In today’s job market, we all know someone who is unemployed, in career transition or seeking a new career. This is a special challenge for lawyers in cases about employment and a person’s ability to achieve his or her earning capacity. Downsizing and layoffs have affected every level, from CEOs to retail clerks. Often job seekers have not looked for a job in a long time. Often their last job interview was years ago. They still use the same tactics they were taught in college, if not high school.
Sadly, those old techniques don’t work in today’s marketplace. Yet, job seekers don’t know what produces a successful job search. In employment and family law litigation, lawyers, in order to defend their client, need to know if someone has done all they can to find work that maximizes their earnings. Here are 4 elements to keep in mind:
1. Discipline and Consistency
Consistent daily activity and follow-up, along with well organized written records/notes are imperative to achieve successful results.
2. Using New Tools and Social Media
The job search has changed significantly, even the past 2 or 3 years, particularly with the increased use of social media. These tools continue to evolve at a breathtaking pace.
3. Using All Potential Sources for Leads and Support
Use recruiters, your own research, professional associations, and online conversations and job listings. This means that online job applications are only one tactic. It must be integrated into a wider array of more productive strategies and actions. If this is the largest part of the job search activity, the job seeker will be very discouraged.
4. Networking
This is the most important activity that will lead to successful hire or that new career. Most people only scratch the surface of effective networking. They must learn how to use their resources to build an effective network. Never overlook the importance of meeting with people in person.
Most people, frankly, are scared or embarrassed about being unemployed or asking for a job. Without the right support, they become paralyzed by the enormity of the process and how to take the first steps. In fact, they may need a career/job coach to learn how to integrate all of these different elements and apply them to a successful job search.
In my next few blogs, I will discuss these elements and how they can apply to your cases or others you know.
Does your client or the other party know how to navigate the way to a successful hire? Do you know what objective criteria are used to evaluate that effort?
