How often do you forget to respond to emails? The subject is usually not interesting enough or there are many other, more important emails you have to respond to. So, who’s to say your emails aren’t receiving the same response, or lack thereof?

Whether you’re working to reach sources before a deadline, applying for a position, or merely trying to network, making your emails stand out is a top priority. Here are some tips on how to ensure your emails are not lost in the shuffle.

1. Start your email with a catchy phrase. These phrases may include something along the lines of “Good news!” or “I’ve completed this research for you.” If you start the email off with an attention grabber, your audience will be more likely to care about the remaining content of your email and more inclined to respond. Are you applying for a job and trying to stand out in the sea of applicants? The more personalized your email is, the more likely you are to grab your readers’ attention.
2. Summarize the message content in the subject line. Be as specific and concise as possible in your subject lines. Vague subjects are uninteresting and less likely to be opened. Subjects are especially important for chain emails–reduce the confusion by clarifying the new topic of each response. When applying for a specific position be straightforward in your subject line, e.g. “Mary Smith’s Application Materials for Associate Account Executive.”
3. Avoid trigger words. Mailchimp suggests avoiding these three words: “Help,” “Percent off” and “Reminder.” Though these words won’t necessarily trigger spam filters, they increase the probability that readers will ignore your emails because they are usually found in emails that are spam-related.
4. Write with your audience in mind. Start off your message by engaging your audience. You can do this by beginning with something like “You asked me to complete this task…” You should also complete the message with a “you” in mind. Engaging your reader by emphasizing the completion of their wishes will increase the likelihood of your audience taking your message into account.
5. Avoid repeating subject lines. According to Mailchimp, recipients are less likely to open subject lines that are repetitive of previously received emails. Whether you are sending out a listserv, event reminder or weekly update, try to be creative. This will get your emails noticed and help build a consistent reading audience.
6. Keep messages simple. Each message should have one main topic. If you are planning an event or coordinating a lunch, that should be the sole subject of the email. When too many topics are involved in a message, the reader becomes overwhelmed and may not take the time to deal with responding to various topics. This strategy is especially important for chain emails. When applying to jobs or internships, keep your message (in some cases this may be your cover letter) as straightforward as possible. Explain who you are, which position you’re applying for and how your experiences and skills can overall benefit the organization.

From promotional emails, to newsletters to logistical emails to job applications, email has become a part of young professional life that cannot be avoided. Wading through thousands of emails each day is a tedious task Millennials are all too familiar with. Standing out in the wave of all those unread messages can prove to be a difficult task, but by using these tips your emails will not be ignored.

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Natasha Paulmeno (@NatashaPaulmeno) is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends.

Natasha Paulmeno

Natasha Paulmeno is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends. Contact Natasha at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post The Capitalista’s Tips for Writing Kick-Ass Emails appeared first on Law Street.

Richie Frieman had some truly terrible experiences with his first boss out of undergrad. Lucky for you readers, he’s turned that professional trauma into actionable advice for the rest of us.

Frieman, the “Modern Manners Guy” and a University of Maryland alum, talked to his alma mater yesterday about business etiquette for young professionals. He paid particular attention to the terrifying metamorphosis from college student to working professional that all undergraduates fear. Aside from imparting practical tips about how to act and what to say at networking events, Frieman imparted some really important lessons for Millennials, and I want to share the best ones with you.

1. “How you treat people will get you farther than money, looks, or connections.” Every individual you meet will remember you for how you treated him or her. Frieman stressed the importance of being mannerly for the sake of leaving a good impression. Let’s say you meet someone at a professional function and only spend a few minutes — seconds even — conversing with them. What are the chances you’ll meet this person again? It’s impossible to say. But a few months later, you run into this person again. You could end up making a deal with him. That’s when you’ll be happy you were polite at that first encounter. “How you treat people will get you farther than money, looks, or connections,” Frieman said.
2. Maturity helps individuals stand out from the rest of the crowd. All young professionals are encouraged to attend as many networking events, career and internship fairs, and alumni gatherings as are available to them. Everyone attends these events for the same reason: to meet people. Depending on which stage you’re at in life, people will expect certain things from you. If you’re in college, they may have set expectations for you. Frieman said one way to impress these individuals is by talking the talk and walking the walk. If you’re at a networking event, don’t be shy. Introduce yourself, shake hands, talk to people, and connect. If you come across like you’re actually “part of the game” you will be recognized.
3. Observe each of these easy-to-follow tips when you’re actually at these events.

• Hold your food or drink in your left hand so you can shake with a dry right hand. No one wants a sloppy handshake. If you have sweaty hands, hold a napkin with your drink so you can quickly wipe your hand before the handshake. For guys, try to sneak your hand into your pants pocket and get a quick dry inside.
• Ditch your phone. If you sit in the corner Instagramming your latest selfie, you will appear to others as if you are not interested in the event. You will receive no benefits from staying on your phone and you won’t meet anyone that way.
• Be conversational! I’ve already given you some tips on small talk, and Frieman also stressed the importance. Prepare some talking points before the event, learn about companies, learn who works where and target them at events.
• Excessive eating and drinking is strictly prohibited. Light refreshments are served as snacks. Drinks are served for appearance. Nothing is a greater turnoff in a professional setting than the guy who got tipsy.
• If someone asks you if you know about his company and you don’t, be honest and be inquisitive People love talking about their businesses and this could fuel a great conversation.
• When you are handed a business card, use it as an invitation for a followup. If you do not follow up after being handed a business card, it gives the impression that you merely threw it in the trash. Make connections, you never know when they might help!

While implementing each of these tips, there is one overarching aspect every young professional should remember: “You have every right in the world to be in that room with every other single person, regardless of your age,” Frieman said. Do not become discouraged by your age or your experience. At networking events and professional conventions, everyone is there for a purpose. They want to meet new people, make connections, create new business ventures. Whatever your purpose is, know that you are not alone. At the end of the day this is your experience, do your best and make it whatever you want it to be.

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Natasha Paulmeno (@NatashaPaulmeno) is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends.

Natasha Paulmeno

Natasha Paulmeno is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends. Contact Natasha at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post This Will Get You Further Professionally Than Money, Looks, or Connections appeared first on Law Street.

If you’re in school and preparing to enter the job market, pounding the pavement in search of your big break, or working your way up the corporate ladder — so, basically anyone other than ladies who lunch — you’re probably swimming in unsolicited advice. Unfortunately, some of the classic job hunting tips are out of date. While some of the oldies are still goodies (a firm handshake, being on time, etc) many need a face lift. Here are some examples of classic career advice that you don’t have to take. In fact, you really should just leave these tips behind altogether:

Outdated Tip #1: Keep your resume to one page. I have to admit, I didn’t realize that this was no longer a rule until recently. I was having trouble keeping my resume to one page and then, upon some research, saw that more than one is no longer a faux pas. It makes sense that this rule has evolved. In today’s job market college graduates are taking more internships than ever before, and that bulks up a resume. It’s important to try to keep it concise and to use a bulleted, easy-to-read format rather than dense paragraphs.

Outdated Tip #2: Include an objective at the top of your resume. This is such good news! Personally, I find few things more stressful than writing an objective and catering it to each job. The objective is outdated. The company knows your objective is to get the job. They want to see why you’re a good fit. Skip right to the point — and save yourself that precious resume real estate.

Outdated Tip #3: Invest in good paper. Well, I never really knew that this was a rule to begin with…so I’m glad it’s not anymore. When was the last time you submitted a hard copy, anyway?

Outdated Tip #4: Use formal language. Your resume should obviously be professional, but it shouldn’t sound like you used a thesaurus. It’s your story. It should sound like you wrote it. A professional version of you, at least.

Outdated Tip #5: Include every job/internship. You’ve probably had a job that is completely irrelevant to your current career goals. Why clutter your resume with it? Include the jobs and internships that best highlight who you are as a candidate and why you would be perfect for the role. This is key to tailoring your resume to the job at hand.

Outdated Tip #6: Follow up with a phone call. I’ve written about a successful follow-up to an interview before. It’s totally OK (and recommended) that you check in. It shows interest and commitment. However, it’s old advice that a phone call is the way to do it. We’re in the age of email. Uninvited phone calls seem pushy and aggressive. Whoever you’re waiting to hear from would appreciate an email over a call that interrupts their day. So, put the phone down.

Happy hunting!

xo The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is a PR & Media Outreach Manager. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Six Outdated Job Hunting Tips to Ignore appeared first on Law Street.

Job hunting is hard. The resume that you spend so much time and energy perfecting will likely go largely unnoticed among the hundreds that employers receive for each position. Your cover letter might be scanned, at best. It’s essential to separate yourself from the crowd and an online portfolio is one major way to do just that. Below are the top seven reasons why having one is a crucial addition to your career search.

1. Increase your online presence: When an employer googles you, your online portfolio — complete with all of your professional achievements and work samples — will appear instantly, making you a more attractive candidate.

2. Display your versatile skill set: Set yourself apart from the masses by demonstrating your work and experience in a modern, relevant way.

3. Earn your interview: Applicants who go the extra mile to stand out are more likely to hear from employers in a competitive market. It’s nearly impossible to convey your personality in a standard resume, but an online portfolio brings you to life for hiring managers.

4. Show all of your work in a concise and organized fashion: Most companies require some demonstrated sample of your work prior to even inviting you in for an interview. You paste links or attach samples to your application, which inevitably get overlooked or lost in the shuffle. Job hunting is tough from the employer’s end as well. An online space where your work samples, resume, and contact information are organized, clear, and really pop will help keep you in the forefront of the employer’s mind, and help you brand yourself.

5. Demonstrate eagerness: Everyone has a resume. Everyone has probably polished it. Not everyone has taken the extra step of adding another level of professional depth to their pitch. It shows that you are eager to work, motivated to get the job, and would be someone who puts in the extra effort.

6. Showcase your talents on a platform that you create yourself: The portfolio is all about your ability to set yourself apart and get noticed by employers. There’s no better way to prove your skill set and tenacious work ethic than to provide it on a platform that you were creative enough to produce yourself — especially you aren’t even a graphic design mastermind.

7. Enhance your job search regardless of career path: You might think that having a portfolio would only really benefit someone hoping for a graphic design career but that’s not true. You can have this tool customized and tailored to your specific career goals, including writing samples, professional references, web development or design samples. The list is endless.

Convinced? Want one? Yeah? Yeah! We can help. There’s still time to participate in the Capitalista Contest. Click here for details!

Happy hunting!

xo

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Top 7 Reasons You Need an Online Portfolio appeared first on Law Street.

Let me guess. You’re just too good, right? Too passionate. Too focused. Too hard of a worker. Right. This is not what interviewers want to hear. Why? Because it’s bullshit. You know it. And they know it. How do they know? Because they probably answered the same way once upon a time. And they probably hated that question as much as you do.

Polishing a negative until it looks like a positive is widespread advice, but not really the best. It comes off as fake as it feels. When an interviewer hears, “My greatest weakness is being too dedicated to my job,” it immediately translates to, “I’m lying and just saying the easiest thing. It’s not honest. I’m not original.” Yikes. So what should you stay instead?

I’m not by any means advocating that you fill in a potential employer on your penchant for getting a little saucy at happy hour, or that you are a perpetual procrastinator. You know where the line is for what is appropriate to share. But you can and should be honest. There must be something you’re not that great at. If there isn’t, then you’d probably already be gainfully employed. Maybe you’re stuck on certain technology or have trouble with public speaking. An employer would much rather hear that you’re facing a real challenge. And then they want to hear what you’re doing to overcome it. Maybe you’re spending extra time studying that new software package, or you’re taking a class in public speaking. This is the time to share that. It’s ok not to be perfect, just be trying.

Anyway, you know what will impress in an interview? A customized online portfolio! It shows that you’re tech savvy, current, creative, and willing to go the extra mile. And guess what? We’ll make one for you — check out The Capitalista Contest if you haven’t already.

Happy hunting!

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post What’s Your Biggest Flaw? appeared first on Law Street.

My boyfriend and I have been binging on The Food Network lately. The show Restaurant: Impossible, to be exact. It’s amazing. The perfect combination of food and drama. Maybe it’s the fact that we’re both trying to be better about food (resolutions blah blah blah) or maybe we just get some ridiculous satisfaction out of watching a guy with a faux pretentious accent yell at people about garnishes. Whatev. It’s our thang. Don’t judge.

But in all seriousness, the show did get me thinking. For those of you who haven’t seen it, here’s a synopsis: Robert Irvine is the host and an executive chef who roams around the country saving restaurants that are about to shut down. It’s great. There are tears at the end. But anyway, I was really shocked at how some of these businesses were being run, and the reasons that the owners were finding themselves in this impossible (pun intended) situation. There was literally an Italian restaurant that ran out of pasta. There was another place that only served canned food. All of the owners were disgruntled and close to personal and financial ruin.

The restaurant biz aside, there are lessons to be learned here. I write about startups and going out on your own. I write about how many great kickstarter and crowdfunding opportunities there are now. But today we’re concentrating on the basics. You might have a great idea for a business, but there are things that you need to do before you turn this idea into a very expensive reality.

1. Mind your own business. You have to know your business before you start it. Not just your store, your website, your personal effort, but the ins and outs of the industry as a whole. How would you start a knitting store without knowing how other knitting stores function? Is there a place for you in the market? Is the market doing well for your industry? Are you taking a brave and awesome step, or setting yourself up to fail? Know these things.

2. Do you know what you’re doing? Beyond knowing about how other businesses with models like yours are doing, you have to know how to do the every day functions your company would require from you.

3. Your costs. One thing all the people on the show have in common is that no one has a handle on their finances. They all think that starting their business would help them save money…which is almost never the case, especially within the first few years. It’s true that it takes money to make money. Are you hiring employees? Do you need office supplies? Computers? Produce? Electricity? Whatever your business is, you’re going to need things. And these things cost money. Know your startup costs, how you’re covering them, and how you’re moving forward.

4. Your environment/clientele. Are you selling fishing gear in the middle of the desert? Think about your location, and whether or not your idea will fit. If it will be a struggle from the get-go, rethink. There are enough hardships within the first year that you don’t want to add more to your plate. Next, think of the best way to reach your clients. Who are they? What kind of promotional efforts will they respond to? You have to know who you’re marketing toward.

And if you do open a restaurant, make sure to do a good job because you don’t want this guy yelling at you, do you?

Robert Irvine, Restaurant Impossible host and bicep extraordinaire, courtesy of Loren Javier via Flickr.

Yeah, I didn’t think so.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Business: Impossible appeared first on Law Street.

Well, it seems like I’m just riding this New Year train for inspiration, huh? Last one, I promise! Just kidding…this is a two-parter. Tomorrow will be the last one…that I actually promise. One of the most trending stories on Yahoo! over the past week is the 2014 Horoscope. Below is the career advice Yahoo! gives for each sign and our take* on how you can translate that to your work life.

*I am not an astrologer. I don’t even read my horoscope on a weekly basis…so don’t go out and quit your jobs based on anything in this post. Thanks!

Aries

Yahoo’s Advice: If you’ve wanted to rework your image, mission statement or just reintroduce more creativity into your career, this is the year to do it, Aries! It’s time to bring more sweetness and beauty to your brand.

The Takeaway: Time for revamping yourself! Rework that resume. Update your LinkedIn. Build an online portfolio (better yet – participate in the Capitalista Contest and have us build one for you). Whether you’re switching careers or happy as a clam where you are, it’s never a bad idea to polish your image.

Taurus 

Yahoo’s Advice: 2014 starts off with Mars — the planet of drive and ambition — amping up your work zone. In fact, this aggressive planet will be running an unusually long stint in this part of your horoscope (six months to be exact). This gives you the entire first half of the year to apply your energies wholeheartedly to your work.

The Takeaway: Sounds like you have a busy six months ahead of you! Time to channel your inner Britney and work, bitch. I’m glad I’m an Aries and all I have to do is dust off the old resume. Hey, if you’re feeling extra ambitious use it while you have it. Apply for that out-of-reach job. Take a class or two. Learn a new skill. You know, work, bitch.

Gemini

Yahoo’s Advice: All work and no play was turning Gemini into one cranky camper last year. But not to worry, that level of burnout is so 2013. This doesn’t mean you’ll suddenly turn into a hedonistic slacker, but you will remember why you’ve been working so hard in the first place.

The Takeaway: Maybe it’s time to take a breather from the computer screen. A stressed employee is not always a good employee. If you feel close to burning out, that will only lead to frustration. And a frustrated employee is definitely not a good one. Enjoy something in your social life. Work on a project that’s not career related for a while.

Cancer

Yahoo’s Advice: Your worldly life and professional dreams should still feel incredibly blessed in 2014. Having the support of Jupiter in your stars backing your biggest hopes and dreams isn’t shabby. You’ll be working that influence most strongly during the first half of the year right up to your birthday until the big guy moves on to your money zone in July.

The Takeaway: Way to make us all jealous, Cancer. Don’t relax just yet, though! Just because everything is smelling like roses right now doesn’t mean that is always will be. Keep up the hard work! And when the money does come in – save, save, save.

Leo

Yahoo’s Advice: You’re the golden child in 2014, Leo! This is your year to make your next big mark on the world and take your rightful spot in the spotlight. Everything you’ve been working on for the past 12 years is ready for the pay-off zone!

The Takeaway: Like your Cancer friends, life is looking good. You also need to fight the urge for complacency though! Keep your eyes on the next prize. Now might be a good time to expand your work horizons. Look into opportunities to do more at your current company if you’re happy, look to make a move if you’re not.

Virgo

Yahoo’s Advice: This is the year for really honing in on the powers of visualization and your imagination, Virgo. Work smarter not harder in 2014, especially after July. In fact, this summer you may be ready for a serious retreat, so you may want to get as much off your plate as possible during the first half of the year. Reward yourself in the summer with a blissful escape into nature.

The Takeaway: You can pull serious hours at the office and not be content with where you are. For Virgos this is the year to plan ahead. Think as hard as you work. Make strategic moves to get ahead at work, or look into what your resume might be lacking and get yourself there. Knock off that to do list. And also, apparently, take a walk outside. But wear layers if you choose today to do it. It’s freezing.

…to be continued!

Happy Hunting!

xo The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalistaand Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Your 2014 Career Horoscope appeared first on Law Street.

Job hunting today comes down to a lot of factors. Sometimes it’s who you know. Sometimes it’s mostly luck. With so many applicants, automated responses, and email applications, it’s hard to know how often your resume gets the attention that it deserves.

A big part of job hunting, however, is technical. Your resume is a deal breaker: it can bring you in for an interview, or immediately send you to the “no” pile. Why not put in the time on it? I get it — writing, editing, fixing, analyzing, over analyzing your resume is tedious and feels like a waste of time.

Tedious, yes. A waste of time, no. Here are a few tips to ensure your resume is working for you, not against you.

1. Make sure it tells a story. A few weeks ago, I interviewed Jack Farrell about his tips from a recruitment perspective. He could not stress enough the importance of using your resume to tell the story of your employment history. Prioritize your content. Make sure the best points are properly highlighted.

2. Do your research. Choose the best format and stick to it. There are so many options for how to format your resume in the best way. Make sure you keep it consistent. Brand yourself.

3. Don’t forget the important information. While you’re perfecting the details, don’t forget to include the simple, obvious part: your contact information. Your resume could be perfect, but it won’t do you any good if no one knows how to reach you.

4. Be honest. It’s amazing how many people lie, ahem, stretch the truth in a document that they KNOW they will end up being asked about, and, if hired, having to back up. If you don’t know how to use Photoshop, it’s going to be really awkward answering questions about it in your interview. Just take the time to learn the skills you want to include.

5. Customize. Now, this part absolutely sucks. I know it’s adding additional steps to an already annoying process. It is amazing how much more successful you’ll be if you don’t have a blanket resume for each position. If you specify your resume to the job you’re applying to, you’ll have an edge on your competition. Whether you’re applying for a nonprofit position or moving up the corporate ladder, highlight your experiences and skills relevant to the exact job you want.

Now, how much better do you feel? Confident? Go conquer the job market!

xo, The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Apply Yourself appeared first on Law Street.

Remember the advice I always give younger friends and acquaintances of mine about whether they should go to law school or not? Well, one of those very same people recently announced on Facebook that he’s submitted his first two law school applications. In the comment thread, he went on to explain that he’s only applying to five or six schools in all, since he wants to stay in Colorado, where he currently lives and works. Needless to say, I was devastated at the news, not to mention ashamed of my own failure to dissuade my young, callow, impressionable friend from taking the broad and crooked path of legal practice.

I kid, I kid…as I mentioned in my earlier article, I never tell advice-seekers that law school is an absolute no-no, only that they should think long and hard and do a lot of research before taking that plunge. As demoralizing as the profession can be, the world does need some people to enter it (alas), and for all the talk about the wrong people going to law school, a great many students are right to go there. I suspect that my friend will fall into the latter category once he starts 1L — but why? How does one distinguish people who are cut out to be lawyers from those who have no business even taking the LSAT, let alone actually attending law school?

My friend, as it turns out, got a few very important ducks in a row before even applying to law school. For one thing, when we first became friends while participating in the same internship stipend program two summers ago, he actively sought out my advice on the law school question. If this approach sounds like a no-brainer for any freshly minted college graduate considering his academic and career options, it’s because it is — yet not every college grad takes it. While I got plenty of advice as a youngster about what I should do when I grew up, that counsel was all unsolicited. My friend was savvy enough to sound out people who’d been through the law school crucible before trying to enter it himself. Smart boy.

Second of all, he’s currently in the midst of a several-year-long gap between college and law school. Since graduating in the spring of 2012, my friend has worked for several organizations that do advocacy in the field in which he wants to build his career, namely drug policy. A staunch opponent of the so-called “War on Drugs,” he has interned or worked with The Colorado Marijuana Initiative of 2012 (where he helped stump for the legalization of marijuana in that state’s Amendment 64 ballot initiative) and the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation. He currently works at a law firm that represents legal marijuana dispensaries in the Centennial State. As a result, he’s getting priceless hands-on training working with lawyers and gaining at least some solid experiential idea of what to expect from the lawyer’s life. What’s more, he’s building an extensive list of contacts and potential future clients in the field of law in which he’d like to practice a few years hence, which is all but guaranteed to make him maximally employable once he graduates from law school. (Thanks to his work, he was also able to give me some very helpful advice on a marijuana policy-related research memo I had to write in my current position. Sweeeeeeeeeeet.)

Third, he’s already used his college experience to acquire expertise in fields outside of law or conceptually similar fields like political science. Having studied economics in university, he has a certain advantage over a great many lawyers — and even judges — that will serve him in good stead when he begins his desired career as an attorney representing legal marijuana businesses and otherwise advocating for drug decriminalization. His knowledge of economics will give him a perspective on legal issues that many (perhaps most) of his competitors in law school and legal practice will lack. I still remember reading a U.S. Supreme Court case — I forget the name — in my Federal Courts class a year ago in which then-Justice John Paul Stevens argued in dissent that anytime the government gives a business a tax exemption, its operations will be stimulated and society will end up with more of whatever it produces. I asked my professor whether that argument didn’t assume too much, such as that the market demand for the firm’s output was relatively price elastic (meaning that people will buy more of it when its price falls and less of it when the price rises). A good or service with relatively price-inelastic demand (they do exist, apparently) would not necessarily become more popular in the marketplace even after being subsidized. My professor — who was no economist but, like me, had taken an econ course or two over the years — smiled, nodded, and admitted that I might be on to something. Yet this possibility was lost on one of the most brilliant minds in the American legal field.

In all, my young Padawan learner seems to be doing it right: developing a broad practical and intellectual skill set, working immediately after college to discern what he wants to do with his life, working at a law firm to find out what lawyers really do and whether it’s right for him, and networking in the field of law in which he’d like to practice. There’s no better way to approach going to law school, believe you me.

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Akil Alleyne, a native of Montreal, Canada, is a graduate of Princeton University and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City. His major areas of study are constitutional and international law, with focus on federalism, foreign policy, separation of powers and property rights. In his spare time, Akil enjoys reading works of historical fiction and watching crime dramas.

Featured image courtesy of [TempusVolat via Flickr]

Akil Alleyne

Akil Alleyne, a native of Montreal, is a graduate of Princeton University and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. His major areas of study are constitutional and international law, with focus on federalism, foreign policy, separation of powers and property rights. Akil is also a member of Young Voices Advocates, which connects students and young professionals with media outlets worldwide to facilitate youth participation in political and social discourse. Contact Akil at Staff@LawStreetMedia.com

The post Applying to Law School: This is How You Do It appeared first on Law Street.

I had the opportunity to discuss the topic of job searching with someone who knows it best. Jack Farrell, recruiter-extraordinaire answered my questions from his insider perspective and I’m sharing his wisdom with you in this two part edition of Capitalista Careers.

We’re starting with his advice for the five best tips to keep in mind when you’re interviewing. Here they are! Straight from the horse’s mouth. Recruiters see the good, the bad, and the ugly.

1. THE STORY. Go into the interview prepared with the story of how you ended up there today. How is this job, and this interview, a culmination of all the other things you’ve done, places you’ve worked, and spots on your resume?

2. SUCCESS STORIES. Use success stories from different parts of your career to demonstrate your resume. Use examples. Practice these. It’s important to rehearse a few of these highlights before the interview so you don’t forget and leave them out when the time comes.

3. WHY YOU? Remember that people are selfish creatures and at the end of the day, employers are no exception. They want to hire someone who will make them look good. Don’t be afraid to express how you’ll be an asset to the company.

4. THE SCRIPT. Think of the resume as a script and memorize your lines. Internalize not only the points on your resume, but how to make them work for you. Why did you leave that job? Why are you transitioning? Tie it into the story in a positive way. You want the resume to be conversational and fluent. Do mock interviews. Rehearse in front of the mirror. Put in whatever preparation time needed to make yourself stand apart from the competition.

5. BODY LANGUAGE. Keep this in mind. How you present yourself is very important for making a good first impression. Greet your interviewer with a firm handshake. Smile and maintain eye contact. Keep your phone off and away.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Capitalista Careers when Jack tells us the biggest mistakes you could make in an interview.

Jack Farrell & Associates is a recruitment firm that offers career coaching, resume repair, and interview assistance.

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

Featured image courtesy of [Alex France via Flickr]

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

The post Interview Tips – Part One appeared first on Law Street.