Inhouse, Resume

Resume Refresh Part 1: Resume Words to Avoid vs Words to Use 

  • On August 13, 2023
I read with interest this post on CNBC by a career coach on the two words to avoid on your resume “at all costs.” What are they? “Responsible for.” OK those words are not ideal, but worse in my book are “handled,” “participated,” or “involved.” (Talk about vague and weak!) The point is you should […]
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Change, Job Search, Resume

Laid Off? What to Do with Your Resume

  • On November 20, 2022
I appreciated this timely LinkedIn article on crafting your resume post-layoff. These points directly apply to lawyers: Think about what job you want next. Take a little time “to reassess your career and determine what direction you’d like to go in.” Also, process any bitterness so there is no trace of it when you start interviewing. (Employers […]
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Resume

Is This True: 5 Things that Should Never Be on Your Resume?

  • On July 24, 2022
I take giving legal professionals good career advice very seriously. So I am reading clickbait like “I’ve helped people land jobs at Google and Facebook—here are 5 things I never want to see on your resume” so you don’t have to. Let’s go through the list and see if the advice holds true in the […]
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Resume

NYT’s Resume Tips: Are They Any Good?

  • On June 20, 2021
I read with interest the New York Times’ resume tips. What applies to lawyers, and what doesn’t? Yes, tailor your resume to the job. My March 7 post  covers ways to do that for lawyers. Yes, use the same keywords in the job post. And yes use the most relevant keywords in the jobs at the top. If you […]
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Resume

7 Things Executive Resumes Do (& Your Resume Should Too!)

  • On May 14, 2021
Professional executive resume writer Adrienne Tom’s “7 Secrets of Executive Resumes” apply directly to lawyers! Sometimes resume experts don’t understand the legal field and offer up inapplicable advice, like always list an objective or include all your technical skills/languages for a robot to parse. Instead, these seven tips are all high-level and high-impact, which is […]
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Career Tips, LinkedIn, Resume

3 Basic Things to Do For Your Career

  • On March 29, 2021
You may be happy at your job and not looking to change. But here are the three minimum things you should always do for your career. LinkedIn presence. Put up a picture, describe your job, and list your key skills. Even if you are not on the job market, you should have a digital presence. […]
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Resume

5 Ways to Customize Your Resume to the Job

  • On March 7, 2021
One of the most important things to do when job searching is tailoring your resume to the job. I say that all the time, but what do I mean by that? Five ways to customize your resume to the opportunity: Do NOT lay out your resume with what you do in the order you do […]
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Resume

Resume Tips that Do NOT Work for Lawyers

  • On February 28, 2021
I review a lot of legal resumes, and I forward the good ones to my clients, so I know what works and what doesn’t. I see a lot of tips that do not apply to lawyers. 5 tips not to follow: (Do not) put the job you want at the top of the resume. That’s […]
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Resume

Sample Business Resume: What Works & What to Tweak for Legal Jobs

  • On November 15, 2020
What should your resume look like? I’ve discussed the elements of a modern resume, but if you are a visual person, check out this post by CNBC, which includes a reasonable template. I like its font, spacing, use of bold/italics, and layout (neither too crammed or spread out), which highlights skills and progression. Things to copy […]
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