Thursday, July 2, 2009
So there is this girl who just completed the paralegal program with me, not two weeks out of school was offered 44k which she turned down cuz she said it wasn't enough money. she has two other interviews lined up and is currently making 40 bucks an hour doing legal work on the side. How do some people have these kind of things fall in their lap???
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She worked for it...
ReplyDeleteIt's a hustle.
Maybe you need to kick your game up?
respect
NO, she has the ever elusive hook up. a whole family of law practitioners.
ReplyDeleteNo joke, some people get all the luck.
ReplyDeleteBut $44K isn't a ton of money for a paralegal. You'll probably make at least that.
well, for no experience, boutique firm with only 3 lawyers, it ain't nothing to sneeze at.
ReplyDeleteI make more than that sitting on My ass waiting for work...lol
ReplyDeleteI got some folks who are paralegals and it is a hustle and although she may have a hookup, it's not alot of money and who's to say they would not want you if you applied too?
Don't hate the player...
It's law!
respect
I am not hating, just in wonderment.
ReplyDeletesounds like she's out there beating the pavement... and she may have made some connections via networking... you need to ask her about that job she turned down, and send in your resume!
ReplyDeletei agree with whodathunkit Lisa! i know you are trying your best, but it's time to step up your game, Taylor will be here before you know it...
ReplyDeletei would also ask her if she had any suggestions... she may be willing to introduce you to some of her connections... i know you don't like asking because it appears as begging, but you have to get over that...
ReplyDeleteI did Teal, she did what I am now noticing that most people do and that is keeping quiet about it, vague answers, blowing it over like no big deal, yanno how some people do or react when someone approaches them about such things.
ReplyDeletelet her inspire you!
ReplyDeleteshe knows people, I am not denying her that, but someone she knows who knows like over 200 attorneys sent her resume out to about 100 attorneys. and yes, I asked if she would ask her to do the same for me or better if I can talk to her contact herself. and that too was a negative. lolol
ReplyDeleteinspire me to do what??? have someone send my resume out for me???
ReplyDeleteinspire you to spend every free minute and waking hour to find a job in the field that you've been busting your ass in school for...
ReplyDeleteand use your connections... and yes, you have connections! the professors are your connections, your regular customers at TJ Maxx are your connections... google the firms in Chicago both small and large, go to their websites and see who is hiring, and if they aren't hiring send them your resume anyway...
ReplyDeleteHold up!
ReplyDeleteyou is a trained investigator!
Investigate them vague answers and get some damn clues?
What did you go to school to be?
I got a babies mother who is a para legal for some big clients now and a baby sister that is one of the youngest judges in Ga. as well as a friend who just graduated as a paralegal and passed the damn bar and is not a lawyer.
If you can't find no job then you waisting your money and your time.
I'm just saying...lol
respect
also, maybe you will have to get in the door as a receptionist... start applying for EVERYTHING, rather you qualify or not! that's how i got my job...
ReplyDeleteas my girlfriend would say, you gotta be HUNGRY...
Lisa, in all seriousness, it's a mindset...
this is being said out of love, but you already know this...
I don't luv ya and I thank ya scuured...lol
ReplyDeleterespect
also, start looking out of state... hell maybe it's time to leave... if you're still considering moving to the DC area, start looking in this area... and lastly, join the paralegal association...
ReplyDeleteits all about who you know
ReplyDeletedo some for real for real networking
yeah, 3rd party favors are hard to get
ReplyDeleteshe can't go asking them to do that again
do you know anyone, customers, church members, family friends or anyone in law who has an inside hookup
It's a hustle and not a job...
ReplyDeleteI hear there's gubbament work with a para legal degree for the taking if you apply...
respect
my suggestion.... go to each and every website on this list, see who is hiring and send your resume... rather it's a receptionist, secretary, paralegal, whatever... just send it!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hg.org/lawfirms/USA-/Chicago.html
http://www.hg.org/law-jobs.asp
I think Imma do the mail route on that one.
ReplyDeletewhat does that mean? snail mail? don't do that! for every email you mail, they would've received 20+ emailed resumes...
ReplyDeleteok, i'mma leave you alone! lol
but really i'mma look for my phone and call your ass...
still ain't found that phone eh??? LMAOOO
ReplyDeletedon't laugh! lol i'm thinkin it's in my bed and i'm up front...
ReplyDeleteAre you sure you a para legal cause everybody knows teal can't walk right now...lol
ReplyDeleterespect
I can hop!
ReplyDeleteNow what?
Lol
I would love to see your ass hop...lol
ReplyDelete*wicked grin*
respect
You are a mess! lol
ReplyDeleteA HOT MESS...
And you are a hopping hot mess who can't find her own phone!
ReplyDelete*sadistic grin*
respect
she can never find that phone. LMAO
ReplyDeleteBoth of you need to go to bed...
ReplyDeleteI'm grown and I can WALK to bed anytime I want...lol
ReplyDeleteAnd I know where My phone is too.
*evil stare*
respect
And now I know where my phone is... HA!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'll have you know that my "hop" is sexy...
hey you need to get in with her network some how as well...it is ALL about networking and she has a great network. apparently she knows she can be that choosy based upon who she knows, etc. but don't worry about HER, girl get in where you fit in so you can have a solid network....i remember we talked about that on one of your previous blogs months ago....work it girl!
ReplyDeletegotta love crazy but he is right about the fact that for what you do, you can easily make more doing it and you should get in that game and use her as a hook up as well...hell get into her network through her....build that professional connection.
ReplyDeleteAMEN!
ReplyDeleteDon't even think about her situation...
ReplyDeleteBecause when you have the "hook up" you can pick and choose....that is the beauty of the "hook up"
Just keep doing what you need to do...making money with the education you have!!!
you got to work her and build some kind of professional connection with her because she sounds like she is worth knowing and learning some things from to me. well get the rapport on that level built with her and you'll get more out of her....i'm sure you can.
ReplyDeleteSee....
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with this one...cause if ole' girl is smart...she MIGHT think that you're, I don't know using her...and the legal network in Chicago is VERY SMALL...and you KNOW I know that...and if she gets her defenses up because she feels as though you coming at her for the WRONG reasons...than she can start dropping negative nuggets all OVA THE PLACE!!!
But that's just my take on the situation...
If you want to be friends with her for the sake of being a friend...I would do that...I WOULD NEVA MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT WORK OR LOOKING FOR WORK WHILE I'M DOING IT!!! And I would just keep plugging away at the situation...if she's a good person she'll OFFER to help you...
But that's just my take on the situation...
do people accept paper resumes anymore
ReplyDeleteNo!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105483848&sc=nl&cc=es-20090628
ReplyDeleteI know ur a single working parent and student so u prolly havent had time to do a lot of face to face networking.
ReplyDeleteAre u in any organizations? Are you on Linked In? Do you have a professional Facebook page. Do you have business cards?
You definitely need a strong online presence. And do a lot of "personal branding",make yourself look as professional and competent as possible.
LOVE this piece of advice because it is SO on point.
ReplyDeletewell no matter what, it works and by building a rapport, you establish a professional relationship with someone who you BOTH help one another out...networking is not about just getting but establishing a symbiotic connection with someone...we all do it, if we're smart.
ReplyDeletei am the director of marketing at my job
ReplyDeletei have never taken so much as a single marketing class in my LIFE
my degree was COMPUTER SCIENCE
so u know, talk about applying for EVERYTHING
building a rappor isnt the same as pumping her for info
ReplyDeleteif they are already friends, they could go to networking events, professional organizations etc together
and be friendly and smile at EVERYONE, you never know...
BINGO! you have to know HOW to build relationships through networking...it is a skill and necessary. you have to start with people you know and who are doing what you wanna do, etc. she sees this chick in the same program who obviously has a network and it is smart to remain in a professional networking capacity with her....but the rapport needs to be built before a networking relationship is established. Lisa recognizes that much because she sees the chick is aware that she has a beneficial network for her but she has not established that rapport with her on that level yet.
ReplyDeleteit is all about who you know, and not in a BAD way. if you have skills, the more people who are aware of those skills the more there are to pass the word to someone who is looking for an employee
ReplyDeletewhen i go to events, just in the course of conversation i mention my job title, my degree and major,and get their info as well. its not pumping for info, just chat. but when either of us need something, we both can be like- wait, didnt she say she had a degree in this? wait, doesnt so and so work there?
and the number one thing they say is to TELL EVERYONE you know ur looking for a job, because u never know who they may be chatting with who will say (like in my case)"i need a website" and then someone will say "I know someone who makes websites"
ya'll have made me tiiiide! LOLOL
ReplyDeletedon't be tired my dear... be inspired!
ReplyDeleteamazing how many people have watched you over the years... how many people want to see you succeed...
if anything, let all this inspire you to push harder! it really does boil down to you...
we are simply cheering you along...
*hugs*
I guess what I am noticing with her and have run into while merely mentioning that I am a paralegal is that people don't always want to help you break in. This girl I am talking about, in so many words, without even saying it, she is saying she don't want to share her meal ticket. End of story. There won't be a way of fanangling my way into her network. To those attorneys that I know of, merely mentioning I am looking to be a paralegal I can see them locking themselves up like please don't ask me about who I know. I have called a few agency and the response has been the same, submit your resume online and we will call you, don't call us. I can hear that *tone* in their voice, the same tone I hear managers use when we get endless calls at work about the status of their application and I don't want to be that person bugging someone. They say persistence pays off, and I am being persistent, however I am not going to be pushy, that turns people off. There is a difference between being persistent and being pushy and I am trying not to cross that line.
ReplyDeleteThanks Teal.
ReplyDeleteWell, there is a difference between saying,"Have your friend do for me what she did for you", and getting to know them yourselves so you can establish a relationship with them. Its to much to ask someone for the hookup, but not to ask if she knows of anyone who may be hiring or of any friendly HR people etc.
ReplyDeleteWhen you speak to an attorney, all you have to do is say in passing "Cool, I'm a paralegal" and NEVER MENTION IT AGAIN UNLESS THEY ASK..
Learn how to bring it up naturally during the course of a conversation, and do not at all mention that you are looking for a job if the person is not one u trust. Just say,"Im a paralegal". IF they ask where u work, say that u dont yet.
BUT LEAVE IT.
After a while u learn how to say what u want in the conversation without it looking like ur pushing or fishing.
I will tell you what I would do right now if I got my training and paralegal work...
ReplyDeleteI would volunteer like a MUGG!!! I will see what non-profit entities I could align myself with in order to get some hands on experience and start building that networking situation...
Yes, it would mean that I would have to pay my bills doing something else...but I would keep my eyes on the prize...join organizations...market myself like I was Pepsi instead of Coke...and know that it is just a question of time...
all you are experiencing is what anyone without or who has yet to use their network experiences. it's really that simple because it is all about who knows you and can vouch for you at the end of the day.
ReplyDeleteEXCELLENT point here.....take that initiative and that will get you in with folks who can know you and refer you to people they know, etc.
ReplyDeleteget used to being frustrated but be prepared to be resilient and persitence because ultimately it does pay off...you can't just try and then stop....you have to keep trying and finding new ways to make it pay off.....it's called effort and hard work. you can't just earn a degree, diploma, certificate, skills and think that alone will get you what you want....doesn't really work like that but persist, persist, rebound and persist some more but while you do that learn the skill of networking.
ReplyDeleteMy sister started volunteering at LaRabida Hospital...and that led her to take over the asthma project...which got her Bachelor's and Master's coursework paid for by the University of Chicago...
ReplyDeleteI always advocate going the grass root route...and there's NO BETTER CITY TO DO THAT THAN CHICAGO!!! Look at what it did for our President...that's where he made his bones...
I'm just sayin'...
Stay in touch with people you like and respect even if they can't help you immediately. You don't want to go to someone only when you are desperate.
ReplyDeleteStep 2Talk to people you don't know everywhere you go. Cocktail parties and weddings are just the tip of the iceberg; don't forget about airplane rides, supermarket lines, sporting events, festivals, bookstores and so on.
Step 3Learn to ask "What do you do?" with comfort, sincerity and interest.
Step 4Become a better listener. Ask a question and then be quiet until you hear the answer.
Step 5Practice your own presentaton of your skills. Learn more than one approach, whether frank or subtle.
Step 6Keep a great updated brochure, business card or other form of information about yourself on you at all times. Get comfortable handing out your card.
Step 7Take classes to improve your public speaking, body language and writing skills.
Step 8Join every networking club and association in your field.
Step 9Follow up on any lead, no matter how minor.
and i bet he knew how to network and let folks know who he was, what he was about, what he wanted to accomplish, etc....in politics as in anything, who you know is a HUGE part of your success and growth because you have to have mentors, and others who respect and know something about you professionally to support your journey.
ReplyDeletemost of my jobs were obtained through networking.
you also gotta network because a lot of people do not advertise jobs...they fill their positions by referral....they believe the person vouching for the other, etc.
ReplyDeleteYup. Heck, lets go start a networking and schmoozing thread.
ReplyDeleteI started off doing volunteer stuff. Things that didn't relate to anything at all. Updating a website,making flyers etc. Even if I did it from home. My mother would be talking idly to someone and they would say they needed something and she would pass my number on. Because I selected the best organizations from the ones she passed on, I was able to go to a lot of major events as part of the "staff" and I did a lot of chitchat and had the chance to let more people know what I do.
"Why are you here"
"Oh, I do the website" and sometimes they would mention that they needed one or would later on would refer someone.
I did a LOT of free stuff but I was able to put some major players in this town on my resume and have a lot of people who could vouch for me.