I want to leave my current position but im having trouble getting interviews. please help?

Question

I am working in a law firm as a legal secretary. I am unhappy. i am sending out my resume to all people and i havent gotten many responses. i know the economy is tough. does anyone have any advice. i will not leave until i find something. does anyone have any advice. i want to go back to school for teaching but i need the money. im scared im either going to get fired or walk out on these people. how do you deal with attorneys thtat are difficult? I need to get out of this place. they dont acknowledge anything good...its only the negative. im in a bad mood all the times and its causing problems between me and my fiance. besides monster, craigslist and careerbuilder, is there anything else i can do? in the meantime, how do you deal with difficult attorneys?

Answer 1

i'm in retail almost 20 years, i've sent out probly 50+ resumes online (monster and careerbuilder) in about 4 months the only interviews i've gotten have been in response to actually giving someone-who-knew-someone a paper resume. yes, the economy is tough, and i too hoped or something that really FIT me via the net, but it seems like good-old dressing up and hitting the street is the way to go.



and the best way to deal with attorneys is with a shotgun, or if you prefer a hands-on approach, a machete :) good luck to you

Answer 2

just try and stick it out But keep looking.look every day and everywhere Someone will hire u but don't get fired cause u might need them as a reference

Answer 3

It surely won't happen fast, that's for sure. I have 18 years experience and I get laid off every 3 years from every place I've ever worked. It has always taken me a year and 1/2 to find a job. No matter where you go, there will be problems. Keep looking, and keep waiting, in the meantime, just ignore them.

Answer 4

Don't leave your current job unless you find another job; it's easier to find another job while you are working.  It's good that you are finding jobs on-line, but maybe you should try La times or other newspaper.  Maybe you need to rewrite your resume by a professional resume builder??  And please take a look at some articles about interviews and jobs:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4481745_keep-ref...

http://www.ehow.com/how_4469452_dress-ap...

http://www.ehow.com/how_4451720_model-an...

Hope this helps.

Dealing with difficult attorneys can be tough; remember that they are under a lot of pressure and that they are not taking it out on you.  Just don't take it to heart and remember that you need this job for the money.  Another thing is, don't think about work when you are not working.  

Answer 5

First of all, be encouraged that you know what you have to do--leave. You cannot thrive in such a negative atmosphere.  Try to keep perspective when you feel overwhelmed or tempted to be negative: this too shall pass.  You will leave, and these people will stay stuck in this place--too bad for them, but not for you.

I was a job placement counselor for many years so some things I may be able to give you a hint about.  It is good that you are using the web to post a resume, these sources do come through for people.  

A very good way to find a job is by knowing someone, which is not always easy, but I am just suggesting that just in case you know someone even in a church or through a friend who is aware of an open position somewhere that might fit you...Think about everyone you know, pastors, friends, people you have worked with at other places in the past, etc.

Another good thing you have going for you is that you have vocational focus--that is, you know what your ultimate job goal is, it is to teach. Now you must take steps to get there.  I suggest you think about this:  since you need money for school, look at all the college/university settings you can, view their job pages (they are all online now), because they have administrative jobs in abundance, and many times colleges offer tuition assistance as a benefit.  So you could be working on your teaching degree while you work at a college, taking courses there, on the same campus where your job is, to make it less stressful to commute from a job to a school setting.  

If I knew more about you I might be able to make some more suggestions about approaching getting your college degree to teach.  I don't know what your current financial requirements are and I don't know how far you did get in school, what your grades were, and what your grade point average was in school, what subject you want to teach and to what grade etc., so I can't advise you too well about whether or not it would make sense for you to just stop working, take loans and finish your degree as quickly as you can.  If that is not possible, then get as close to the college environment as you can by looking for employment at a college where you can get decent tuition assistance.  Another employer that often offers tuition assistance is hospitals.  Check out your local hospitals as potential employers after you have checked out the educational institutions, that is, community colleges, college or university.

Also meet with at least one financial aid advisor at a local college and find out what the current guidelines are to receive federal financial aid for a college degree.  These are called Pell grants.  Also private and public colleges have scholarship money available.  Make sure that you go to a college that participates in the federal financial aid system!!!!! I cannot emphasize this more strongly.  You must, not only to get aid but to be sure that your courses will have the accreditation to get yourself certified to teach.

I don't know where you live, but since you know what your job goal is, meet with your local school board of education---find out if they have recruitment programs available for new teachers.  Google for those too, a lot of states are actively recruiting new teachers and offering incentives to get good teachers, even from other fields.

Another idea is, and the reason I mention this is to explore the possibility of you getting both financial and job placement help, I don't mean to sound like a vulture, but if you have a disability that has prevented you from succeeding in your current line of work, either physical or psychiatric, then you might qualify for help from your state vocational rehabilitation program.  In most states it is called "DVR" (Division of Vocational Rehabilitation) or "DORS" (Division of Rehabilitation Services), something like that.  These offices are in every county in every state of the union. If you can't find the number you should be able to find a webpage with info, or call your state governor's office and ask--they will be able to tell you.  I always let people know about the program and ask them to consider whether or not disability is hampering vocational progress.  

If I were you I would find some way to get scholarship money, take loans or both, quit working for a little while, and get the degree done.  But if that is not feasible, then get a job working where tuition benefits are available.

A good thing about your situation is that since your focus is looking for tuition benefits, you don't have to worry about (at this point anyway) staying in your current field and getting a salary increase next time.  The tuition benefit is what you need, and since you know your next job would be just long enough to get you through college, hopefully you can get a job that meets your financial requirements, offers tuition benefits, and doesn't stress you out too much.  

All I can tell you is that there is help for you out there and there is a way for you to acheive your job goal.  Teaching is a noble profession and a much needed one.  Try to remember that when you are at work feeling negative.  It's just not worth it for you to let it get to you.  Disengage inside from it all.  (And start working on a list of people you can get letters of reference from if possible, but at least people who you would put down as references...if possible...I know it's not always easy....)  You have a great dream, and it has been acheived by many.  Look around and find what you need and go for it--don't let the negative idiots get you down!  Good luck!

How do you deal with difficult attorneys?  I bet you do a better job than you think.  Increasing communication usually helps, asking a question at the end of each week like, "Is there anything you need me to prioritize before the week comes to a close, or for next week?"  Take the initiative, start organizing, be proactive so they don't get you stuck in a dynamic of smoldering silence.  And if you have a really fussy one, just say to yourself, now just how smart would I be if I let this ridiculous person mess up my life?  If you are lucky enough to have one with a sense of humor, tell him, 'there's gotta be laws against bosses like you, right?' ha ha

And avoid power struggles at all costs.  Remember, you are above it all, and you will be leaving.  What a relief!  Enjoy it already.  You can do your work starting tomorrow feeling that a lot of that pressurecooker feeling has been reduced.  So what? Who cares?  Don't blow it, but take some breaths, smile to yourself, and let it all become strength building for you.  You go girl!  Your gonna be a great teacher!

Answer 6

I've been in that situation too - it sucks!

1) You need to leave your current job first to improve your state of mind.

2) To do that, you need a killer CV. Consider professional help. If not, use online resources.  This site is very good:http://content.mycareer.com.au/advice-re...

3) Apply for jobs selectively. Match your CV to the job for which you are applying. Address key selection criteria religiously. Look for jobs in companies where you know someone already if you can.

4) Start thinking positively about you and your skills. Don't focus on the negatives about where you are, but look inward and smile at who you are and how good your life will be when you leave. Employers want a *positive* employee, and if your face and scenarios all talk of negativity, they will run a mile - don't have a single negative word in your CV, or in the scenarios you practise for your interviews.

5) Then start thinking of the future, school and how great it will be.

GOOD LUCK!

Oh, no idea on attorneys, maybe some law-types can help out there! But it won't feel so bad when you know you're leaving.