Sick of job hunting

M

mtouhey

Guest
I've been working in the legal sector for over 10 years, but last summer decided due to various circumstances to get out of my particular line of work, but remain within the legal sector. I've been considering training as a solicitor (see previous post), but am having desperate trouble getting any kind of permanent secretarial/admin post. I'm finding it easy enough getting temp work and have been getting good experience. I finished up a 5 months assignment and posted my cv on monster.ie about 7 weeks ago. I've had lots of interest from agencies (none directly from employers) but no job offers to date. Since last summer I've attended 11 interviews without any success. I've got the impression that some legal offices are just playing the jobs market, wasting the unfortunate jobseekers time. All the agencies I've been to have said I've a good cv and some have been giving good advice, but I just seem to have run out of luck. I've practiced interview techniques, read up on the various companies, etc.. but no joy. I'm smart, well educated, but I really don't want to spend the rest of my life as a temp secretary, I've got a good degree and I know I am capable of so much more.

Sorry to go on, has anyone else had this experience? I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts on job hunting these days!!!
 
The only suggestion I can offer is to get feedback on the interviews you have done to see is there anything specific you can do to improve your chances.
 
How about writing to the companies with whom you had the 11 interviews since last summer? Remind them that you met them before; tell them that since you met them your contract has finished, and you are again actively seeking employment. As a general piece of advice, try and maintain companies' interest in you - after an interview, write to them within 2-3 days thanking them for the opportunity to meet and reiterating your interest. If you get a PFO, write again and say that, though disappointed, you hope they'd hold your details on file for future vacancies.

Hope things pick up for you - it can be very demoralising.
 
Thanks, most of the jobs I've interviewed for are through agencies. The kind of feedback I got was, in one instance I was overqualified, another I was unsuitable for the position, two others were put on hold, another solicitor decided to put the job in the paper and look for a more junior person after interviewing the people the agencies sent him. In another case, the person said he wanted someone basically who wanted only to be a legal secretary and had no other ambitions to do anything else. I'm still waiting to hear back from 2 interviews I had last week, but I'm not too hopeful.

I feel that I've really tried hard. There are plenty of jobs out there, but it seems that employers are becoming choosier as well. Plus plenty of them like giving people the run-around! I'll be temping a year by the end of August, and the reason I feel so disillusioned is that I now feel all my education and hard work have come to nothing. I see people younger than me with less experience able to do things with their lives that I can't do. I've exhausted my savings at this stage and although I'm lucky to have a supportive husband, I just can't see things getting much better at this rate.
 
Maybe these firms want younger people - people in their early twenties (and are being ageist) It might not have anything to do with you or your skills.

What's wrong with temping anyway? There's no such thing as a job for life anymore, especially in the private sector. I've never signed a contract for a permanent position and I'm well into my thirties.

Why not continue temping to fund your solicitor training, and then open up your own practice? (or am I missing something)
 
Hi

Sounds like you're over qualified for what you're applying to do. It can be very hard to get employers to see you as a good fit for the job because of this.

You need to manage your image a bit more - 'brand' yourself if I can borrow that term.

You can apply for a job which is seen as a little more responsible that employers wouldn't hire someone junior for (have no knowledge with legal sector I'm afraid), and possibly combine that with adjusting your CV to make it appear less impressive? How to do that is anyone's guess - but I'm sure you have some lee way with how you describe previous job titles/roles etc. Basically, most people oversell themselves on their CVs to look as impressive as possible. This mightn't be helping you.
 
I am currently getting ready to start my career as a trainee solicitor ( just finished entrance exams and looking for apprenticeship) and I think I may see a possible reason for you plight.....

When solicitors go to recreuitment agencies for secretaries , they want just that, secretaries. They want reliable & permanent support staff. At the moment ( in my experience ) its extrmemly difficult to find a training contract and firms are being inundated with on spec applications, cold callers & in office visits. I work in a VERY small firm and I have witnessed alll of these.

When you go to these interviews your ambition is being picked up on and recognised. They know you want more than is on offer, and perhaps even think you may become disgruntled if , after a time , they don't open that door for you to train as a solicitor.

Im only beginning myself and this seems very apparent in my limited experience of the legal profession. Its not the same as other fields,

Best of luck
 
I know exactly how you feel. I have Corporate Law and LLB degrees and having passed FE-1 exams I am finding it impossible to secure an apprenticeship. I am willing to finance the PPC courses myself and so far I haven't got past the reception desk of any law practices. I have e-mailed what seems like every solicitor in the country and have recieved nada! As SNB said above firms are being inundated with on spec applications, cold callers & in office visits. But unless you have a contact in this sector (and it seems to be who you know in the legal profession) what are the alternatives? I don't think solicitors are getting a bad deal - the wage of an apprentice is likely to be less than that of the office junior. I despair!!!
 
My situation is much the same as yours, Sheena . Just got word of all 8 exams but stopped searching for an appreticeship 3months ago, through what you said--Despair.

Ive just secured a pretty exciting job in a floated company & I am taking the year to assess my options on the old apprenticeship front. I am a firm believr in whats for you won't pass you and i think that that is applicable to you & the OP. Have you registered with the Law Society ? A few friends have gotten appreticeships that way & keep an eye on Law Gazette recruitment section which can also be accessed on the Law Society website. have seen some vacancies in the classifieds of national press!
 
As somebody who currently works in secretarial/admin roles I have to be brutally honest with you - I've never been longer than 3 months without a full time role. From speaking to recruitment agencies, firms are crying out for skilled and experienced secretaries & PAs. Would widenin the scope of your search be an option for you?
 
I work as a legal secretary. I found that by temping in some of the bigger firms you ALWAYS get offered a permanent job if you get a foot in the door. If I were you I would take a temp job 'with a view to permanent' type of thing, they can see you are good rather than having to take your word for it in an interview.
 
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