current resume. But with this fixed resume, I would say this person got good solid years. In the real resume, this person's a female. So you don't need all this other stuff. Someone might just think, oh, they would assume. It's saying, again, you need to list this if you want to list this job. But they would assume just that you were taking time off to children. I don't know, but they really wouldn't hold it against you.

2 years is great. So then this person turns into whether you do this. You look at this person, you're like, hell yeah went to law school, cum laude, you got a Juris Doctorate, that's fine. They did all these internships and things, that's good. And wow, isn't that nice? They're now they're doing this stuff to help inner city kids and taking their education.

This is now a good resume. It's actually very good with all these changes because it's not saying a bunch of crap. It's not, and then you fix the spelling and everything and run it through Grammarly and all of a sudden, you're the type of person that the law firm wants to hire instead of this crap that's on there right now.

So this can be a good resume. I'm just showing you, you do these things and this person is employable easily. So where are the jobs for this person? So then we go in and we do we update their practice areas. So we make them insurance defense, which is what they did their entire career and you go in and you look at jobs.

So we're two jobs matching this candidate based on experience. So these are all the jobs that the person could apply to. These are just jobs right now. These are job orders. Meaning this firm, these firms are reached out and said, hell geez, we can't find people, no one's applying to us. We've posted jobs all over.

We've done all this person help us, please help us find someone, right? So these firms are demanding that we go and find them people. So these firms are doing that. And I'm not saying these are dummy accounts for the firms too, but I'm just giving you. An example, look at this up and down that we need this person. We need this person. We need this person. We need this person. We need this person. Help us help. This is what they're all saying.

So I can send these people to these firms and good consciousness if the person's doing that. But these are just the start. Like these are just, this is just the starting. List of them and these are sorted based on experience. So the firms are looking for people exactly like this person and I would help them and I would probably be able to get them interviews.

So far, these changes were made. It wouldn't be difficult. But all the person needs to do is understand how to write a resume. So all that's fixed and suddenly there's all these jobs for the people we have jobs on BCG. We have overlap jobs on law crossing for this person. There are all these jobs for the person of these rankings. You don't need to understand, but the rankings mean basically, the size clients they would represent. It's nothing you really need to consider yourself as, but all these jobs here.

Then we have let me see, we have jobs that with firms that have interviewed people just like this person from us previously. So let me make sure the name doesn't come up when I do this. Okay. So I can't do that. But these are all firms that have interviewed people very much like this person from us recently.

So this one interviewed someone in 1223, this one interviewed, and these are in the regions and these are this firm's interviewed 25 people. This firm's interviewed 25. This is interviewed one. And so these firms are interviewing a lot of our people. What's so obviously there's a lot of opportunity. Then you can look at.

And again, I'm just showing you how many freaking jobs there are. If you have a good resume, these are recommended firms. And this is what we do with BCG candidates. By the way, we go through them. And we review all this. Now there's another 72 firms that look that do this practice area that will be good for this person, right?

So you look at, we can look at that and find these are places that are on, they're on different lists. They've interviewed people. They've, they've given us job orders, like all this sort of stuff. So there's 72 firms there. There's probably at least another 50. On the active jobs. Then because because insurance defense firms are always looking for people, right?

So we can go in and look at something called the BCG archive and look at all the firms that have had openings in the past. And here we go. Look at this. All these firms have had openings for insurance defense attorneys in the past. And the thing is that most of the time when a firm jobs, just exactly what you would need all of these firms are have ongoing hiring for these types of people.

So you have that. So now you've got. All these firms, like these lists of things are huge. And then you've got you've got anyway, I'm not going to get too far into it, but with a good resume this person can be marketed up and down. This is what I do at VCG. This is how we make placements. There's no, it's that with this kind of this kind of thing.

But so then you go and you can even look at here's 91 other firms that have interviewed people through us and insurance defense that just keep doing it. These lists just go on and on. If you have a good resume, but right now I'm just again, I want to spend too much more time in this, but the condition that this person's resumes and is unemployable.

But you could turn them from employable to a freaking rock star if the things were done right. But people make themselves look bad, not like rock stars. Okay, so let's look at this person. This is the next resume. Let me just show you.

Now, I like the fact that this person was a this person worked in a there's things I do like about this resume. I like the fact that this person. It's in one particular practice group. What I would like to see when you have a resume like that, sometimes you have to understand that people are going to have questions like what they're going to say to themselves.

Why. Did this person only stay at this job for this many months? Like what, what is going on? And so that is a problem, but the and this happens, by the way, to a lot of new attorneys. Like I the big deal is that's really going on just understands. Is that when you have a resume like that, typically like that particular resume, this particular resume, there's not really a lot of questions about this person's competence.

So the person may not be manageable. They may have a chip on their shoulder. There may be something wrong, but you, this is what employers are seeing. The only reason I'm saying to this stuff is because when you have the stuff, it's going to hurt you. Oops, sorry, the wrong I'm just looking, these are just database categories.

I hope you find this discussion interesting because it sheds light on how we assess resumes. This is a rare glimpse without the usual nondisclosure agreements and threats of penalties. Now, let's delve into a specific case. The individual in question is a labor and employment attorney, specializing in defense, compliance, and general employment law. When applying for jobs, it's crucial to understand your strengths and focus on them.

The person is currently located in Connecticut but has connections to Maryland through their college. To broaden their options, considering the entire state of Connecticut is advisable. Additionally, exploring crisis positions in locations like Washington, D.C., or the person's hometown could be a strategic move to secure a job quickly.

Now, let's discuss job opportunities. There are numerous firms with job openings, including those that have recently interviewed candidates with similar profiles. The focus is on providing leads to the person, showcasing 31 firms in the immediate area and 375 recommended firms across the country.

Moving on to another resume, this one stands out for its unique organization, resembling a company-type resume. Assuming the goal is to secure a position in a law firm, adjustments are needed. Despite some formatting issues, it highlights the person's ability to secure jobs effectively. Employers are likely to be impressed, considering the individual's outstanding education and a clean track record.

However, there are subtle errors in grammar and punctuation, emphasizing the importance of presenting a flawless resume. The person's expertise is evident, having worked at a big law firm and transitioning to in-house roles. The resume coach may not have fine-tuned it, showcasing the innate skills of a candidate from a prestigious law school.

The resume summary is deemed unnecessary, as the accomplishments and experiences should speak for themselves. A well-crafted resume doesn't rely on summaries but conveys a clear message through experience and achievements. The candidate's achievements showcase their value as a legal generalist with 20 years of experience.

In conclusion, this resume analysis reveals the intricacies of crafting effective resumes for specific job goals. It's crucial to tailor resumes to the target industry and address potential errors meticulously. Each resume, whether exhibiting strengths or weaknesses, provides valuable insights into the world of job applications.

So let me see. Okay, but we'll talk about it. This is an example. And let me just try one more thing because I'm not really sure what is happening. Why I can't open this. It's the wrong computer. Okay, but I just want to show everyone. This is a mistake that lots of people make on their resumes.

Okay, there we go. So you can see here. There are 101 issues on this person's resume. This resume is a mess. No one in their right mind, and every foreign attorney should do this. Look at this. They're using words that aren't even used in the American vocabulary, while making all these errors.

So anyone, just anybody, because I know a lot of people from other countries want to come to the United States and work. You have to show that you can write, right? You can't have these hundreds of mistakes in your resume. It's, this doesn't work. No, come on. This person, if they want to get a job in the United States, needs to study the U.S. rules of putting together a resume and what you need to do. They need to use English U.S. grammar, not foreign grammar. They can't say specialized with an S.

And so I'm just wanting everyone to see this because every year, thousands, if not tens of thousands of people. Come to the U.S. They get LLM programs. They spend 70,000 to 100,000 hoping that they're going to get jobs in the U.S. And the schools will certainly do different things. A lot of them will take your money and not talk to you about your resume. So I'm doing this for everyone right now showing why this person will never get a resume and job in the United States. There's too many errors they're doing all these different things like pre-action, high court, litigation, mediation, bankruptcy, 15 different practice areas. You don't want to talk about that.

Now this resume, by the way, may not be savable. The last three were, but this one may not. No one wants to hear about a PhD, and I don't know why nothing's happened to this person during these days, but no one wants to hear about a PhD. Now you can put it on there if you want, but PhDs make it look like you're academic. And so you don't want that.

So all these schools and things and all of this, the high school you went to in Granada, the English literature papers you wrote, the percentage you got on exams, which by the way, 71 percent in the U.S. is a C minus. 73 is a C. And just to give you an indication, C is pretty much the lowest grade people get. They occasionally give out D's. And that's it. The graduation is in 2017, I see that. So the person should put all this at the end of the resume.

So this would be acted and all that sort of stuff. All of this I don't know why in the world anybody would read this one or two lines. Sorry, I'm just getting exhausted looking at this. Just, look at this, like who in the right mind is going to have the time? To read all this. You wouldn't. Would you read all this? Would you think that one or two of these little things that the person has done are of any consequence? I don't know what to say. So that's that.

And then you don't say references are available on request. So this person basically needs to go through my walls and look at them. And then and then once they do that, they're And they fix all these things, they need to, figure, you can't have all these links to all these high schools and community colleges. No one cares about them. No. Why? You're planning to be a lawyer, not, talk about some tests you took preparatory studies.

No one knows what any of this means. So this is the problem with resumes. How could you? took Postgraduate whilst working full time. No one. You just have to understand watch anybody that's got a resume and you were near this this would go at the bottom. It has to go through my rules and watch these videos and watch the replays, and I'm apologetic, by the way, for wasting U.S. attorney's time on this, but this stuff needs to be fixed.

So let's go to Resume 5. Okay, so this is another just real quick. A another foreign resume. It's the same thing here.But what I want you to see in this particular resume is this resume. I'm just make it a little larger here. I'm not going to spend a lot of time in this resume is much better. The person is talking about this stuff at the top at the same time. This is actually a better introduction to it.

But this also should come off what's happening, by the way, with this resume compared to the last one that we saw is you can see how much better the formatting is, how much more. The person's mind looks like it's sticking in one direction as opposed to, going in 15 different directions.

And then pretty much also the, term sheets, finance documents, cooperation, D. I. A. Bank banks, them human. You wouldn't want this. This is crazy. But, negotiate a sign of relevant government. This, a lot of this stuff is just not necessary, but it's not the one I wanted to show you here is this is all about different types of corporate law, and it's very focused.

It's not talking about 15 different things. This is also pretty focused. It's not talking about 15 different things. And this is, also pretty much focused on not talking about 15 different things, and then this is focused on not talking about 15 different things. These documents, the thing, aviation finance, derivatives, negotiation skills inspirational, leading with sense.

Some of this stuff isn't really necessary, but this shows the person likes to do this, which is cool. And then they show you don't need to show people come on that. You know how to use PowerPoint. That's insane. But I just want you to see that that, this is a much better resume is a foreign resume, because at least it's going talking about in one direction.

The only thing I would say with this particular resume, I think you can take all of this off and and then you can create what's called a transaction sheet. So you just have your titles, and then you create a transaction sheet. And this is what a lot of corporate attorneys should be doing.

Transaction sheet, and then and then you list, you just, you list your transactions, and and then make them focused on banking or whatever. And and just list them. And then and then try to and then try to get your practice area. Defined. And and make sure you know that you're doing something that looks consistent.

That would be it. So this particular resume person's name. Okay. The only thing I would say is I'm not going to go through and spend any time in the database in this particular resume. But because it's a foreign resume, I don't want to waste everyone's time. But the idea would be with this banking experience they should be able to find if you were just doing banking, for example it shouldn't be that difficult for that person.

And then I just look at one quick thing here. So this is interesting positions, but they're not going to get a position in the U.S. But they might get a position with a U.S. law firm in the country they're going for, or they might get a position in a company. Doing this type of work, then make those changes. I spent a lot of time in this, but I just want everyone to understand that this is a drastically improved foreign resume with.

The only thing is that when you're doing these, when you're listing a bunch of experience, like you're doing financial institutional experience, which is cool, then you're then you're getting, and I just, I did want to look at something. I apologize for the resume.

Then you are getting much closer to where you should be when you do that. If you search for let me just see anyone's name. Okay this person's name is not we don't have them. That's good. It's actually perfectly fine. But yeah, that's how we would handle that is, you would basically drill down to one of the practice areas that. That is very focused, so you would do a focus practice area search. So I just want to show you the way a resume needs to be focused.

This person, for example, the one we just looked at is doing a form of finance and banking. So you could see here, you would, if you were to go and look at that finance banking very closely and then you were to do let me just take up this employment related stuff employment law in general. We take out that. So we do finance banking for this particular candidate.

Then you wanted to look at jobs for them. So you're in the U.S. Once all that was classified or, you would start getting lots of positions just, and these are just Connecticut that would match this person. Then you would also have lots of recommended firms of work because a resume would be much more focused. So these are all firms that did that kind of work.

And then. And then you would also be able to, search for lots of other opportunities. So a focused resume is really the whole name of the game, and and if you start talking about doing employment and all this other stuff, you did by banking finance and there you got it. So you're a good candidate. Resume five, this is point here, this is resume five.

So I'll get to a lot of these will go much quicker because we're going to go through them now in a lot a lot faster now that we have this I'm going to take a quick break just for a minute or two just to grab soda. And and then when I come back we'll look at this resume. But I will just be, like literally probably a minute and a half and then I'll come back and we'll start reviewing.

This particular resume. Alright, so let's get back to the next resume here. Okay, so this is the next resume. So this person actually has redacted everything for us. Unfortunately let me see, because we don't have this person. Person's name.

Maybe we'll be able to are unable to do a screen share of jobs. So this person is doing something that's very common now. These days, everyone has figured out the legal market that there's a lot of demand for privacy attorneys and has gone and made their resume just like this.

I did want to share something while we're on the call, because I think that this is let me just see her Okay. Okay. A very important thing to discuss which is right now, what are the most remarkable practice areas? What are the most let me just see how I do this here.

Best way of doing this, let me stop the share, but I do want to go over something with someone that everyone that's very important. I'm stopping the share because I'm going to pull up a document. I don't want to lose getting everybody's private information. Okay, so I'm going to open a new screen here.

Okay, so something that's important for everyone to understand is how marketable are different practice areas. What do you do to get jobs? Now, this particular document here. It's still getting added. I don't know why it's on the live site, but this shows you different practice areas and how marketable they are around the country right now.

And this is an example of all of the people that we've submitted over the past year. So we represented, for example, 31 candidates in data privacy litigation and and a lot of them got jobs. So these are just so people can understand. Like these are the people that get the most jobs like this is the when we work with people these are the highest percentages, which is interesting.

This particular document, let me see if I can put in the chat or something. Let me just see here. I guess I can't but this is the state of the market report BCG 2024. So you should be able to find it online or on our website. And it's, this is not but this is a example of what's happened over the past year.

We represented Over 25,000 candidates applying to 25,000 law firms and and those were over 400,000 applications. So this is an example of what happens. So you should understand if you're a law student, if you're a practicing attorney what does this data mean?

It means these are the firms that you should be or where you should be trying to get a job. If you want to do products liability or you do, dirt law, and then all that is very interesting. So you scroll down or, where's data privacy on this list?

Then you have firms. These are for candidates working in firms where they're working for consumers, a little bit of budgets. And then and then these are midsize firms.

Understanding the key practices in the legal field is crucial. Elder law and medical malpractice defense are surprisingly prestigious and offer abundant job opportunities. Consider the most sought-after areas in major firms, such as executive compensation and healthcare.

When shaping your resume, it's essential to align with the market demand. For instance, emphasizing international arbitration within estate planning may not be as marketable. Carefully analyze the information, particularly by reading relevant reports, to tailor your resume effectively.

Data privacy is a popular trend, but not all aspects are equally marketable. A closer look at the data reveals variations. Transactional data privacy, for instance, resulted in one of the lowest interview-to-submission conversion rates.

Be mindful of trends and certifications. While data privacy was once in high demand, saturation in the job market can impact your resume's effectiveness. Choose your practice areas wisely and understand their marketability.

Geographical location plays a role in market demand. In big firms, medical malpractice, professional liability defense, and workers' compensation are highly marketable. Meanwhile, intellectual property (IP) and patent law shine in major firms.

Highlighting a niche expertise like data privacy can be risky. Ensure your resume reflects your true strengths and experiences. For instance, if you have a background in insurance defense, present it as liability defense without specifying insurance.

Avoid abrupt career shifts, especially if you have extensive experience in one area. For example, transitioning from insurance defense to negotiating data privacy contracts may not be well-received by law firms.

In-house opportunities may differ in marketability, so tailor your resume accordingly. While data privacy might be valuable in certain contexts, consider how law firms perceive your experience.

Ultimately, a balanced and targeted resume increases your chances of success. Understand the market demands, emphasize relevant experience, and craft a compelling narrative that aligns with your career goals.

It's interesting how positioning plays a crucial role in applying to law firms. This person could leverage their experience in running a business when approaching various law firms, even those without a specific practice area in data privacy. Despite lacking the support of a law firm, they've successfully attracted clients. Joining a firm, they believe, would provide the necessary support to bring in larger clients and develop a lucrative practice. This approach could garner significant interest from firms, but it requires proactive steps.

Now, let's review another resume. Currently on resume six, I'll quickly go through resumes seven, eight, and nine. Organizing these resumes has been quite a task, and a shout-out to Jared for the assistance. It's a significant project, fixing errors and entering details into a searchable database. This morning, we had to rectify mistakes made by the staff in another office. We just managed to complete this right before the session started.

The webinars I conduct are impactful and can make an immediate difference in your career. Your resume is crucial in securing jobs, and understanding your practice areas is key. Let's dive into resume seven. This resume has potential; however, there are areas that need refinement. For instance, there's no need to explicitly mention "professional experience" as people can discern that. The person labels themselves as an associate court attorney, detailing their responsibilities. While the experience is diverse, being in the same role for 16 years may pose a challenge when seeking a position in a law firm. The inclusion of a health law certificate without relevant details may confuse readers.

The education section at the end is a good choice, and some details like honors could be omitted if they don't significantly contribute. Listing minor achievements might dilute the impact of the resume. Focus on exceptional aspects, letting them speak for themselves. Specific roles, like being a trial competition coach, may not be necessary to highlight. Overall, this resume has potential for roles in litigation at smaller firms.

It's essential to streamline your resume, emphasizing exceptional achievements and tailoring it to your desired practice area. Let's move on to the next resume for further insights.

Hey, hold on a sec. It's tough sorting through all these resumes. That was resume 7. Got it. Just a moment. I want to ensure I pull up the right resume here.

Alright, now we've got resume 8. So, this person, a new attorney admitted in December 2022, graduated from law school in 2022. It's pretty cool. Passing the California bar on the first attempt is no easy feat. Good on them. Let me save the document. Apologies.

Reviewing the issues here – 19 in total. Grammarly isn't always spot-on, but it's a useful tool. Some advice: listing bar admission at the top isn't crucial; it's assumed. Skills like Spanish are good. However, obscure software might not be necessary to mention. This person has a year of experience in labor and employment at a university, which is solid.

Now, let's dig into the details. They were an IP graduate assistant from July 2021 to July 2022. This shift from labor and employment to patent-related work might raise eyebrows for potential employers. Highlighting intellectual property law without a technical background could be misleading.

Removing unnecessary details like being the founder of the Intellectual Property Association is advised. The focus should be on showcasing their expertise in labor and employment law. It's essential to present a clear narrative to potential employers, emphasizing their commitment to the field.

While this resume is generally good, it needs refinement to emphasize the applicant's commitment to labor and employment law. Distracting details should be minimized, ensuring the resume aligns with the target job in a law firm.

Yeah, this person is highly marketable if they decide to be a labor employment attorney. The resume needs to highlight this fact, considering the limited experience. Let's fix it.

Okay, so this particular resume becomes highly marketable for labor and employment in San Diego. Passing the California bar adds to the attractiveness since not many achieve this. Labor law is an exceptionally ranked practice area, providing excellent job prospects, even in-house, due to the scarcity of experts in this field.

Now, let's explore the market report for labor. It's fascinating how marketable it is. Labor law, employment law, and unions are among the highest-ranked practice areas. This person has a great chance of securing a job. Even for IP (intellectual property), it's not as lucrative as labor law, especially in terms of patent bar positions, which are relatively lower.

Understanding the distinctions between labor and employment litigation is crucial. Labor and employment, especially in California, rank high among practice areas. Small to mid-sized firms actively seek labor law expertise, making it the fourth most marketable practice area out of 300-plus.

Looking at job openings, there's a plethora of opportunities. While larger firms may not be feasible, applying to smaller firms promises numerous options. The search results are overwhelming, indicating the high demand for labor and employment attorneys. Make sure to position yourself as a labor and employment attorney to maximize job prospects.

Moving on to the next resume. This corporate associate from a small law firm in Sacramento presents a compelling case. The resume is well-constructed, with minimal issues. The attorney has a commendable track record, especially in mergers and acquisitions, spanning multiple years and firms.

The resume strategically emphasizes mergers and acquisitions throughout, creating a clear professional identity. This approach is commendable, showcasing the person as a specialist in this field. The candidate's decision to join a smaller firm might be attributed to a desire for more client interaction or involvement with smaller companies.

Despite potential gaps in employment, the overall resume is solid. However, certain details, like serving as a liaison committee representative, might be perceived negatively. Such information can be a potential landmine, portraying the candidate as someone seeking problems within the firm. It's crucial to carefully curate details to present a positive image.

In summary, this resume stands out as one of the best today. The attorney's focus on mergers and acquisitions creates a distinct professional identity, making them highly marketable in this field. The key is to maintain a positive and strategic narrative throughout the resume.

This person listens to others vent about their problems, and I don't want that kind of individual on my team. However, the resume is impressive, especially in private companies and private equity firms, focusing on mergers and acquisitions.

The education section is noteworthy. Too often, individuals from lower-tier law schools list numerous associations and committees, which is irrelevant. Attending a well-respected law school like Georgetown and obtaining a master's in taxation speaks for itself.

The resume stands out because the person spent four years in their first job, becoming a specialist in mergers and acquisitions. They followed a similar path at another big firm for two years, now gaining even more experience at a smaller firm. While three jobs in eight years may not be ideal, it's acceptable.

This exemplar resume emphasizes simplicity. No need to mention percentages or specific awards, just showcasing expertise. It succeeds because it portrays the person as a specialist who excels in one thing.

Now, onto the next resume. This one, however, starts with unnecessary details about being a semi-finalist and listing various positions. Going to a good law school like George Washington should be sufficient; no need to highlight every minor achievement.

This person aspires to be a patent attorney but lacks substantial relevant experience. The resume includes unrelated roles like paralegal and contract attorney. Calling oneself a paralegal after attending a top law school is a misstep. It's better to have no job on the resume than to diminish credibility this way.

The key is to present a consistent image. This person graduated in 2020, had a two-year gap, and then engaged in various roles. They could frame it positively, saying it's their first time actively seeking a position. Focus on one thing – perhaps employee benefits law – and tailor the resume accordingly.

A crucial concern is whether they have the Florida bar, especially if they aim to work in Florida. The licenses and related information should be at the bottom. In essence, a resume must convey a singular impression – in this case, expertise in a specific field.

This person listens to others vent about their problems, and I don't want that kind of individual on my team. However, the resume is impressive, especially in private companies and private equity firms, focusing on mergers and acquisitions.

The education section is noteworthy. Too often, individuals from lower-tier law schools list numerous associations and committees, which is irrelevant. Attending a well-respected law school like Georgetown and obtaining a master's in taxation speaks for itself.

The resume stands out because the person spent four years in their first job, becoming a specialist in mergers and acquisitions. They followed a similar path at another big firm for two years, now gaining even more experience at a smaller firm. While three jobs in eight years may not be ideal, it's acceptable.

This exemplar resume emphasizes simplicity. No need to mention percentages or specific awards, just showcasing expertise. It succeeds because it portrays the person as a specialist who excels in one thing.

Now, onto the next resume. This one, however, starts with unnecessary details about being a semi-finalist and listing various positions. Going to a good law school like George Washington should be sufficient; no need to highlight every minor achievement.

This person aspires to be a patent attorney but lacks substantial relevant experience. The resume includes unrelated roles like paralegal and contract attorney. Calling oneself a paralegal after attending a top law school is a misstep. It's better to have no job on the resume than to diminish credibility this way.

The key is to present a consistent image. This person graduated in 2020, had a two-year gap, and then engaged in various roles. They could frame it positively, saying it's their first time actively seeking a position. Focus on one thing – perhaps employee benefits law – and tailor the resume accordingly.

A crucial concern is whether they have the Florida bar, especially if they aim to work in Florida. The licenses and related information should be at the bottom. In essence, a resume must convey a singular impression – in this case, expertise in a specific field.

Resumes must emit a distinct scent, a unified essence, not a medley. Multiplicity dissuades job offers. I prefer the next resume, Bill might be handling it. Check the BCD database for clarity. Clarification was needed, so I skipped the database details. If we don't review your resume today, heed what's been discussed. A recording will follow, aiding your resume refinement. Essential adherence to outlined rules ensures success.

Grammarly flagged roughly 20 issues; minor, yet fix-worthy. Understand, your document mirrors your legal prowess. A trial, showcasing thoroughness and professionalism. Effective writing and document enhancement skills matter. Strive for perfection; superior documents yield superior outcomes.

Now, the person's approach. A summary begins, a questionable practice. Unnecessary; details are within. Fifteen years post-law school; basics should be assumed. Drafting, discovery requests, and summary judgment motions are standard. Not rude, but constructive advice. Avoid needless info.

Remote work admission; risky. Reveals preferences or potential conflicts. Silence is golden. Contract attorney status raises questions. Too much time as one implies instability. Word it cautiously; aim for a subtle title. Be strategic, enhance marketability.

Details matter. Highlight specific experiences. Products liability defense dominates, presenting a cohesive narrative. Consistency diminishes contract attorney vibes. GPA is commendable; elaborate strategically. Emphasize relevance; trim irrelevant roles. Achievements speak volumes; focus on key accolades.

Phi Beta Kappa stands out; extra roles don't add value. Tailor the resume for your goal. A transformed document; your ticket to diverse opportunities. Check the right database for a visual walkthrough.

Alright, let's take a look at this person's resume. After examining it, it appears the individual may be a potential candidate for a products liability attorney role, possibly in North Carolina or Washington state. Products liability involves various types of litigation, and as a litigator, specializing in well-defined practice areas is crucial for securing jobs.

Law firms prefer specialists, just like seeking a specialized doctor for a health issue. Similarly, companies facing legal challenges, such as products liability cases, prefer hiring attorneys with expertise in the specific field, like pharmaceuticals.

This person's resume shows a focus on product liability for eight years, indicating specialization. Focusing on a niche practice area makes the resume more appealing to potential employers, aligning with the specialized nature of law firms.

Understanding the marketability of practice areas is essential. Product liability plaintiffs and defense are top-ranking practice areas in the United States, providing significant job opportunities. Specializing in such high-demand areas enhances job prospects and makes the resume stand out.

Considering the person's qualifications, it's essential to highlight key aspects and clean up unnecessary details. Mentioning admissions to the Illinois and New York bar is sufficient, and graduation from law school in 2019 implies recent qualifications. In cleaning up the resume, consistency in grammar and punctuation is crucial for a polished presentation.

The timeline of work experience should be clarified, emphasizing the transition from law clerk to associate and addressing any potential gaps in the bar admission process. Emphasizing relevant experience and expertise in product liability will make the resume more attractive to potential employers.

A focused and specialized approach in presenting qualifications, coupled with a polished resume, will significantly enhance the chances of securing desirable job opportunities in the legal field.

So here's the deal with this person. It seems like they might've lost their job due to not passing the bar after numerous attempts. That's not unusual, and they have various experiences. Currently, they're handling insurance coverage cases, previously engaging in trademark law. Let's delve into this.

Law school - let's talk. No sign of relevant activities on the resume. Gala chair, lawyering in the digital age - not aligning with the presented resume, which is Resume 13 from Georgetown Law School. Wait, my bad, this was Resume 9. Now, let's check Resume 9. Cornell graduate with a Bachelor of Science, Juris Doctorate, and a Master in Laws of Taxation. Impressive but lacks details about activities.

Now, the challenging part. This person has about a year of experience in insurance defense after graduating in 2019. Their first few years, or maybe even six, were spent in intellectual property (IP), specifically trademark law, which seems to have hit a snag.

Trademark law is notoriously competitive. It ranks low in terms of job opportunities, as evidenced by a 3.55 rating out of 70 candidates. Even top law school graduates struggle to secure positions in this field.

Now, the individual has transitioned to insurance defense, possibly due to the market demand. Here's where it gets tricky. Graduating cum laude from Oberlin in English, followed by a JD from Columbia Law School, reflects intelligence. The bar, however, posed a challenge, and the legal profession hasn't been overly welcoming.

The dilemma: continue in insurance defense, possibly for the next decade, become a standout, and then reconsider career choices. The key is to forget the initial career aspirations and fully commit to the current path. Harsh, but necessary.

The person faced challenges in the competitive field of trademark law, pivoted to insurance defense, and must now decide whether to embrace it wholeheartedly or consider alternative paths.

The broader issue here is abandoning your dream of being a trademark attorney. Options exist – a woman in Florida, with less background, successfully opened her trademark firm. You can run a solo trademark practice or explore alternative paths. The competitive market warrants reconsideration. If the bar exam proves elusive, it might be a sign. Your talent, evident in academic success, allows diversification – teaching, writing, or venturing into other professions. A former trademark attorney turned recruiter faced limited job offers, emphasizing the need to reevaluate your goals.

Consider whether trademark law aligns with your overall career satisfaction. If English proficiency is a strength, opportunities in academia, writing, or varied professions beckon. While the journey may not unfold as expected, going independent remains an option. My suggestion is to ponder these alternatives seriously.

It's challenging advice but essential to explore other potential professions. Sometimes, it's crucial to find a career that resonates with personal interests. Excelling in a particular field opens doors effortlessly. Regardless of age, academic background, or setbacks, everyone has options. A notable example is an experienced securities attorney who, despite personal challenges, secured a prominent position after an extended hiatus. The key is not to perceive oneself as having no options.

One of my worst hires involved an overwhelming response to an in-house counsel position advertised in Malibu. Notably, top associates from prestigious firms, like Latham Watkins, expressed interest. However, the decision was to halt the review process due to the inundation of resumes. Ironically, a woman walked into the office later, having extensively researched and watched numerous videos, showcasing dedication beyond typical applicants.

Reassessing career choices is a normal process. It's never too late to explore alternative paths, even after setbacks or perceived limitations. The key is to recognize one's strengths and find alignment with a fulfilling career. If the current trajectory doesn't resonate, numerous possibilities exist, waiting to be explored.

I encountered something, don't know what it was, but all sorts of stuff. I thought, that's great. I'll give this lady a try. Hired her, and she was the worst attorney in the world. Couldn't believe how bad she was. Not only that, but I was so busy, working in a million directions, I'd give her work, no time to fire her. Just give her some, and she stayed for a while.

Wasn't allowing her to interact with the client, giving her memos and things to do. The point is, eventually had to pull the plug, but you can get an incredible number of jobs if you know what to do, regardless of your situation.

An example, if you can't get a job and want to do insurance defense firms in Los Angeles, you can get a job there. Best insurance defense firm in Los Angeles. Trust firms in the States. What's nice is, when you start going to these lists, you have all these firms.

A lot of these people never receive applications. Like this guy, if you want to work for him, you probably could. He hardly ever gets people that want him to help them, except criminals. You can reach out to these people, apply to jobs, may not get them. Apply to people directly, you may get them.

You could sometimes use otter.ai. I've seen people walk into my office, drop off their resume for recruiting purposes. People I look at closely. Same thing here, if you want to get a position, you'll be much better off applying to people directly.

What I would do is figure out how to email this guy, then call him, maybe follow up with a call. These are ways to get jobs, never hopeless, always maneuver your way into stuff if you really want to do it. People that get things done are always the ones that end up succeeding. Looking for more questions, trying to find the best ones.

Next question is, I've taken on leadership roles in legal associations, not directly related to my work. Should I include these on my resume? They don't have to be directly related, but be careful about practice areas unrelated to what you are doing. Be careful about associations on one side of a controversial issue. Don't put yourself on the side of a political issue. It might make people upset.

Another question, I've worked on high-profile cases with renowned law firms. How can I mention these experiences on my resume? You can mention it. There's no confidentiality agreement preventing it. If your name is on anything public, there's no reason you can't mention it. Highlight your experiences, everyone talks about their experiences.

Interesting question, in my previous job, primarily worked on transactional law, but I want to transition to litigation. How can I highlight relevant skills on my resume to make the shift more appealing? Employers won't like that. Lack of commitment, no experience, more risk. It's a real risk for employers. Highlight transferable skills, but understand the difficulties. Consider moving to locations with attorney shortages or working at less prestigious firms to gain experience.

Is it good to list public speeches or publications related to legal work? Yes, absolutely. Anything showing commitment to networking, practicing law should be listed. Firms love it because it makes them look more impressive to clients. It's excellent to have them on your resume.

Alright. So, in my previous role at a smaller firm, I managed a team of paralegals and junior associates. How can I highlight my leadership and mentorship experience on my resume when applying for senior roles? Many resumes include redundant information. There are expectations in legal positions, such as supervising younger attorneys, conducting discovery, and drafting motions and research. Listing these common tasks doesn't provide unique insights. It's like stating you played hockey and successfully skated – expected.

People often list unnecessary details on resumes, thinking it helps, but it may not. For instance, senior lawyers aiming for junior roles due to quality-of-life reasons face challenges. Law firms prefer associates and partners working at similar levels. Senior attorneys find it hard to adjust to junior roles, leading to a mismatch in expectations.

Transitioning from trademark to patent law is acceptable, but your experience level matters. If you're at a firm specializing in trademark law, it's advisable to gain patent experience before seeking a new job. Intellectual property areas differ significantly, and having relevant experience is crucial.

Handling resume sections that list student activities requires caution. While these can serve as conversation starters during interviews, avoid controversial associations. Lateral attorneys should focus on presenting relevant, impactful information.

For a senior securities attorney, the provided resume shows good experience, but securing positions may be challenging. Exploring niche practice areas, like structured finance, can open up new opportunities. Identifying smaller firms specializing in the desired field and reaching out can be a strategic move.

Remember, there are numerous potential opportunities in various markets and practice areas. Tailoring your resume and exploring diverse avenues can reveal unexpected possibilities.

I'm exhausted, but what's great about this resume is that it showcases the journey of someone who began their career in 2006. They are an experienced attorney who probably graduated around 2001. Despite being in their 40s, they've built a strong resume with a Bachelor of Science in economics and publications on interest rate swaps related to the CFA Institute. It's a solid resume, reflecting their expertise in capital markets.

This person has never been a partner anywhere, having graduated from law school around 2000 or 2001. For the first 13 years, they were an associate, demonstrating stability and commitment to their practice area. The key takeaway is that committing to one practice area enhances employability. The person's last job lasted for four or five years, making it an impressive and encouraging resume.

Now, let's shift focus to another resume I came across. This 2016 graduate from the University of North Carolina has a strong academic background, earning a three-point highest honors order. The resume emphasizes intellectual property and patent-related experiences, aligning well with their degree in chemical engineering. The person has been employed for over a year, but with some short runs in previous jobs. The challenge might be the specific location, Charlotte, North Carolina, limiting opportunities in their field.

I suggest expanding the job search to include the entire state of North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina. Broadening the search increases the chances of finding suitable positions. It's essential to explore various markets and be willing to relocate for career advancement.

Now, let's look at an estate planning and administration attorney's resume. This individual has been at the same job for 2.5 years, focusing on estate planning, trusts, and general legal matters. The resume is strong, but some unnecessary details can be trimmed. The person holds an L.M. and has publications, making them highly marketable.

They have engaged in various professional organizations related to estate planning and real property. This attorney is well-positioned for success in the trust and estates field. Removing some extraneous information can make the resume even more impactful.

These resumes reflect different aspects of legal careers, emphasizing the importance of commitment to a practice area and strategic job searching. Each individual has unique strengths that, with slight adjustments, can lead to even greater professional success.

Let's explore potential outcomes for them. States, let's delve in. Locate bars in various places. Examine locations. Check if they frequented bars in Florida and Alabama. Hypothetically, if they aimed to work in Florida, particularly Yuli, let's initiate the search.

Expand the radius to 50 and 50 to ensure thorough results. Observe the job opportunities in Yuli, Florida. Consider the variety of options available. Explore 21 jobs across 21 firms. Check further for 144 job opportunities in different locations for potential applications. Assess law firms near Yuli, unveiling numerous prospects. A robust resume is vital, enhancing chances in a competitive job market.

Now, shifting focus to a military resume. The challenge lies in making it appealing to law firms. Simplify the details, emphasizing relevant experience. Trim excessive content; military resumes often suffer from verbosity. Highlight criminal law experience, downplaying unrelated roles. Tailor the resume to position the candidate as a criminal attorney.

Military resumes commonly err in length; brevity is key. Condense details, emphasizing criminal law experience. Strategically market the candidate as suitable for a criminal law position. Ensure alignment between job history and target roles. In essence, streamline the resume for maximum impact.

Concluding the discussion on resumes, remember the importance of focus. Specialized resumes yield better results. Remove unnecessary elements. For a concise military resume, emphasize criminal law expertise. Shift the narrative to align with the desired role. Prioritize quality over quantity.

Addressing concerns about formatting, avoid flashy elements. Standard resumes project professionalism. Don't dilute your strong academic background with unnecessary additions. Focus on substance, omitting irrelevant associations. Highlight extraordinary achievements but steer clear of unnecessary details.

Finally, grasp the essence of a compelling cover letter. Directness is key; avoid unnecessary embellishments. Complement today's insights with a review of cover letter workshops. Apply these principles to reshape your resume. A refined, targeted resume can reshape your career trajectory.

Apologies for not reviewing all resumes; the volume is overwhelming. The recorded session will be available later. Focus on avoiding common pitfalls: align your resume with your target practice area. This advice is timeless and beneficial throughout your career. Wishing you success in your endeavors. Thank you for your participation today.