I'm happy to report I had a job interview this morning! I was contacted late on Friday about coming in early this morning to meet in person - it's nice to feel wanted and asked to come in to interview. It's been a while since I'd had an in-person interview - most of the ones I've had lately have been on the phone. I felt good getting dressed up in work clothes/interview clothes and heading into Manhattan with everyone on their way to work. I've missed that, that feeling of adding something...
I won't find out for a while if I got the job - it's another contract assignment so the temporary nature isn't so great but the position is at a great organization so I'd love to do it. However, this time, I'll also be sure to keep my job hunt going until I find that all elusive permanent position.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Job Hunt for the JD/MBA
Look, I'm unemployed and I need a job - that's the truth but that's not something I'm really allowed to put in a cover letter. I don't want to be unemployed anymore, I want a job - a real, honest to God, JOB. I want a permanent job. One that won't end at the end of the summer or in 6 months when a law suit settles.
My whole life I've only had temp or contract jobs - yes, my whole life. Let me explain that I've been in school most of my life. This means most of my jobs were temporary in that I would have to leave to go back to school or would be moving when school ended, etc., and the others were on a by-project basis - well, I did have one Internship (Law Clerk position) that lasted a full year but unfortunately it wasn't the type of place I could stay after graduation as they already had enough full-time attorneys.
I'm sorry, let me backtrack and explain my education a little better. I have a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration - with concentrations in Management and International Business, as well as a minor in Economics, a Masters in Business Administration, and a Juris Doctorate. You'd think with all that education behind me, it would be easy to find a job. Well, you'd be wrong, it's not. I was wrong... I thought I'd finish school and voila, the perfect job would be waiting and want me. It's how it was 5 years ago when I started grad school. I was naive that's for sure...
I could tell you all the reasons why that's not the case in this economy but basically, let's just say I'm still looking to start my real life - that the jobs I've had have all been temporary because that's what I needed to do at the time. I was a Temp during the summers of College - would get hired for a one week assignment and then would be hired on for the whole summer (this happened three summers in a row!) because I was responsible and actually showed up, did great work, etc. I rushed through business school and law school in 3.5 years total to try and save money - but that meant that I had to take summer courses and couldn't always get an internship. Unfortunately right now the only people that seem to get hired, get hired from the Intern pool. I finished law school in Jan. 2007 and have since taken two Bar Exams - Texas and New York - and have passed both the first time. I started doing Document Review after the Bar because that was work I could get fast while I was waiting for my Bar results to come in. For those of you that don't know... Doc Review is unfortunately the grunt work of lawyers - someone has to do it! One looks through all the documents, emails, etc. for a company during a certain period looking for something related to whatever the law suit is about. It's quite boring most of the time, and vary rarely you feel like you're adding to the law suit itself. It's not very rewarding... But, it's great money and someone DOES need to do it. I know it's part of the system... I just am ready for the next step up in the system if that makes sense.
I finally thought I had my break, I got a job with Goldman Sachs in November of last year! I must say to be honest, it was also "temporary" - but an assignment for a full year at one of the best corporations in the world was worth it for the experience. Unfortunately the job ended suddenly in February - for budget cut reasons - and here I am again, looking for something.
I have a great academic background but how do I go about getting a great job where I can stay for years and earn those "years of experience"? I'm afraid I don't know - I wasn't recruited out of school, very few people were (they don't tell you that when you sign up for school, and sign up for your loans) so now I'm in a tough spot. I'm looking for an "entry level" position with two advanced degrees to my name - it's kind of a catch 22.
It's in the past, what I did in school and such is over, and I'm where I am. I know I'm a great catch, would make a great employee. I have a lot of education, I learn quickly and can become an expert in just about anything once I study it. I'm responsible and take my work seriously - its important to me. I didn't work this hard in school to screw it up once I'm employed. I just want a chance... I am ready for something real, and rewarding, where I can use my education.
Ideally, I'd love something to do with International Corporate Law, International Business/Trade, or Corporate Strategy. I always loved those courses that were big picture kind of classes - where all the marketing, finance, planning, etc. came together and the company's future was discussed. I'm good at the big picture - but to get to those big picture jobs in Management one has to go through all the stages of the lower jobs. I understand and I'm ready to do that - I know I need to start somewhere. My International fixation is partly because I've traveled to about 30 countries and have taken as many courses in my law school and business school about International law and business, including securities law, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate law. Convincing someone to give me a chance has not been easy. I email, I interview, I follow-up, and nothing. It's getting quite frustrating.
My whole life I've only had temp or contract jobs - yes, my whole life. Let me explain that I've been in school most of my life. This means most of my jobs were temporary in that I would have to leave to go back to school or would be moving when school ended, etc., and the others were on a by-project basis - well, I did have one Internship (Law Clerk position) that lasted a full year but unfortunately it wasn't the type of place I could stay after graduation as they already had enough full-time attorneys.
I'm sorry, let me backtrack and explain my education a little better. I have a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration - with concentrations in Management and International Business, as well as a minor in Economics, a Masters in Business Administration, and a Juris Doctorate. You'd think with all that education behind me, it would be easy to find a job. Well, you'd be wrong, it's not. I was wrong... I thought I'd finish school and voila, the perfect job would be waiting and want me. It's how it was 5 years ago when I started grad school. I was naive that's for sure...
I could tell you all the reasons why that's not the case in this economy but basically, let's just say I'm still looking to start my real life - that the jobs I've had have all been temporary because that's what I needed to do at the time. I was a Temp during the summers of College - would get hired for a one week assignment and then would be hired on for the whole summer (this happened three summers in a row!) because I was responsible and actually showed up, did great work, etc. I rushed through business school and law school in 3.5 years total to try and save money - but that meant that I had to take summer courses and couldn't always get an internship. Unfortunately right now the only people that seem to get hired, get hired from the Intern pool. I finished law school in Jan. 2007 and have since taken two Bar Exams - Texas and New York - and have passed both the first time. I started doing Document Review after the Bar because that was work I could get fast while I was waiting for my Bar results to come in. For those of you that don't know... Doc Review is unfortunately the grunt work of lawyers - someone has to do it! One looks through all the documents, emails, etc. for a company during a certain period looking for something related to whatever the law suit is about. It's quite boring most of the time, and vary rarely you feel like you're adding to the law suit itself. It's not very rewarding... But, it's great money and someone DOES need to do it. I know it's part of the system... I just am ready for the next step up in the system if that makes sense.
I finally thought I had my break, I got a job with Goldman Sachs in November of last year! I must say to be honest, it was also "temporary" - but an assignment for a full year at one of the best corporations in the world was worth it for the experience. Unfortunately the job ended suddenly in February - for budget cut reasons - and here I am again, looking for something.
I have a great academic background but how do I go about getting a great job where I can stay for years and earn those "years of experience"? I'm afraid I don't know - I wasn't recruited out of school, very few people were (they don't tell you that when you sign up for school, and sign up for your loans) so now I'm in a tough spot. I'm looking for an "entry level" position with two advanced degrees to my name - it's kind of a catch 22.
It's in the past, what I did in school and such is over, and I'm where I am. I know I'm a great catch, would make a great employee. I have a lot of education, I learn quickly and can become an expert in just about anything once I study it. I'm responsible and take my work seriously - its important to me. I didn't work this hard in school to screw it up once I'm employed. I just want a chance... I am ready for something real, and rewarding, where I can use my education.
Ideally, I'd love something to do with International Corporate Law, International Business/Trade, or Corporate Strategy. I always loved those courses that were big picture kind of classes - where all the marketing, finance, planning, etc. came together and the company's future was discussed. I'm good at the big picture - but to get to those big picture jobs in Management one has to go through all the stages of the lower jobs. I understand and I'm ready to do that - I know I need to start somewhere. My International fixation is partly because I've traveled to about 30 countries and have taken as many courses in my law school and business school about International law and business, including securities law, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate law. Convincing someone to give me a chance has not been easy. I email, I interview, I follow-up, and nothing. It's getting quite frustrating.
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