The Waiting Game: When & How to Follow Up on a Job Application

You found a job posting for the job of your dreams. You sent off your application ten days ago, and still haven't heard anything from the employer. Now what?

 As a general rule, large firms participating in on-campus recruitment ask candidates not to contact them during the application process because of the high volume of applications they receive. For all other job applications, always check the original job posting to see the employer's preferred method of communication before making contact. Some job postings clearly state "No phone calls or emails." If that is the case, then you are going to have to sit tight and wait until you hear from them. Other job postings may say, "No phone calls, email OK." Other employers may be open to having candidates call the office and will have the contact name and telephone number listed.

 When to Follow Up: If the posting does not say otherwise, it is fine to call or email the hiring contact two to three weeks after sending your application.

What to Say: When following up on a job application it is important to convey your continued interest in the position while not sounding too pushy. Begin the phone call by stating your name and the job you applied for, then let them know that you are still very interested in the position and ask them where they are in the hiring process. If the hiring contact tells you they will get back to you in two weeks and you do not hear from them after those two weeks, wait a few more days before following up with them for a second time.

Following Up After the Interview
At the end of an interview, always ask the interviewer when they expect to make their decision. Send a thank you note to the interviewer immediately after your interview to reiterate your interest in the position.  If you do not hear back from the employer after the stated deadline, give them a few more days before calling to check on your status and follow the same rules for calling as above.  

Unfortunately, not every employer will get back to you in a timely fashion and some may never get back to you at all. The best you can do as a job applicant is to let them know you are still very interested in the position and then wait patiently.

Frequently Asked Questions About the First Year Job Search

The following post is an updated version of our original posting on first year FAQs from 2008.

During our counseling appointments with first year students there are a few questions that inevitably come up. How do most students find jobs? When do most students find jobs? How important is it that I work this summer? Below are answers to those questions.

When do I need to start looking for summer employment?
Students should schedule an appointment with a career counselor as soon as possible to review their resume and go over their individual job search strategy and time line. In general, government and public interest internship deadlines usually fall in January, February and mid-March, at the latest. Mid-sized and small firms usually hire on an as-needed basis and many small law firms do not begin to think about their summer needs until much later in the spring semester.

When do most students find their jobs? When should I start panicking?
There is no single time of year when most 1Ls find their jobs. Some students know where they will be working by February while others won't find something until April. Small firms will continue to look for summer law clerks throughout the late spring. So, even if you have not found a job by the end of April, know that there are still employers out there looking for summer help.

What if I want to do a study abroad program instead?
If you decide to participate in a study abroad program, plan on finding a volunteer or internship opportunity for when you return. Many of the study abroad programs end in the early summer, so you still have the rest of the summer to gain legal experience.

I just received my grade from Torts. Should I list my current GPA on my resume?
No. It is misleading to list your GPA from only one grade. Once you have received all of your grades at the end of the academic year, list your GPA on your resume if it is a 3.0 or above. If an employer wants to see your current grades, let them know that you have just one grade so far and give them a copy of your unofficial transcript.

Is it true that the job you get for your second year summer determines what you will be doing after graduation?
Not necessarily. Large firms usually give their summer associates offers for post-graduate positions at the end of the second year summer, however those firms only make up 10% of the legal employers out there.

Will I limit my career options if I work in a practice area I am not sure I want practice after graduation?
No. All legal experience is valuable and many the of skills you gain in one practice area are skills that can be applied in another (i.e. research & writing, interpersonal skills, etc.)

I have been offered a job for the summer but it is unpaid. How do I find funding?
There are a number of resources for students seeking funding for an unpaid summer internship. Eligible students may be able to receive Federal Work Study for work with a non-profit or for-profit organization. Students working for a public interest organization during the summer should also visit the Summer Funding Resources page on PSLawNet for a comprehensive list of grants available.

Can I receive credit for an unpaid summer internship?
No. Credit is available only for work placements done through the school's clinical program during the academic year.

How do most students find their jobs?
To find a summer job, you will need to do more than just apply to jobs that are posted. According to the 2009 Summer Employment Survey, 31% of the 255 students who responded found their job through the CSO Job Postings while 35% found their jobs through networking, self-initiated contact, or through a referral by a friend, family member or colleague.

Remember, that the first step to the first year job search is meeting with a counselor in the Career Services Office. If you have not already done so, call 617-422-7229 to schedule an appointment with a counselor.

Using the USAJobs Website

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has redesigned the federal job posting website, USAJobs.gov, in the hopes of making the site more user-friendly. Changes to the site include more flexibility in refining job search results and updates on the status of a candidate's application. There is also a new search page for student job seekers.

Graduates and students interested in post-graduate employment with the US government should always use USAJobs to find opportunities. To find law related positions, begin with an advanced search and search by series number. The GS-09 series includes all general legal positions including General Attorney (GS-0905), Employee Benefits Law (GS-0958), and Tax Law Specialist (GS-0987). However, candidates should not limit themselves to the general legal series listings when searching for attorney and JD-preferred positions. The GS-12 series includes attorney work in the copyright, patent, and trademark field; and the GS-18 series lists positions in investigation such as FBI Special Agents (GS-1811). A complete list of federal occupation groups by number is available in the USAJobs Info Center.

For a tutorial on how to search and apply for positions on USAJobs visit the site's Info Center and click on "Using USAJobs".

For further reading:
OPM relaunches revamped USAJobs.gov Government Executive
USAJobs.gov Tips Making the Difference
2009-2010 Federal Legal Opportunities Guide

Politics and Your Resume

In a recent letter to the Ethicist in the New York Times, a hiring attorney asked if it was ethical to reject law student internship applications based solely on their membership to the Federalist Society. While the columnist responded that it is not ethical to reject a job candidate based solely on their politics, the attorney ultimately decided to remove the Federalist Society members from the pool of equally qualified job seekers. Organizations such as the Federalist Society, the National Lawyer's Guild, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) can cause extreme reactions in people. Hiring organizations may also judge a job seeker if they worked for a particular candidate on a political campaign. While one hopes that most employers would not reject a candidate based solely on politics, job seekers should always remember that there is that possibility when listing a political affiliation or membership to a potentially divisive organization on their resume.

The decision to include or omit certain political activities from a resume is ultimately up to the job seeker and there are valid arguments to each side. Many candidates decide to keep their political affiliations on their resume because they either prefer to work for an organization that supports their beliefs or would rather work for an employer that would not judge employees based on politics. Others decide to remove any hint of politics from their application because they would prefer politics not distract the employer from their other experience and skills. When deciding how to proceed, all candidates should ask themselves one question: Would I be comfortable discussing this activity during an interview? If you decide to include memberships to controversial organizations on your resume, be prepared for the possibility of having your beliefs challenged during an interview. If you are not comfortable discussing politics during a job interview, you may want to remove any political activities from your resume.

For further reading:
"How Public Should Your Politics Be?" Student Lawyer. February 2009, Vol. 37, No. 6
"The Ethicist: Taking on Unlikables." New York Times. 4 December. 2009
"Hiring Lawyer Rejects Federalist Society Members - and Columnist's Advice." ABA Journal. 7 December. 2009

New PSLawNet Blog

PSLawNet, the on-line resource for public service legal careers, has a new blog for public interest-minded law students and attorneys. Blog topics will include legal news concerning the public interest job market, guest columns, and updates on resources for job seekers. Current blog posts include:

- Dealing with the Debt Burden as a Public Interest Law Student
- How to Prep for "Stress Interviews"
- 5 New Year's Resolutions for your 2010 Summer Job Search

Subscribe to the PSLawNet Blog RSS feed to stay up to date on the latest developments within the public interest community and to gain useful job search advice for a career in public service.

Thank You Notes

Our office receives many questions about sending thank you notes after an interview. Is it always necessary to send one? Can it be sent via email? What do you say? As a general rule, you should always send a thank you note within 24 hours of an interview.

What To Send
Use a nice, conservative, blank card found in most stationery stores (see an example here.) A handwritten note is ideal, however, if your handwriting is truly indecipherable, a printed card is fine. Sending an actual thank you card is best, but email is fine if you are short on time.

Who To Send It To
Send a thank you to everyone you met with. If you interviewed with a panel of attorneys, send a note to each panelist. You should receive a business card from each of your interviewers for this purpose. If you don't have a business card and have forgotten the names of your interviewers you can do one of three things:
1. If the interview was on-campus or through a job fair, contact the Career Services Office for the interviewers' names.
2. Look at the attorney profiles on the firm's website in hopes that the names/faces will jog your memory.
3. Call the firm and ask the receptionist. It is better to call and ask than to not send a thank you note at all!

What To Say
Use your note to thank the interviewer for their time and reiterating your interest in the position. Also refer to at least one thing the interviewer said about the organization that was of particular interest to you. You can personalize your note further by talking about any mutual interests you may have.

Example:
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me regarding the[position name] position with [firm/organization name].
I was extremely impressed by your description of the firm’s family law practice and enjoyed our conversation concerning spouse abuse in conjunction with child custody. Having met with you, I am even more enthusiastic about joining [firm/organization name] as a [position name].

Proofread, Proofread, Proofread!
Don't lose out on an opportunity because you have spelled the interviewer's name wrong! Your thank you note is another example of your writing skills. Double check your note for grammar, spelling, and typos as you would for anything else you are sending to a potential employer.

For further reading:
Thank You Letters, Career Services Office Handbook

Walton, Kimm Alayne. "Interviewing: The Secrets That Turn Interviews Into Offers." Guerrilla Tactics for Getting the Legal Job of Your Dreams. Harcourt Brace. 1995 (Available in the CSO.)

Coping Mechanisms for Dealing with the Stress Caused by Joblessness, Layoff (or the Prospect of Either)

Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (LCL) has posted a four-part series on their blog on how to deal with stress caused by job loss. The series covers three helpful steps towards coping with stress: shifting one's perception, using time to your advantage, and accepting help, giving help.

LCL is the sole lawyer assistance program in Massachusetts exclusively dedicated to helping with the many personal and professional issues of life in the law. Since 1978, they have been the only confidential counseling and referral resource for Massachusetts law students, lawyers and judges and their families.

Currently, the organization has created a Layoff Support Group which meets twice monthly at LCL and has speakers on a host of career development topics which range from networking and refining your resume, to putting together a career development plan and improving your marketability. Like everything else at LCL, it’s free and confidential.

For further reading:
Coping Mechanisms for Dealing with Stress in the Wake, or in Fear, of Job Loss (4-Part Series)

Lawyer Assistance Programs Outside of Massachusetts