After making our final decision to relocate I would have never dreamed in this economy that I could sell two pieces of real estate before getting a job offer. Like any good attorney before starting my search I did a lot reading about locating jobs, preparing a professional resume and transitioning careers. I have enjoyed 15 years of litigating cases as a lawyer. I learned the ins and outs of reading people, preparing and analyzing discovery and the art of argument, but I grew weary of each day going to battle in a job built on confrontation. If there was going to be a job change I did not want to be a litigator any longer.
The decision to transition to careers brought with it new challenges. Other than applying and interviewing for in-house legal positions, I found a lot of recruiters and hiring managers really didn't know what skills a lawyer would bring to the table. My first expense was to hire a professional resume writer to help with the organization and content of my resume. The end result was a nice legal resume. We tweaked it as much as possible to show business traits learned in ten years of running my a firm, but in the end I had 15 years of legal experience. I searched and applied for jobs as in-house counsel, compliance positions, human resource positions and some sales, marketing and other business management openings. My resume never seemed to make it to the interview group.
I also began a fierce networking campaign in which I contacted everyone in the area who I had met and let them know I was looking for a position in the area. I had some wonderful help and it lead to numerous contacts who provided me with a lot of information and names. I found networking became the key to getting "the interview". It is much harder for someone to say no to a colleague or friend when they suggest talking to this person about an open position. Soon I had my first interview and it was for a non-legal human resource position.
This was my first interview in about twelve years and I was nervous. I researched the company, position and the hiring manager and was well prepared for the panel interview. I thought the interaction between myself the panel was good, but I could tell I was nervous and rusty. The position needed someone to help develop and implement employment policy throughout the company. They usually worked in crisis mode and needed someone quick on their feet who had good oral and written communication skills. Any attorney will tell you this job screamed of need for an attorney. Our experience teaches us to read people quickly, we must possess good oral and written communication skills, we usually work under tremendous pressure and time constraints and the one constant in our profession is change. I left the meeting thinking I was perfect for the position. The hiring manager told me she didn't intend to waste any time making the decision and hoped to hire for the position within a week or two.
A week later I followed up with the manager and was told they were just finishing up the interviews and should make a decision soon. The next week I followed up again and learned that I was not chosen for the position. She decided to hire someone with a good bit of human resource experience. As I revisited the interview in my mind I decided I did not enough to show my talents and experience were a great fit even though my resume did not contain the title human resources director in it. I was determined to get better.
The next position I interviewed for was for an in-house position doing pro bono work. I have extensive bar experience working with pro bono projects. I take to heart that a lawyer has a duty to give back to the profession by helping those who cannot afford legal services. Corporate pro bono departments and projects are up and coming and this company wanted to be an innovator in this area. Even better was one of my friends who was helping me look for positions was on this team and a part of the decision process. I contacted the Louisiana Bar Association and ask the executive director to write a letter of recommendation for me. She wrote a beautiful letter and I even researched possible projects before going to the interview. I really enjoyed both panels and found the hiring manager to be a person I could relate to and work with on this project. I was one of the final three in the process before they made an in-house hire. I completely understood this hire and the company promotes from within whenever possible.
The hiring manager contacted me and let me know I did a great job with the interview and follow-up and wanted to recommend me for the position in the tort department vacated by the pro bono hire. I was glad to have the recommendation and excited by the possibility of continuing in an area of comfort. That same afternoon I received a call from the hiring manager and a interview was scheduled that week. I really thought this would be the perfect fit.
It turns out the hiring manager lives in my neighborhood less than a half mile from my house. The interview consisted of two hours of panel meetings. I liked everyone I met and thought I connected with the team leaders well. I was sure my 15 years of tort experience along with being local and available would make me a shoo-in for the position. I left the interview confident and feeling good about the possibility of being offered this position.
The next week I followed up with the hiring manager and was told they had finished the interviews and were going to meet and decide on the position. I didn't hear from them and made another call a week later to get the status from the recruiter who set up my interview. I was very disappointed to learn they had offered the job to someone else. This rejection really set me back and had me down. The questions kept popping into my head as to why would they hire someone else. I had the experience, was local and let them know I wanted the job. Did I sound desperate? Did I come across arrogant? Was there a disconnect in the interview that I missed? I kept replaying the interview in my head, but nothing seemed to point to a reason I wasn't hired.
In the weeks following the interview I called upon a friend with the company to get me some feedback. He called the hiring manager and found there was some questions and concern over our move without me having secured a job prior to the relocation. Wow, I thought being local was a real asset for this interview and it ended up being a negative. The bad part is I didn't recall anyone asking me about this concern in the interview. I could have explained that my wife (also an attorney) had a job, explained the situation surrounding the decision to close my business, and let them know I still had cases where I was "of counsel" which allowed me to work from home and earn a living during this job search. The answers were there but the question never came.
This is where I am open to advice and suggestions. You can read and research all day and night and be prepared to answer almost any question, but how do you counter the unexpected or unexpressed opinion? The search continues and I know God has a plan. I will continue to write about my thoughts and the search and would love feedback.
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