Thursday, March 30, 2006
Its Raining Jobs
Time and again I tell people that it's not that hard to get a summer job if you just put in some effort. By that I don't mean visiting Career Services and turning in your resume for OCI and resume drops. I mean network at every available opportunity - even with people you don't think you'll need in the future because you never know. My strategy has always been to just contact people whose job I'm interested in. For example, over spring break I emailed dozens of minor league baseball general managers and sports agents because I thought working for one of them would be a fun and interesting way to spend the second half of my summer after I'm done with firm life. My friends who were on spring break with me thought I was crazy because I was just grabbing email addresses off websites and sending my resume with a little cover letter. I told them the worst the people could do was either never answer me or say no. You can't ever win if you don't play the game.
As a result of all the emails I've sent out over the past few months, I now have multiple job offers for the second half of my summer. The top prospects are a couple of minor league baseball teams, a sports management firm or the general counsel's office for one of the pro sports leagues. I was always told that it was hard to get into sports law...even harder if you're a girl. Turns out it's not so hard if you make the contacts and show some initiative.
So, I think it's time to let go of the small firm offer I've had on the table for months. I worked at this firm during college, and I know it's not the kind of law I want to practice, so there is really no point in me working for them this summer. Instead, I'm going to speak with the sports management firm and the general counsel for the pro sports league this coming week and try and make a decision. I'm sure I'd love either job and I'm just excited to have the choice.
In other news, I also found out last week that I got an externship next fall. That'll get me even more work experience, and it'll get me out of a few classes next fall. Hopefully I'll get a permanent offer from my firm early on in the fall and that work experience will just be gravy, but it never hurts to bulk up your resume some.
So, for those of you out there who still don't have jobs yet, you can do it! Email contacts at the places you'd like to work and just start networking. Good things come to those with patience, I promise! And while it may have been easier for me because I wasn't contacting firms (who all have their summer programs set by now), I have faith that anyone willing to put in the time and effort I have will be sure to get a phenomenal summer job.
I was thinking about making my next post a networking/job-getting guide. I'll detail all the things I did pre-law school and during law school to assure myself contacts and jobs. Anyone interested?
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As a result of all the emails I've sent out over the past few months, I now have multiple job offers for the second half of my summer. The top prospects are a couple of minor league baseball teams, a sports management firm or the general counsel's office for one of the pro sports leagues. I was always told that it was hard to get into sports law...even harder if you're a girl. Turns out it's not so hard if you make the contacts and show some initiative.
So, I think it's time to let go of the small firm offer I've had on the table for months. I worked at this firm during college, and I know it's not the kind of law I want to practice, so there is really no point in me working for them this summer. Instead, I'm going to speak with the sports management firm and the general counsel for the pro sports league this coming week and try and make a decision. I'm sure I'd love either job and I'm just excited to have the choice.
In other news, I also found out last week that I got an externship next fall. That'll get me even more work experience, and it'll get me out of a few classes next fall. Hopefully I'll get a permanent offer from my firm early on in the fall and that work experience will just be gravy, but it never hurts to bulk up your resume some.
So, for those of you out there who still don't have jobs yet, you can do it! Email contacts at the places you'd like to work and just start networking. Good things come to those with patience, I promise! And while it may have been easier for me because I wasn't contacting firms (who all have their summer programs set by now), I have faith that anyone willing to put in the time and effort I have will be sure to get a phenomenal summer job.
I was thinking about making my next post a networking/job-getting guide. I'll detail all the things I did pre-law school and during law school to assure myself contacts and jobs. Anyone interested?
