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An effective resume will get your foot in the door; in other words, it will get you to the next stage of the job search, the interview. It is your professional portrait and must say much with few words.
It is also evidence of your organizational skills; how you arrange the contents of the resume indicates how logical and organized your thinking will be.

Be sure to consider the following suggestions when creating your resume:

• Use good quality paper (at least 24 or 28 lb content).
• Use white paper only – most resumes today are faxed or e-mailed and color will not be appreciated and can cause a facsimile transmission to blur.
• Use only black ink so that the printing is clear and readable.
• Font should be conservative and easy to read.
• Point size should be 12; again, easy to read.
• Layout should be attractive and logical and consistent throughout the resume.
• Use a commercial or laser quality printer to ensure readability.
• No more than 1-2 pages in length.
• Repeat your name and the page number on second and subsequent pages to ensure that your entire resume connects if e-mail or faxed.
• Always organize educational and employment sections with most recent experience first.
• Always include a “Special Skills” section that details your computer skills and any other special abilities/training that make you unique.

Your educational option should be described in one of the following ways:
Associate in Science Degree, Paralegal
Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
Legal Nurse Consulting Certificate

Include the following beneath your Manor degree:
Program approved by American Bar Association

Be sure to include all other Associate or Bachelor Degrees or Certificates you hold.

Your résumé’s description of employment experience should emphasize your ability to: 

• Communicate, both orally and in writing
• Organize
• Make decisions  
• Supervise and manage
• Act both independently and as part of a team
• Include any volunteer employment/experiences to demonstrate the above skills and fill any possible gaps in your employment history.

THE CHANGING RULES OF THE JOB HUNT

Finding a job in the 21st century

The world has changed and your job search must change with it. Resumes are no longer mailed to prospective employers. Selecting the right resume paper with matching envelopes is a thing of the past. Scanning the classified ads in the newspaper is no longer an efficient use of your time.
 
More and more employers are using the Internet to find and investigate suitable candidates. Every one of those candidates has to be prepared to reply to electronic postings, know how to create a readable electronic resume, and must be able to withstand the scrutiny of being profiled through online searches.

Make Your Resume Work in Today’s Job Market
Almost a third of all new hires are from online job boards. This means that at some point you’ll be cutting and pasting your qualifications into an online job application or uploading the entire document in response to an online posting.

Writing Your Resume.
In today’s world you’ll be just one of dozens of applicants who need only push a few buttons to apply for a job. Your resume has to “speak” in a clear and direct manner to get noticed among all those emailed responses.

Eliminate the “Objective” line – it merely states the obvious – what you’re looking for in a position. Replace the objective with a “Summary of Qualifications” which summarizes what makes you distinctive and very briefly highlights what you can contribute.

The chronological resume still works best for someone who has been consistently employed, but if there’s a break in your employment history, consider using a skills-based format.

Never include personal pronouns such as “I” or “my.”

Make sure your email address is professional. Include the URL for your website or professional blog and your LinkedIn profile.

An electronic resume should be one (1) page in length if possible. If you’ve created an online profile (see below) your resume can provide links to your profile, website, blog and/or LinkedIn profile.

Due to the high volume of responses received for each job listing, recruiters and human resource personnel now use electronic tools to scan resumes for key words and phrases. Optimize your resume and cover letter by including relevant terms such as the job title (e.g. paralegal, manager, sales associate), software proficiencies. Use key words and phrases carefully – overuse will lower you in the search engine’s rankings. To find keywords try http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com. 

Formatting Your Resume.
What looks good to you on your computer screen or when you print it out from your home computer may look like Greek to the prospective employer. Word processing programs, such as Microsoft Word, contain invisible coding that may wreak havoc on a printout of your resume. Keep your resume available in three forms:

(1) PDF -  Create a formatted version of your resume that you would use if you were handing it to a recruiter. Convert the resume to a PDF. By doing this you ensure that your resume will be able to open on either a Mac or PC and that the formatting won’t change. To save in PDF you’ll need a full version of Adobe Acrobat. Download CutePDFWriter for free at cutepdf.com.

(2) WORD DOCUMENT - Some recruiters / employers don’t want pdf files, so you should also have a Word version of your resume available. Use a universal font such as Times New Roman or Arial that will open on any computer. Before sending this version off to a prospective employer, send it to a friend or two to make sure it opens properly on other people’s computers.

(3) TEXT DOCUMENT -  Save a third version of your resume as unformatted text – a .txt file. Unformatted text is free of almost all editorial options such as boldface and italics. When you need to cut and paste parts into an online application, suing this version of your resume will avoid the invisible coding that exists in Word documents.

Your Cover Letter.
As with any business correspondence, your electronic cover letter must be professional, with no spelling errors, and be grammatically correct.

Your email message must contain a greeting, opening, middle and closing.

The email must explain why you’re writing. In short, it must compel the recipient to look at your resume.

Polishing Your Internet Reputation

83% of executive recruiters now use search engines to investigate candidates and 43% say they’ve dropped someone from consideration based upon what they’ve learned online.
Don’t despair. You can turn this to your advantage by using the Internet as your personal publicity machine.
Your first step is to start thinking and acting like the professional you want to be. What is out there on the Internet that you won’t want a future employer to see? The opposite can be just as damaging: will a search reveal nothing about you?

Facebook.
It may be time to delete your Facebook account. Be sure, however, to carefully follow the website’s instructions on deleting your account, otherwise it will only be deactivated. It takes at least two weeks for an account to be deleted, so don’t wait until after your job interview.
If you can’t live without your Facebook interactions, then be sure to edit your privacy settings to protect yourself from a prospective employer snooping.

Create a Google Profile.
Go to www.google.com/profiles and click on the Create My Profile button to create a summary of you and your accomplishments. Your free Google profile will appear on the first page of search results whenever your name is searched through Google.

Blog.
Create a blog to tout your accomplishments. Blogs are available through many different services and allow you to personalize a profile, comment on current issues, and reach out to others.

Join LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is a business social networking site that allows you to connect with others in your field or fields in which you express an interest. You can personalize your profile and then list your LinkedIn site on your resume. By posting a professional picture of yourself at LinkedIn you can allow employers to “see” you as well. 
To get the most out of the site you must keep your profile updated and use the Q & A section to answer other people’s questions, which will make you more visible and demonstrate your knowledge. 
Find colleagues who are registered on LinkedIn (or recommend the site to friends) and then ask those individuals to provide a brief recommendation. These recommendations are listed on the site and allow prospective employers to immediately learn how others feel about you. 

Join Social Networking Sites
Professional social networking sites will allow you to participate in online forums, share knowledge, search for jobs and meet others in your profession.
Networking is an important part of searching for employment. The more people who know you’re looking for a job the better your chances of finding a position. Use your contacts on Facebook, LinkedIn and other social sites to (1) let everyone know you’re looking for employment; (2) what kind of job you’re searching for and (3) your accomplishments. This last item is very important because people won’t feel comfortable recommending you to a prospective employer unless they believe you are a good candidate.
Don’t forget that opportunities can still be found the old-fashioned way, by answering classified ads, attending functions that put you face-to-face with potential employers and references, and seeking informational interviews with recruiters and others in the field who can advise you.

References.

“Playing to Win Mastering the Online Job Search Game.” Legal Assistant Today July/Aug. 2009: 26-29.

“Mastering the New Job Hunt.” More May 2009: 86-94.

Click on the names of any of the legal studies graduates that appear below to view their resume. If you wish to print any of these samples, copy and paste into Word and then print.

John Hartel	John is a graduate of the Paralegal Associate Degree Program
Amy Yager	Amy is a graduate of the Paralegal Post Baccalaureate Certificate Program
Jane Doe	Jane has graduated from the Paralegal Associate Degree Program after being employed in the business world
Marla Danvers	Marla is a Legal Nurse Consultant program graduate with extensive hospital experience
Jane Dougherty	Jane is a Legal Nurse Consultant program graduate who has ob-gyn and midwife experience and has published

 

Dressing to Get the Job…Dressing to Start a Career…Dressing for Professional Success…

Why Does What I Wear Matter?
Most job applicants underestimate the importance of dressing appropriately for a job interview, especially in light of today’s trends toward business casual attire. When seeking a job it’s irrelevant what dress policy the prospective employer has for its employees. Always aim for a polished and conservative appearance that will convey your professionalism and serious about getting the job.
The job market is competitive . You want to convince an employer that, among al the candidates, you are the right one for the job. To do so you need the right qualifications, a professional resume, effective interviewing skills, and a great first impression.
The job interview is not the place to emphasize your unique personality. The following guidelines emphasize how to demonstrate, through your attire, your fit into the law office/corporate culture.

Rules for All Applicants:
· Dress in conservative colors, such as navy, charcoal grey, dark brown.
· Shoes should be clean and polished – no sandals!!
· Trousers should be hemmed to avoid dragging on the floor.
· Keep piercings to a minimum. No tongue rings!!
· Hair should be professional and well-groomed.
· Men should be clean shave or beard/mustache neatly trimmed.
· Glasses clean, not smudged or dirty.
· Clean teeth…Fresh breath.
· Fingernails should be spotless.
· No gum, candy or food should be present.
· Try to cover tattoos.
· Keep perfume or aftershave to a minimum.
· Carry a small briefcase or leather portfolio in which you’ll carry extra copies of your resume, writing samples and references, a pad with your questions already written down, and a pen for taking notes.

How Men Should Dress:
A two-piece conservative dark suit
A white or light blue long-sleeve dress shirt
Subtle patterned coordinating tie
A belt
Dark socks
Dark, polished, clean shoes

How Women Should Dress:
A two-piece conservative dark skirted- or pant-suit
Coordinated blouse in short or long sleeve with conservative neckline
Skirt should be knee-length or slightly longer
Close-toed dress shoes with 1-2” heel
Neutral pantyhose with no snags or runs
Conservative makeup
Minimal jewelry
Neutral, chip free nail polish
If you carry a purse, make it simple and coordinated to your outfit

Additional Tips:
· Examine your interview outfit the day before and make sure it looks good and fits properly.
· Leave your school logo or other brandings at home – don’t carry anything with you that is too commercial.
· Get to the interview early and check yourself out one last time.
· Leave your coat, hat, umbrella, etc with the receptionist.

The scope and purpose of the interview is to find out if the job candidate and the potential employer are a good fit. Interviews always produce anxiety and stress, but learning how to present yourself, with regard to both appearance and personality, will help you succeed at this final stage.

Types of Legal Interviews
The Nonadversarial Chat appears to be a friendly encounter. The interviewer will be warm and seemingly non-directed. Beware of the trap inherent in this interview; you can become too relaxed and be unaware of the interviewer’s real agenda, which is to relax you into blurting out your shortcomings, or revealing information that is essentially irrelevant to the interview, such as your age, family status. Stay alert and keep your delivery upbeat. Do not allow your answers to stretch out too much and do not ramble.
The Cross-Examination is an interview in which the prospective employer appears organized, cool and remote. He/she may even appear to be tense and combative, just as a lawyer would on cross-examination in a trial. This type of interview can cause you anxiety and disrupt your rhythm. Do not overreact to negative pressure. The interviewer wants to learn how you will react under pressure, even though this is not the ideal way to learn that information. Present yourself positively and be clear, posied and assertive in your answers.
The Court of Inquiry occurs when several people interview you at the same time. You may have several questions directed at you at the same time. Again, the interviewers want to see how you will react under pressure; will you reveal too much about yourself, or become easily overwhelmed? Do not bow to the pressure. Answer only one question at a time. Keep a smile on your face and don’t rush your answers. Try to make eye contact with each interviewer at some time during each answer; don’t just look at the person who asked the question.

Interview Preparation

Employers look for a number of traits and competencies when interviewing potential hires. Among the most important are:
● strong organizational skills
● competency
● reliability
● flexibility
● team player

● Learn anything and everything you can about the law firm or company before you go on the interview. Research the company and the position if possible, as well, the people you will meet with at the interview. Utilize sources such as www.martindale.com or Find a Lawyer.
● Role Play. Once you have finished studying, begin role playing (rehearsing). Use the general questions provided below and prepare answers. Practice relating information about yourself out loud. Try to keep your answers to the information your new employer will want to know.
● Review your work experiences. Be ready to support past career accomplishments with specific information targeted toward the companies needs. Have your facts ready!
● First impressions are very important, so consider the following grooming tips:
● Be conservative in your dress
● Don’t wear anything that is too trendy or distracting
● Make sure your shoes are shined
● Hair style and, if applicable, make-up, should be conservative
● Surveys reveal that the following personal and professional traits have been identified by interviewers as positive qualities:
● Professional appearance and behavior
● Good verbal communication skills
● Effective listening skills
● Enthusiasm and energy
● Flexibility and adaptability
● Imagination, creativity and resourcefulness
● A positive attitude
● Honesty
● Sincerity
● Alertness and attentiveness
● Thoughtfulness
● Persuasiveness
● Poise
● Logical and well-organized thinking
How do you convey these qualities to an employer without actually saying , for example, “I am logical and well-organized?” Be prepared to related anecdotes (stories and examples) of things you have done in other jobs and in your schooling and life experiences that will demonstrate these qualities. Here are some more Do’s and Don’ts for the interviewing process:
Do’s for the Interview:
1) Be punctual
2) A good, firm handshake
3) Listen
4) Maintain eye contact with your interviewer. Show you want the job with your interest.
5) Think before you begin your answers
6) Have questions prepared ahead of time to ask
7) Show interest and enthusiasm
8) Put a positive spin on even negative items. An example would be the interviewer who asks “What is your biggest weakness?” Respond with something positive, such as “I would have to say that my biggest weakness is my need to be organized. Sometimes I drive people crazy, but I believe organization is very important.”
9) Encourage the interviewer to share information about his or her company. Demonstrate your interest.
10) Thank the interviewer for his time
11) Get the interviewer’s business card so you can send a formal thank you note later.
12) Do ask “When will you be making your decision?”
13) Send a typed thank you note within 24 hours of the interview.
14) If you don’t hear from the interviewer within the time period he/she mentioned, call.
15) If you end up not getting the job, ask “why?” The feedback will help you in the next interview.

Don’ts for the Interviews:
1) Don’t arrive late
2) Never apologize for lack of experience
3) Don’t chew gum or mints
4) Don’t smoke
5) Avoid negative comments regarding previous employment
6) Don’t lose your temper (remember the Cross-examination?)
7) Don’t oversell yourself
8) Don’t’ call the interviewer by first name or use “sir” or “madam.”
9) Don’t wear sunglasses
10) Don’t tap the desk, jiggle change, or show other nervous signs
11) Don’t look at your watch
12) Don’t ramble. Make your answers short and to the point.
13) Don’t ask “Will I get the job?”
14) Don’t be evasive.

Sample Questions You May be Asked
1. Tell me about yourself? (try to hold your response to 2 minutes)
2. What do you know about our company?
3. Why should we hire you?
4. What can you do for us that someone else can't?
5. What do you look for in a job?
6. What skills and qualifications are essential for success in the position of ______?
7. How long would it take for you to make a meaningful contribution?
8. How does this assignment fit into your overall career plan?
9. Describe your management style.
10. What do you believe is the most difficult part of being a supervisor of people?
11. Why are you looking for a new career?
12. How would your colleagues describe you?
13. How would your boss describe you?
14. How would you describe yourself?
15. What do you think of your present or past boss?
16. What were the five most significant accomplishments in your last assignment?
17. What were the five most significant accomplishments in your career so far?
18. Can you work well under deadlines or pressure?
19. How much do you expect if we offer you this position?
20. Why do you want to work for us?
21. What other positions are you considering?
22. Have you kept up in your field with additional training?
23. What are your career goals?
24. What are your strong points?
25. What are your weak points?
26. How did you do in school?
27. What position do you expect to have in 2 to 5 years?
28. If you took the job what would you accomplish in the first year?
29. What was wrong with your current or last position?
30. What kind of hours are you used to working or would like to work?
31. Do you have your reference list with you? (Remember don't give it out unless it is asked for).
32. Can you explain your salary history?
33. What questions didn't I ask that you expected?
34. Do you have any questions for me? (See Questions for the Interviewer that you might want to ask below).

Sample Questions You May Want to Ask
1. How many people will I report to?
2. Can you describe a typical day in the office for me?
3. Why is this position open?
4. How often has it been filled in the past five years? What were the main reasons?
5. What would you like done differently by the next person who fills this position?
6. What are some of the objectives you would like to see accomplished in this job?
7. What is most pressing? What would you like to have done in the next 3 months?
8. What are some of the long term objectives you would like to see completed?
9. What are some of the more difficult problems one would have to face in this position?
10. How do you think these could best be handled?
11. What type of support does this position receive in terms of people, finances. etc?
12. What employee benefits are available with this job?
13. What advancement opportunities are available for the person who is successful in this position, and within what time frame?
14. How is one evaluated in this position?
15. When will you be making your decision?

Here are just some of the many resources available for finding information about the paralegal profession and legal nurse consulting and finding jobs via the Internet.

www.careerbuilder.com

www.monster.com

www.jobbankusa.com/jobs.html

www.careerpath.com

www.legalemploy.com 

http://nursingcenter.com

www.lawcrossing.com

Although many jobs are advertised as looking for a “paralegal”, “legal Assistant” or “legal nurse consultant”, many job titles are tailored to the nature of the employment, or the duties that are inherent in the job. Here are some of the job titles, you may see in print or on-line classifieds. Read job descriptions for these and any other potential jobs carefully. You may be the perfect fit!

 

Account Service Representative
Bankruptcy Clerk
Case Manager
Claims Adjuster
Claims Investigator
Compliance Administrator
Contract Paralegal
Contract Specialist
Enforcement Specialist
Human Resource Clerk
Human Resource Manager
Investigator
Franchise Compliance Manager
Law Clerk
Legal Research Specialist
Legal Resource Analyst
Legal Technician
Life Care Planner
Litigation Support Specialist
Mediator
Medical Paralegal
Nurse Paralegal
Office Manager
Patent Administrator
Policy Audit Technician
Residential Closing Assistant
Restitution Officer
Risk Manager
Senior Loan Closer
Title Assistant
Trial Assistant
Trust Officer
Unit Manager
Victim’s Advocate

When searching for a job, examine carefully opportunities posted from the following employers. If they are looking for someone with your skills, apply!

Corporations:
Manufacturing
Unions
Banks
Corporate
Office of general counsel
Research & Development
Human Resources
Tax Department
Compliance and litigation
Risk Management
Insurance Companies

Hospitals:
Office of general counsel
Risk Management
Peer review
Title and abstract companies
Real estate
Construction
Non-profit corporations

Government/Public Law:
Federal governmental agencies
State governmental agencies
Local governmental agencies
Office of the District Attorney
Office of the City Solicitor
Legal Aid
Victims’ advocates
Foundations