When you’re looking for a new legal support position, your local job ads might offer a place to start – but simply searching the ads isn’t enough. By marketing your skills and capabilities strategically, you build your professional reputation, opening new career opportunities. You also position yourself to find a recruiter who “fits” your needs and goals, improving the chances that the next career step you take will be the best one yet.
Choosing a Recruiter? Here’s How to Market Your Skills Effectively
If you’re choosing a recruiter or have just begun working with one, it’s time to practice marketing your career skills.
Why? Recruiters specialize in using information to build relationships. This means that the more they know about your skills, experience, and capabilities, they better they can match you to an employer who will both maximize the skills you have and help you extend them further. By knowing more about how you work, your recruiter can match you with an employer whose culture is similar, helping you thrive instead of merely survive.
Market your skills more effectively to your new recruiter by:
- Thinking about your past or current job. What do you love about your current or most recent work? What do you like least about it? Where are your skills being used effectively, and where are they going to waste? The more insight you can provide, the more your recruiter can help.
- Providing a concise overview of your strengths. Your resume provides a look at your past work, established skills, and current capabilities. But if there are “gaps” where one of your skills isn’t fully represented, let your recruiter know.
- Join or stay active in professional groups, connect with fellow legal support staff on LinkedIn and other social media networks, and keep attending conferences and other professional events. Your recruiter can help you learn more about any job leads you find.
Stay on the Market While You’re Employed
Even if you’re currently employed, marketing your skills can be a valuable way to stay connected professionally, learn more about current topics in your field, and hear about new job opportunities. Here’s how:
- Don’t skimp on professional development. Consider going “above and beyond” the minimum requirements in a field that interests you, or branching out into a new area. Become the “resident expert” in your current job, and pretty soon your professional contacts will start recommending you to others in their networks as well.
- Stay in touch with your recruiter. Send a brief email or note to your recruiter a few times a year to provide updates. You’ll maintain a valuable professional contact and stay “top of mind” if an amazing job opportunity crosses your recruiter’s desk.
At Kent Legal, our reputable recruiters will help you market your career skills while still maintaining the confidentiality your job search requires. Contact us today to learn more.
