When a job seeker is in the midst of a job search, he must make sure that he has covered all aspects carefully. There are several things which need to be covered when you are hunting for jobs. The foremost being patience and pertinence. In order to become highly successful, you need to follow the steps as stated below.

First impressions are very important. A. Harrison Barnes, the owner of Employmentcrossing.com has pointed out that first impressions are very important. The way you look, dress up, your mannerisms all go together and improves your job prospects. Reach the interview venue on time. Make sure that you are reaching the venue at least fifteen minutes before hand. Do not forget to carry the necessary credentials. Dress up in formals, see to it that you are manicured and hair cleanly brushed. Showcase all your skills, abilities and prepare your self for the “elevator speech” so that you can stand out from the rest of the crowd. Once the interview is over, follow ups are very important. A sophisticated follow-up letter reaffirms your interest in the position. Make sure that you are keeping in touch with the recruiters. Once the interview is over, you may send a hand written thank you card with in the next 24-48 hours. The brief message can be either e mailed or word processed says A. Harrison Barnes. To get the latest up dates about new job openings, the job seekers can attend job fairs regularly. These job fairs held periodically provides with new job openings. You can gain a fair knowledge about the current market scenario is from the job fairs.

Make sure that you are searching with a purpose, says A. Harrison Barnes. May be you will repent later, if you take up any decision in haste. Set your goals and target companies where you think your goals can be accomplished. Plan your day ahead and try not to miss opportunities that come by your side. Developing a strategic plan of action is very important. Go through informal interviews and post your resume on the net. If possible, try and avoid the human resource representatives. These representatives are called “screener”. He is entrusted with the responsibility of reviewing a candidate’s resume and analyzing the skills and abilities possessed by him and the ways in which they can be applied to the job. There after the HR shortlists the names of the names of the candidates and forwards it to the decision maker. Unfortunately, the decision maker does not have much discretionary power that can be exercised in matters of recruitment, for he has to work under the directions of the HR. Direct approach to the decision makers, thus improves the job prospects.

A positive outlook is very important. Do not get demoralized by rejections, says A. Harrison Barnes. Make sure that your stress levels are not increasing. You can meet up friends; enjoy your favorite pastimes, take out time for your hobbies, or go for short trips. These fun filled activities can be very useful for replenishing your lost energies. Listen to your favorite numbers or go for long drives, if you feel you need to de-stress says A. Harrison Barnes of employmentcrossing.com. Given the present market scenario, getting a job is not a very easy task. It might take long but eventually you will come across the right job. Do not go by the business news in your community or city, where you want to work, instead go through the local business communities for the latest updates in the field of business. Analyze the local newspapers local sections as well. These provide you with contact details of the recruiters. You also have knowledge about the recruiters who are “preferred” and “hot” and choose among them.

A job seeker must possess the right attitude says A. Harrison Barnes. There are some candidates with laid back attitude, on the other hand there are others who feel that the day is too short and they have a lot of work at their disposal. The second variety of people, are those who reaches their targeted goals faster. However they are careless enough at the same time to commit silly mistakes.

If you want to stay away from negative influences, it is better to stay away from job clubs. The job search of yours may be adversely affected by these support groups. Keep a close watch on whether these support groups are encouraging you or feeding you with insecurities. You might just land up losing your self confidence and get emotionally drained, once you visit these job clubs.

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The interview went really well, your resume was flawless and you just know you’re going to get a job offer, right? Two days pass, then three and before you know, it’s been a week. Maybe they lost your contact information and are hoping you’ll call them so they can explain how grateful they are you got in touch with them? Maybe it’s a test to see which candidates are willing to do whatever it takes? Climb out of your fantasy world. That never happens. Ever. And to answer the question of should you call, the answer is an absolute, positively negative. Not today, not tomorrow and not next Tuesday.

What would you say? What could you possibly say that your cover letter and resume hasn’t said for you? “Uh…yeah, I interviewed with you …uh….let’s see…three days ago? Yeah, three days ago and I hate to bother you, but I just wanted to see which way you’re leaning in terms of who you might hire.” That’s going to get the job, right? Do you feel the awkward pause? What now? “Oh, OK. Well, I don’t want to keep you….just wanted to be sure you know I’m still interested.” Or, if you’re bold enough (and this is never the right time to flex your ability to be bold), you could say, “Oh. So when are you going to select?” You’re sure to receive an answer, but it’s quite unlikely you’ll receive the answer you’re hoping for. A. Harrison Barnes, founder of Hound.com and professional career coach, says, “A phone call, even if it plays out far better than this scenario, is only going to distract the interviewer, who likely has an overload of resumes to sort through and interviews to survive. You’re just not going to do yourself any favors by invading his time at this point.” Honestly, he’s probably going to be aggravated that you even called and even if you were being considered, this could be the deal breaker. Is it really worth the risk?

Instead, says A. Harrison Barnes, “Your best bet is to send a gracious thank you card. Keep it simple, professional and be sure your personal note is handwritten.” Remind the interviewer you appreciate his time; and, of course, now’s the time to reiterate your continued interest in the company and specifically, the position you interviewed for. End the thank you note with, “Again, I appreciate your time and look forward to hearing from you.” Sign it with “sincerely” and your name. It’s important to do this within a day of the interview. Even if you don’t get the job, you’ve left the employer with a favorable impression, which could serve you well in the future. In the meantime, continue to browse the many available positions found on Hound.com. This perfect job you’re waiting to hear back from may pale in comparison to the next interview; and who knows, it could be the next one is truly the perfect one.

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The University of Notre Dame, one of the world’s most renowned law schools, offers a Legal Aid Clinic where second and third year law students receive academic credit for providing pro bono legal services to both non profit organizations and individuals. Overseen by the Notre Dame Law School faculty, these specially chosen students take “hands on” to a new -and impressive – level. A. Harrison Barnes, attorney and founder of LegalAuthority.com says programs such as these benefit the communities they’re located in and the law students who need the experience, as they will soon find themselves looking for the right law firm that will allow them to put to use their legal educations.

Many of the law firms listed with LegalAuthority.com look favorably to those recent graduates with experience such as what the Legal Aid Clinic provides Notre Dame students. It is an exceptional way new lawyers can test the waters while determining which area of the law they want to specialize in and just as importantly – those areas they wish to steer clear of. While it’s true Notre Dame’s legal aid clinic focuses many of its resources to those who lack the necessary funds to secure representation for any number of legal matters, it reminds those involved that a lack of financial means does not mean they deserve any less than a client with millions of dollars set aside for his legal representation. A. Harrison Barnes agrees. He spent a considerable amount of time during his career’s infancy in pro bono cases and says the experiences made him a much better attorney. “It’s those life lessons I learned shortly after law school that continue to serve me well to this day”, says Barnes.

Even if you’re not attending Notre Dame, check with your law school; you may discover there are similar scenarios available that will allow you to do good work. Many discover they want to continue in some capacity even after they have begun their new legal careers. There is never a shortage of people who need exceptional legal representation but lack the money to pay for it. It’s good for your soul, it’s good for the legal system and it’s good for those clients you serve.

Once you’ve graduated and passed the bar, consider LegalAuthority.com as your one source for beginning your new law career. Whether it’s a bit of help with your resume that just won’t flow right or if you’re looking to relocate across the country and are wishing to see what the job market looks like on the east coast, you can find all the answers to your questions on LegalAuthority.com. Be sure to browse the extensive database of articles. These articles address everything from dressing for the resume to gracefully declining an offer of employment extended to you to tips on how to answer those awkward questions interviewers love to ask.

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We all want equality in the workplace. We want to know our value is based on our ability to perform our job duties well and not so much on how pretty we are or how we look after our workout at the gym each day. Fortunately, there are laws that agree and lawyers who stand ready to defend us when our looks or other unfair standards keep us from promoting within the company. Most recently, a case in Iowa reiterated how damaging it can be when we’re told the promotion did not come through and we suspect it’s due to our appearance or because we lack a certain look. “It’s not about taking pride in our appearance and ensuring we’re presentable for the workday”, says A. Harrison Barnes, lawyer and founder of LegalAuthority.com, “it is, however, about not receiving a promotion because someone’s not “pretty” enough”.

One hotel chain is learning that lesson the hard way. An operations director who was responsible for several Heartland Inns of America chains promoted a woman to a full time day shift position on one of the hotel’s front desks. After having met Brenna Lewis, the one promoted, she rescinded the offer and told the hotel manager she lacked the “Midwestern girl look” and that she did not have the “prettiness” necessary for the front desk. Naturally, Lewis was more than upset; after all, she had already received the promotion. When Lewis questioned the demotion, she was fired. She sued under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Her lawyers successfully proved their client did not need to show evidence that men were treated the same or differently, but instead, gender stereotyping was sufficient to establish the claim of discrimination. Her attorney produced the right evidence that was reasonable in that a jury could infer her demotion and eventual discharge was because of her sex.

In a time when the economy is still attempting to recover and people are finally beginning to pick up the pieces of their lives and careers, cases such as these are important, says A. Harrison Barnes. “People want to know their jobs are due to their skills, experience and abilities, not whether they have the right level of attractiveness” says the LegalAuthority.com founder. He continues, “This case highlights the discrimination that unfortunately still exists in the American employment sector”.

Legal careers are made on cases such as these and the team Lewis chose successfully made sure her voice was heard. As a result, the plaintiff in this case can move forward in her career knowing her level of experience and abilities will determine how far she advances in her career. The confidence she surely gained will serve her well and the knowledge that she played a significant role in the way others will be promoted should give her reason to stand tall and remain true to her beliefs. And this, says Barnes, is what the legal profession is – and always has been – about.

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Paralegal is a term that describes a non-lawyer who assists attorneys in their legal work. Today, there are many people who are very much interested in getting into the paralegal field. It is a much sought-after career these days. Paralegals can work in many different branches of law, including tax, criminal, corporate, personal injury, civil litigation, environmental protection, trademark, bankruptcy, intellectual property, family and domestic, real estate and estate planning. These legal areas give greater opportunities to the paralegals to learn more. These opportunities come along with the daily source of income for many.

According to A Harrison Barnes, and owner of BCGSearch.com, demand for paralegals is increasing. The salary range of paralegal jobs is between $31,000 and $50,000, but it is a little higher with large and highly reputable law firms. They pay the paralegals above $60,000. It is not surprising, then, that more and more youngsters are showing a keen interest in making a career in this particular field of law. Along with handsome salaries, the paralegal jobs also offer high bonuses and other attractive benefits.

Every legal employer has different requirements for a paralegal job in his or her legal firm. Educational qualifications and work experiences of the candidates will depend on what the employer is actually looking for while taking their services. It all boils down to the position offered to the paralegal by a particular legal firm. A Harrison Barnes says that today a four-year degree is desirable for every paralegal job in the market. This is the basic requirement of every legal employer appointing a paralegal at his or her law firm. Some legal employers even take into consideration applications from those who have only bachelor’s degrees and no work experience at all.

Even this qualification of a four year bachelor’s degree may vary with different employers. There are many employers who employ paralegals even if they hold only a two-year degree but specialize in paralegal studies. Even freshers can apply to some law firms. They can gain experience and move to a better legal company to enhance their career in a much better way. A Harrison Barnes reveals, there are many law firms which accept applications for even secretaries or legal assistants from those who have had no training in any college.

The growing demand for paralegals has prompted many websites to help the interested people find the right jobs. A Harrison Barnes’s BCG Search.com is one such website lending help to its clients looking for paralegal jobs. Any website that helps provide paralegal employment to the interested men or women should be considered good enough BCGsearch.com has a huge database consisting of jobs from all over the world. Users of this website get access to all the paralegal jobs available in the field. Not only does it helps you with your paralegal job search but also assists you in preparing the paralegal resumes and paralegal cover letters. The website is aware of the importance of a good job in every person’s life and tries to get paralegal jobs for its deserving clients.

The paralegal resume should be prepared with care. It should focus on the specific knowledge, the skills and the experience that suit the demand for the paralegals in every law firm. A Harrison Barnes suggests that while the resume should be written in the traditional form, you have to ensure that it is formal. The fonts and the size chosen should remain the same throughout the paralegal resume.

Care should be taken to write everything in a simple and easily readable way. Your qualifications, skills, accomplishments and experiences should be clearly mentioned. Remember, the legal employer takes only few seconds to look at the resume. So make sure that the contents are attractive and concise enough to catch the eye of the legal employer in a terribly short time.

One does not need to worry thinking about the paralegal interview because it is no different from any other legal interview says A Harrison Barnes. You just need to follow the basic interview tips. If you master them, there is no reason why you should not succeed in getting a decent paralegal job.

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One red-hot legal specialty is immigration law. It’s also a hotly debated political issue these days, too. Immigration lawyers are those who work to gain legal entry status for non-residents while also representing them in other legal issues that are part of the American structure. The E-Verify process, part of the Obama Administration’s solution for avoiding the possibility of illegally hiring non-citizens, has received mixed reviews since its unveiling. Many insist it’s ineffective while others say if it is, then it should be scrapped in its entirety until a better solution can be found. Law firms are working double time in an effort to attract immigration lawyers and even those lawyers who specialize in civil rights.

This is an important historical time and those lawyers who opt for this specialty will play a significant role in how the country will look years from now. It seems as though things change on a daily basis. A. Harrison Barnes mentions the recent rescission by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding the no-match rule that was instituted during President George W. Bush’s administration as an example. The Social Security Administration was required to notify employers when employees’ names were not available in databases and did not match the provided social security numbers. From there, it became the responsibility of the employer to conduct an investigation into where the discrepancy was. Failing to find that discrepancy meant employers must fire employees, many of whom the employer had already invested time and money in training costs, relocation costs when applicable, drug testing, etc. It was both time consuming and expensive for companies, especially when the recession’s affects were factored in.

Now that the original no match rule has been replaced with e-verify, many had hoped for a better process; unfortunately, lawyers have argued in courtrooms across the country that it too is flawed and serves little, if any, purpose. It appears the stage is being set for major upheavals. A. Harrison Barnes, founder of LawCrossing.com says that while it does appear more changes are in store, it’s important to also keep it in perspective; after all, this country was built on debates, improved policies and even those less than ideal scenarios when the solution brought forth more problems.

“This means the need for immigration lawyers will begin to surface on LawCrossing.com and other job boards in the legal sector” says A. Harrison Barnes. While there have always been law firms looking for job applicants in this focused specialty, Barnes and other career coaches say it’s only the tip of the iceberg. Throw in political motives and things can get heated in short order. Whether it’s the e-verify program or the no-match rule, you can be sure there will continue to be emerging solutions that will likely be fine tuned to include the best features of several proposals from both Republicans and Democrats. This too is another American tradition that has served us well over the years.

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Many lawyers dream of having their own law firm for many different reasons. But there many considerations that go into making that leap from working for a firm to becoming your own boss. A. Harrison Barnes says a business plan that’s rock solid is the very first task that must be completed. You’ll need it to approach the bank for a loan as well as keeping it nearby so that you don’t lose focus.

Many lawyers begin considering adding another lawyer within two years as well as additional staff that is usually hired when the office opens its doors. Secretaries and paralegals are usually hired from the beginning. This is where LawCrossing.com can help. Because we have access to thousands of jobs across the country, we also offer the most qualified candidates to fill these roles. Teaming with LawCrossing.com ensures you have the most experienced pool of personnel found anywhere.

Another recommendation A. Harrison Barnes offers is to have at least twelve months of operating expenses banked. Starting a new legal firm is challenging, but to start it without enough capital is destined for failure. Again, your business plan is invaluable as you are seeking your start up funds. As you’re building your law practice with paying clients, you’ll need to be able to fall back on your start up funds for those early months.

Building your positive cash flow throws an entirely new set of dynamics into the mix. How many new clients you gain in the first year, your billing rates, how much of those billable hours you’re able to collect, overhead and reinvestment monies are all part of those dynamics. This is where you’ll need to make a strong self assessment of your strengths. Not aggressive enough to handle the collections aspect? Consider using LawCrossing.com to find the right personnel who can gracefully collect those fees without alienating the client. Do you feel as though you need someone who brings to the table a strong personality who is capable enough of reminding you of your ego is getting in the way (it happens)? Maybe an assertive legal assistant who can, with the clearing of his or her throat, remind you that you’re using a bit more aggression than what’s needed as you prep a client. If balancing your own checkbook is a tremendous chore that you dread every month, then a bookkeeper who is both ethical and accurate is exactly what your new law firm needs. LawCrossing.com has the right personnel for a well rounded office staff that can work with you as you work to ensure your new firm soars.

While beginning a new law practice is challenging, seeing the fruits of your hard work come full circle is one of the most satisfying experiences you’ll have in your life. A solid business plan, a compatible and hard working staff and your vision and education can all come together to ensure its many years of success. LawCrossing.com stands ready to play its role as well.

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