7 Tips to Find the Job You Love

When considering a career move, start by looking in the mirror. Reflect on what drives you, your strengths and areas for improvement. What did you love about your past roles? What did you dread? Use these insights to steer your career towards work that’s in keeping with your interests and abilities. Setting specific career milestones, such as achieving legal certifications or mastering new eDiscovery software, and other legal tech platforms, can provide direction and focus.

Reach out to mentors, coworkers and professional peers for their advice and insight. You'd be surprised how networking can open job opportunities you might not find on your own, paving the way to your desired role. And remember, in-person networking is a skill you can develop. Craft and practice using a short (30-seconds is about right) spiel highlighting your skills, interests and experiences. This is especially handy for industry conferences or social events, and it's a lifesaver if you're more introverted or easily tongue-tied. Practice making it sound natural – while it’s important to memorize it, you don’t want your delivery to sound robotic. With some preparation, you can turn brief encounters into meaningful connections.

With the legal industry constantly evolving due to new legislation, regulations and tech innovations, committing to lifelong learning is crucial. Consider venturing into new legal specialties if opportunities seem scarce in your current area; the skills and knowledge you've honed may apply in other areas of the law. Target your learning — whether through specialized courses, webinars or workshops — toward areas of the law that are undergoing significant changes or are poised for future growth. For instance, as data privacy laws become more prominent by state, seek a course offering the latest insights and legal frameworks in this domain.

The journey to finding your ideal job can feel daunting. Collaborating with a talent solutions firm that specializes in the legal field can lighten the load. These experts offer a wealth of resources, from access to exclusive job openings to invaluable market insights and personalized job search support.

Job searching can sometimes feel like a relentless whirl of updating resumes, filling out applications and attending interviews and callbacks. Step back and disconnect from these activities periodically. Taking a break doesn't have to involve a vacation. More likely, it's about momentarily shifting your focus away from the job hunt to engage in a different project or rejuvenating activity.

In today's ultra-connected world, what you put online can really make a difference in your job hunt. Ensure your social media profiles portray a professional and updated image. Contribute to online legal forums or publish articles on current legal issues on platforms like LinkedIn. This showcases your expertise and demonstrates your engagement with the legal community and current trends, making you more attractive to potential employers.

While loving your job is not something everyone will be able to do, you’re more likely to succeed if you’re able to identify what types of cases or projects have been most satisfying in your career thus far. And, if you aren’t afraid of branching out into new areas that could make sense for you, you may discover a role that fits like a glove professionally and brings joy to your life.