"I haven't really done anything to put on a resume." Really? I seem to hear this line...A LOT. By the time we graduate law school we should be able to fill multiple pages with our accomplishments, do-gooder moments, and employment. So, where do I start when a student walks into my office with this line? We have a conversation...a sometimes very long, drawn out conversation, in which I am feeling more like a therapist than a career consultant, but in the end the conversation is very worth the time. Hopefully, this "I have nothing" student has, at the very least, a very general template of a resume, although, at times, s/he may literally have nothing. It is important for any person, whether your a student or not, to recognize achievement. Just because you weren't a Rhode Scholar and 4.0 student doesn't mean you have no contribution to your own personal and professional development.
First and foremost, I want a student to tell me about who s/he is and how they ended up in my office.
Where are you from?
Where did you go to high school?
College?
Graduate School?
What did you participate in while in school?
What jobs have you had?
Are you married?
Do you have any kids? How many?
What do you do in your free time?
Why did you pick that major in college?
Why are you in law school?
As I ask these questions, I frantically am jotting down notes. And, although this process may seem intimidating to the student at first, I begin to explain to them all of the things they can put down on their resume. I grab a red pen and circle items I have written down that they should include on their resume and why. Many students begin to realize just how incredibly unique and powerful their life experiences have been and that they can put those experiences down on a piece of paper.
Now comes the hard part...
How do I organize all of this "stuff" onto one page (or maybe two)? The editing phase of building a resume is brutal and can span over the course of several weeks. Many students become frustrated that they haven't completed it in a few short hours, but it will pay to be patient. It is important to take the time to review and revise multiple times. Give yourself the time to do it right. And feel free to send it to me along the way.
