The most common reason legal support staff quit their job? A poor fit with a manager or supervisor.
If you’re currently working for a “bad boss,” it’s tempting to take any job offered. Even a mediocre boss can sound much better than the manager or supervisor you currently have.
Settling for any new job, however, can put you right back where you started. Your new boss could be as problematic as your previous boss. Or you could find yourself in a law firm or legal department where you don’t mesh well with your co-workers, you’re not inspired by the work, and your career flounders.
Instead of seeking just any job, take the opportunity to ensure you’re moving your career in the right direction. Here’s how:
Clarify why you’re leaving – and why you’d otherwise want to stay.
Take some time to think about what parts of your current job have become disillusioning or intolerable, and which parts you still love. Make a list of the things you’d like to reproduce in your next job and make a second list of the things you’d like to leave behind.
Then, think big. On your list of features, add things you’d like to keep from this job and you want in your dream job. What would the ideal position look like? If you could demand any change in your current job and keep it, what would you ask for?
Reframe the narrative.
During your job search, you’ll likely be asked why you’re seeking a new position. Think about the skills you’re using to address the current problems with your job or supervisor and the results of those skills. For instance, perhaps you’ve tried to communicate about the problems and practiced patience, only to see promised changes fail to materialize. Build these features into a story that demonstrates your strengths and how you deal with challenges.
The most important step? Work with a recruiter.
Recruiting firms specialize in helping the professionals they serve find the right employers to help them thrive. The more information you can give your recruiter about the right (and wrong) workplace for you, the easier it will be for them to find a new job in which you can thrive. Not only do they have crucial market and industry knowledge that could be beneficial in your career, they have key connections to help you find a position with the area’s top employers.
At Kent Legal, our recruiting partners specialize in connecting legal support professionals to the right jobs and employers in the greater Toronto area. Contact us today to learn more.