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Hey Fishies,
I interviewed at Infosys on 12th
Bowl Leader
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Thoughts on LAUR ahead of earnings tomorrow?
What percent of applicants are accepted to GSAP?
Conversation Starter
Additional Posts in Ask A Recruiter - Law
Hey Fishies,
I interviewed at Infosys on 12th
Bowl Leader
Thoughts on LAUR ahead of earnings tomorrow?
What percent of applicants are accepted to GSAP?
Conversation Starter
Bottom line, yes. Unless it’s a very toxic environment, try to hold on for at least 6 months, but a year is always better.
You stay for a year because that’s what is expected of you. Your new employer is (presumably) paying a substantial headhunter’s fee; even if not, your new employer is investing in your training. If you leave, that training was worthless to them. The training investment is a very big consideration for law firms.
It would take a special situation to get hired with less than a year at your last job. Anyone can make a mistake, but you need to demonstrate maturity and judgment. For those reasons some employers will presume you were fired if you are leaving a law firm in a very short time (generally, a year is the minimum).
As for not disclosing the prior employment, you simply cannot leave a law job off your résumé, even if the employment was for a week. If your new employer finds out after the fact, I can almost guarantee you that you will be immediately terminated. (And if they want to be real dicks, they might report you to the state Bar for unethical behavior.) Not worth it!
FWIW, I had a miserable, soul-crushing job 35 years ago at a small, suburban law firm where I had gone to escape BL. I knew after the FIRST day that I had made a terrible mistake and had to get out. So I told myself, “One year. Just one year to look respectable and then I’m outta this hell hole. I could do a year standing on my head….”
I waited the year, learned what I could, moved on and never looked back. That year taught me many lessons, the most important of which is that the best decisions are made after careful deliberation. Sure, it sucked, but there’s also value in learning to live with the consequences of one’s own decisions.
I spent the next 35 years in BL, ultimately making equity partner. That sucked, too, but in a different way. They paid me a fuckton of money to be unhappy and I know VERY few lawyers who enjoyed their practice.
Yes, try to hold out for a year
Not necessarily. And I may be in the minority here, but I think it looks better to get out of a bad fit quickly, rather than languish.
The other factor, is to consider this move in the context of your entire work history. If you have a track record of leaving jobs quickly, I'd stay put and look at the same time. Better to stay in one place (if you can tolerate it) and take your time finding the right fit (which could be as a administrative or executive assistant in a non-legal field which might be a welcome breath of fresh air). When interviewing and asked why you are leaving you can say after a short time with the firm, I am realizing it is not the right for me. Moving forward, I'm looking for a position that offers the opportunity to... The key is to state what you are looking FOR not what you are trying to get away from. That way you make the conversation about you and your goals and will not fall into the trap of badmouthing your current employer.
Good luck!
Unfortunately, I believe so. To some extent, prospective employers will look at your prior track record. If you stayed at previous positions for extended periods of time, they will likely understand that this last place was a simple mistake.
It will most likely look pretty bad. And you'll be asked to explain it, which can open up problems. It's the kind of thing that can look worse than it is. It really is a good idea to stick around for a year if at all possible.
Consider labeling the job as a “contract” position on your resume. I’ve done this before in the past and it’s worked. Also, if a job is toxic or not right, then the company misled you in a way, so give yourself permission to call it acontract position because you still showed up for 4 months and performed the tasks.
Why do you want to leave after four months? I think the reason matters.
The company is quite toxic - they do not care about the staff and have a reputation for firing employees without proper explanation
Yea honestly OP I would not do that because it might be seen as a red flag. I assume you are applying outside of your company? I mean I once left a job after two weeks but at the end of the day you have to o what is best for you. If something else better comes along then take it.
If the rest of your employment history is stable, it might only be a yellow flag. Like if you were somewhere for 5 years, then somewhere for 10 years, and then somewhere for 4 months, I’d still interview you if your resume was on point. But if you haven’t been anywhere long term and you’re looking to leave after 4 months that would be a red flag.
I will say go ahead and apply regardless. It may raise eyebrows for some and not for others. Many people understand that sometimes a job you hoped to stay at long term can turn out to be a bad fit. Some people that review your resume will understand that. I wouldn't stick it out if it is unbearable.
Listen to Retired Partner 1 at your own risk, OP. They are telling you that they stayed unhappy for the money, and think you should do the same because they suffered through it. Life will go on whether you stay in this bad fit job or not...
Also, there is nothing unethical about leaving a job off your resume. Your resume is a summary of information that you want to provide to a potential employer. If you are asked about that job upon them discovering a background check, obvious you should have a good and honest reason for leaving and omitting. Something along the lines of it was a bad cultural fit and there were deficiencies in their training/onboarding practices that prevented me from carrying out my duties, so I didn't feel that there was any relevant experience to list from this brief encounter.
A new employer can fire you for any reason not protected by law, so an omission on your resume is fair game for dismissal if it comes up on a background check, but they may also decide to not hire you based on your inclusion. There is nothing unethical about tailoring your resume, which is a marketing document, to a role that you are applying for. The firm will not file an ethics complaint with the Bar against you for this, because there is no ethical violation.
Now, if you fill out an application where you are instructed to list every job you've ever had, you may want to consider listing that job, as that would be considered a lie of omission, but a resume carries no promise or even suggestion of being a complete list of all things for a potential employer to consider, just like a job posting isn't going to list all the bullshit in it.
OP, this is just a job, and if they want to, they will fire you for any reason at any time. They'd do it the day after a family member dies, or on your birthday if it served the business. Show them the same courtesy and do what's good for you and your family. Find a new job that you can tolerate.
No. People don't stay at one place very long.
Yep, I worked in a nearly abusive environment for five years once just to make up for some short term jobs prior. And realistically most of these jobs are in a toxic environment anyway, unfortunately. I've been a legal secretary and paralegal for 30 years. I finally went to government, where we are still not truly valued but at least it is not toxic and I have a great work/life balance
Yes
It could be..however it's a different time. If the wanted to get rid of you after 4 months they would. These companies and firms don't care, therefore we have to do what's best for our lives. You can not put it on your resume but put the skills on and say you were self employed or acontractor.life is too short to stay at these places that don't give a damn. Do what's best for you. .
Life is too short to be unhappy. A few things to consider:
1. Don’t leave until you find a new job.
2. Leave now and just don’t put this employer on your resume.
3. It is better to stay at a job longer but I’ve been at jobs that are miserable and it’s not good for your mental health.
Good luck!
If you tell them You betcha. If you want to keep your job until you find another firm to go to then keep your tongue zipped and your mouth closed.