Career Development Resources

These are some common action or dynamic verbs. A simple internet search will uncover more of these type of verbs.

• Achieved
• Advanced
• Advocated
• Created
• Developed
• Directed
• Enforced
• Engineered
• Established
• Expanded
• Facilitated
• Generated
• Increased
• Led
• Managed
• Organized
• Pioneered
• Streamlined
• Supervised
• Resolved

Thank you notes are an important part of the job search process. You are thanking the interviewer for their time and showing them that you still want the position as well as leaving a positive lasting impression after the interview. Keep thank you notes in mind and jot down who interviews you so you can address your note to that person or persons. The following links offer some tips on thank you notes. 

Harvard Business Review

Indeed Career Guide

JobCase

Consider your social media presence as you are applying for jobs. If your social media is all about having fun at parties with a drink in your hand, that may not convey the image you want to present to potential employers. Archive some photos if they are not who you are now and moving forward keep in mind who will see your social media profile. 

Update your LinkedIn profile to reflect your current accomplishments and education. Many potential employers look at LinkedIn and your profile should be current and match your resume. 

The Jacksonville University College of Law Career Handbook is the perfect place to start your job search! Whether you need help with interviewing tips, how to accept or decline offers, how to ask for references or knowing what goes into a cover letter, start with the Career Handbook!

Your resume provides the potential employer with a simplified timeline of your experience and if done correctly, it will highlight your skills and achievements so the employer can see how valuable you are. Your resume should have a few items:

• Resume Heading 
  • Include name, mailing address, cell phone number and school email address.
  • If you want to show ties to a geographic area, list your mailing address in that area (if you have one).
• Education Section
  • List your education in reverse chronological order. 
  • Include the name of the school, the location of the school, the degree you received and expected date of graduation.
• Previous Positions 
  • List your experiences in chronological order, but your education in reverse chronological order.
  • Summarize the top three responsibilities or achievements from each position.
  • You do not need to list every job or activity since high school. Just list the most relevant or substantial accomplishments that are relevant to the position.
  • Be specific when highlighting your skills. If you were a supervisor, tell how many people you supervised rather than just listing Supervisor
  • Use underlining, italics or bold font judiciously to enhance your previous positions.
  • Use action verbs such as organized or supervised.
  • Keep in mind your resume is a way to sell yourself, it is not an autobiography.
• Honors and Activities
  • List any honors you received and any clubs you are a part of on your resume. Law Review is an Honor, participation in Mock Trial is an Activity unless you received the award for Best Brief and then the award becomes an Honor. Please ask if you are not sure. 
• Formatting Tips
  • Keep the resume to one page or less.
  • Use either bullet points or paragraph style for descriptions, do not use both.
  • Use a common font like Times New Roman or Arial, not Comic Sans.
  • Always send employers your resume as a PDF to guard against odd formatting issues.
  • UC Berkeley Law has several resume examples.
• Resume Rules 
  • Your resume must be:
    • Honest
    • Concise
    • Positive
    • Conservative (graphically and linguistically)
    • Selective (your resume is not your life history, perhaps not even your entire employment history)
    • Visually appealing 
    • Free of typos, grammatical errors, and inconsistencies
• Sensitive Information 
  • Some items in your resume may reveal personal information such as your age, family dynamics, political leanings, religious beliefs, ethnicity, disability, and/or sexual orientation or identity, which could work for or against you. Consider how important the inclusion of such information is to you. If you choose not to include this information, you still have the option of bringing it up in an interview, or later in the hiring process. 

Cover letters serve an important purpose because they let a potential employer know why you are qualified for the position and why they should take the time to meet you. It is also their first introduction to your written work product and needs to be concise, clear and obviously free of any typos. Here are some tips and resources on cover letters. 

• Follow a business letter format. Microsoft Word has several example templates.
• Keep your cover letter to one page, less is better here. 
• Address your cover letter to an actual person if you can. If not, the department name or office is the next choice, and lastly Hiring Committee as an acceptable alternative. 
• First Paragraph:
  • Introduce yourself a law student (Including year) or graduate of JU College of Law.
  • Tell the person reading the letter what position you are applying for, they should not have to guess.
  • Highlight your connections to the company and/or the position. They could be past, present or future connections. "I am a native to Jacksonville and hope to work at your firm in Jacksonville this summer." Or "During my undergraduate studies, I worked part time for the State Attorney's Office as a clerk and I thoroughly enjoyed the work."
• Body Paragraph(s)
  • Show your experience and qualifications to the employer. The reader should want to meet you based on this portion of the cover letter. 
  • Let the employer know about your interest with their firm. Did you take a law school class in their specialty, if so, let them know! 
• Final Paragraph
  • Thank the employer for their time and attention and that you look forward to hearing from them.
• Samples: The Career Development Office at Notre Dame created a comprehensive cover letter guide (PDF) that gives examples and a clear format. Yale Law School also has some good cover letter advice. 

Interviewing is a skill and one you can excel at if you take the time to practice. There are many tips to interviewing and practicing answers to some common questions will help you get ready for the big day. Look at the College of Law Career Handbook on page 18 where there are sample common questions you may be asked and also some questions you can ask the potential employer! Here are additional resources for you to consider.

Bloomberg Law - The Right Answers to Law Interview Questions

Law School Toolbox - How to Ace Your Law Firm Interview