Let's face it—in the current legal market, your submissions are like your reputation, once gone you can’t take them back (for the next 6 months at least).
Using a recruiter when approaching submissions is one of the best ways of maximizing your chances of getting into that interview room.
So, here are 3 tips for using a recruiter to handle your submissions with care...
1. Connect & Communicate
Connect with a recruiter who is knowledgeable about the market, your practice area, and the major players in that space. Clearly convey your motivations and what you are looking for in a move (i.e. exposure to a certain type of work, firm culture, associate development, partner-track). Identify teams that match your criteria and plan your approach to the market (more options mean more leverage and points of comparison, but your approaches should be made STRATEGICALLY)
With proper communication, a good recruiter is a great resource to find the most suitable role for you.
2. Plan & Prepare
Work with your recruiter to cater your application materials (CV & Deal Sheet) to reflect the roles, firms and teams that you will be targeting. Recruiters will also temper your expectations, as in a normalized market, candidate review and interview processes are taking longer to unfold. Good recruiters will also have methods for gauging interest from each team, and if the market dictates that it may be in your best interest to wait and preserve your submission, they will be honest and transparent
KEY NOTE: Once you or someone else has submitted your materials, you MUST wait 6-12 months before submitting again!
3. Execute & Adapt
Follow your submission plan and have your recruiter strategically approach the identified target firms. Allow your recruiter to handle and monitor the submission process (following up appropriately—remember things take time in a slower market, and there is a thin line between diligence and pestering). If there is something needed to complete a submission, respond promptly—the current market is very competitive, and time kills processes.
Lastly, listen to the feedback from the market! Analyse -> Assess -> Adapt
For more tips on how to strategically navigate the current job market, reach out to Dan via LinkedIn or by email on daniel.sweeney@sonderconsultants.com
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