Are you a Lawyer considering a career move? Are you looking for a new challenge, a change of environment or a higher salary.
Our helpful guide will give you an overview of where to start and the factors to take into account when considering a career move.
Why are You Moving?
Making a career move is, undoubtedly, a big decision. It is important to have a clear understanding of why you are interested in pursuing new opportunities and what are the important factors for you in considering new opportunities. Reasons for moving can vary from exposure to interesting and varied work streams, salary and benefits, progression opportunities, current team dynamics and work life balance.
It is important to have a clear idea of what is important to you so that you can focus your search on the right opportunities and not waste time exploring opportunities which ultimately do not fit your career goals.
Select a Trusted Recruiter
Searching for a new position can be a time-consuming process and one that can be difficult to manage while juggling the demands of your current position.
Working with a specialist legal recruiter can be invaluable in giving you not only an overview of the opportunities on the market but in also giving you an insight into the firm, team and culture of the positions you are considering. Open and honest communication is critical and by working closely with your recruitment partner they will be able to guide you throughout the recruitment process from selecting the most appropriate positions, advice on market salaries, preparation for interview and negotiation of offer.
CV
A clear and concise CV which is targeted to the position you are interested in is imperative. Your CV should be well structured and give a full account of your experience and education. A short profile at the beginning of your CV which gives an overview of your experience, PQE and strengths is recommended. Your education and professional experience should be clearly stated with dates included. Always put your most recent position first and include your title and team e.g., Associate, Commercial Banking. Your experience should be presented in bullet point format, and it is best to avoid too much formatting or the use of colour in your CV. Any notable achievements such as awards, scholarships or publications should be included.
LinkedIn is a vital tool used by recruiters so ensuring you that your profile is up to date and gives a clear indication of your skills and experience is important to improve your visibility for potential new roles. It is important to ensure that you have clearly noted your position and your legal specialism. This will ensure that you are not only contacted about the most relevant positions but that your time is not wasted with messages about roles that are not of interest. Activating the open to opportunities button on your LinkedIn profile will also ensure that recruiters know that you are actively looking for a new position.
Interview
Interview preparation is essential, it will not only allow you to give the best impression to the interview panel but also give you the opportunity to get as much information as you need in order to make your decision. Researching who you are meeting and having a strong understanding of the role and what is expected in the position is vital. Make sure that you have questions prepared so that you come out of the interview with a strong sense of whether the position is the right one for you.
Offer
Being clear from the outset with the recruitment consultant you are working with on your current salary and your salary expectations will avoid any unwelcome surprises and receiving an offer below your salary expectation. Counter offers from existing employers are prevalent on the marketplace, always keep in mind why you were looking for a new position in the first place and consider if in 6/12 months’ time you will be back in the same position and regret not having accepted a new position.
Acceptance
Once you have verbally accepted your new position, you will receive a full employment contract. Upon signing and returning the contract, it is time to hand in your notice and agree your start date with your new employer. Your new employer will forward all onboarding and compliance documentation for you to complete, and it is time to look forward to starting in your new role.
