Tips For The Perfect CV
Megan Shannon • May 11, 2021
Deciding to make a change in your career can be overwhelming and at times, daunting. No matter what stage you are at in your career and no matter what you are looking for next, these tips will get you on the right track.
First up, CV formation!
As a recruiter, I see many CV's everyday. Although CV's are very subjective and whether you get an interview or not will depend on your experience, many people underestimate the benefit of having a well laid out CV which accentuates what the employer needs to know about you.
Below are a few tips which you can keep in mind when you are drawing up your CV.
Keep the information on your CV clear and concise
CV's don't naturally read that well. They are flat and disjointed (which cannot be helped) however, displaying the data regarding your career in a clear and concise manner will allow you to subtly demonstrate the kind of professional you are. A lot of legal jobs require you to condense large amounts of information into digestible pieces. This is a perfect opportunity for you to demonstrate this skill.
To do this, avoid long winded explanations/paragraphs regarding your career. Use bullet points and short sentences. Break up your CV into sections such as:
- Education or Qualifications
- Career History or Summary
- Skills/Achievements
- Interests or Hobbies
Always keep in mind who is receiving your CV - they could be in HR, a recruiter or head of the firm or company you are applying to. Make it easy to read and obvious in terms of what you are looking for next and keep it to 2 pages ideally. Maximum 3 pages.
Explain any gaps
In my experience, some people avoid noting any gaps in their CV because they don't want to highlight them. However, this is something that will be noticed right away. Life brings up loads of situations where someone might take a break from their career; to travel, to raise a family, to take care of a loved one or to just take some time out. Make it easy for the person receiving your CV and give a very brief explanation for the gap next to the dates eg: May 2019- December 2019 : Career Break. You don't have to give specifics.
ZERO spelling errors
This is a big one. While this can happen in day to day life and can be forgiven, on your CV it is unacceptable. Your CV should be an example of the type of professional you are and should be presented well. Once you have completed your CV, review it a few times and I would encourage you to ask a friend/peer or family member to read over it.
Use the Sections Wisely
This is important. There is no hard and fast rule regarding what layout your CV should take. Generally speaking, whatever format your CV takes, it is important to use the section wisely ie: tailor them to your level of experience, job you want and sector you operate in.
- Education and Qualifications: at NQ/junior associate level your career is still based on the knowledge you have obtained so far. So, it is wise to mention any results you have obtained throughout your studies and up to qualification where appropriate. Make sure to list dates, results and the institution you obtained them from.
- Career Summary: what you choose to share in this section will depend on the level you are at in your career. If you are an associate solicitor, it is taken as a given that you are at a good level in terms of your legal knowledge. What a prospective employer will want to see here is whether or not you can stand on your own two feet. Make sure to mention any deals/projects you have worked on and the level of involvement you had in them. Mention clients where the information is in the public domain or if not, include the sector your clients operate in. This is helpful for in-house roles in particular where you can highlight client sectors in relation to the industry the prospective employer operates in.
- Skills/Achievements: this section can be helpful to junior lawyers where academics are not as strong. This is the chance for you to display other areas of your life where you have excelled (sports awards, tech abilities, languages etc.). Likewise, for someone at Partner level this section can be useful to display your accomplishments in your career so far. At senior level, it is a given that you are technically strong and can stand on your own two feet - what needs to be shown here is how you have established yourself as a leader in your field (Business development skills, Legal 500 mention, publications etc.)
- Interests/hobbies: some people are unsure whether to include this section. It is true that it is not 100% necessary however, there is a benefit in adding it regarding culture fit. Culture fit is hard to determine through a CV but essentially, people want to work with people they like and employers tend to look for well rounded candidates when hiring for their team. This section provides a brief insight into you as a person. I have also found that, at interview stage where the interviewer identifies with one of your hobbies/interests, there can sometimes be a little bit of discussion around it which can lighten the atmosphere.
- References: you can say 'available on request' at this part. Referees are usually consulted at job offer stage so you are entitled to keep your referees confidential at the application stage.
And that's it, the first step of your job search is complete! Generally, your CV will simply come down to whether you are the right person for the job in terms of experience however, the above tips will help you to form your CV in such a way that a prospective employer will want to speak to you. Only then, can you really know if the role is a good fit for you and vice versa.
If you want to talk to me about your CV or receive our standard CV template, get in touch with me by email: megan@shannonlegal.ie.
Your job should offer you a sense of contentment and purpose in your life and make you feel you’re on the right path. More and more people today feel disconnected and discontent in their work which hugely affects their personal lives. Deciding to change your circumstances is both exciting and unsettling. As a dedicated legal sector recruitment agency specialising in helping lawyers in the UK & Ireland with their next move, we understand the weight of this decision. If you're contemplating a change in your legal career, here are some key questions to ponder: Why do you want to make a move? Identifying your motivations is the first step towards finding a fulfilling new role. Is your motivation a higher salary? A better work environment? A larger or smaller team? A more flexible working arrangement? Thankfully, there are plenty of options for lawyers today so you should feel optimistic about finding what’s right for you. What are your long-term career aspirations? Measure up your goals against your current opportunities. Is the firm you’re currently in able to fulfil these? Can you see the path ahead? If not, this could be a reason to look at new opportunities. Does your current firm's practice areas align with your interests? A harmonious match in expertise leads to greater job satisfaction and success. A mismatch could be the reason you’re contemplating a move in the first place. If your current role doesn’t, could you activate a change to make this the case? If not, this could be a deciding factor in your move. Is your firm culture a good fit for you? A positive work environment can make a world of difference in your day-to-day professional life. Do you feel fairly compensated for the work you do? It's crucial to ensure that you're being rewarded fairly for your hard work and expertise. Is there room for career advancement? Consider the potential for growth within your firm and how it aligns with your own ambitions. If this isn’t available to you, it could be a reason to consider a move. Have you considered work-life balance? Striking a balance between work and personal life is crucial for long-term career satisfaction. Are there boundaries you could set in your current role to achieve this or are expectations beyond that? This is something to consider when looking at new opportunities. After pondering these questions if you're considering a move, we are here to help you navigate this process. With our expertise in the legal sector and extensive network of law firms & in-house legal departments, we can connect you with opportunities that align with your goals. Feel free to reach out for a confidential discussion. Your dream legal role may be just around the corner! Email: info@shannonlegal.ie
Even though we will experience some level of discontent in our jobs at times, loving your work overall can hugely affect the quality of our lives; Less stress: people who don't like their job often experience higher levels of stress which affect their physical & metal health. Loving your job means you will naturally enjoy a healthier lifestyle! More confidence: finding a career which makes you feel like your work contributes to the wider business will increase your self-confidence, improve your motivation and reduces anxiety. Higher salary/Career progression : if you love your job you’re more likely to want to push yourself, whether that’s seeking a promotions or nominating yourself for projects which will enhance your career. All leading to a more fulfilling working life. The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source. We hope you are feeling the love on this Valentine's Day! <3
Shannon Legal Open London Office 21st June 2022
Making a move from private practice to in-house is a big moment in a lawyers career. Unlike the familiarity of private practice, there is a lot to navigate & to consider in terms of your career path & future goals.
As a recruiter I am in a unique position in that, when talking to professionals in Ireland about what they want from their career and consequently how it will affect their personal life, I am an impartial third party. I am not their employer or HR rep. I am not their colleague or peer. The conversations are completely confidential & honest. And, to be honest with you - whilst I think men & women are wonderfully different, I see less and less distinction between what underlines male and female motivation as time goes on. In light of #internationalwomensday2022 and it's theme, I want to share some observations which may be helpful in some small way to #breakthebias which is too often geared against women. 🙅♂️ Many MEN have concerns around starting a family and the pressures of a new job or promotion 🙅♀️ Many WOMEN want a career opportunity where there is travel involved 🙅♂️ Many MEN want complete remote working so that they can have a better work/life balance 🙅♀️ Many WOMEN are very aware that they are being underpaid and will not stand for it. To attract & retain talented professionals, is not useful or prudent to assume that the people you are dealing with are stereotypes of their gender. It's not good for the individual and it's definitely not good for business! Bias is so ingrained in us, it's difficult to shift. Shedding light on it is a step in the right direction. To all the amazing women in my life & around the world, and to the men who encourage & support us, Happy International Women's Day!
One thing I promised myself when I set up my business 6 months ago was to celebrate every win I had. As someone who likes to move onto the next challenge casually disregarding anything I have achieved, I knew that if I was going to be successful (and sane!) I would need to put in place some non-negotiable rules for myself. Since establishing Shannon Legal in October 2020, I have had some great highs and some valuable lows. I have been in this industry for over 5 years and I'm still learning how to ride the waves. I've been encouraged throughout my career to stop and pause when things go well. To notice the wins. Out on my own, I have found it's even more important. This last year has been tough on so many of us but if it has given us anything positive, it is the reminder that that life is unpredictable and plans often fail; so when things go well, enjoy it. So here are a few highlights from the last 6 months: The launching of this website. This was a creative project I got really involved with and I'm thrilled with it. I look forward to see it's evolution as time goes on. One of my first clients was with a company I had never worked with before. They reached out to me because they felt I would bring something different. Designing my home office! Being asked to speak at my first online event for the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association (DSBA). What an honour it was to talk to so many young lawyers at the start of their careers. The first placement – what a surreal moment. Something that neither client nor candidate probably knew how much it meant to me. A significant moment in the life of Shannon Legal. For me it legitimised it as an operating business. To be honest, there hasn't really been any particular bad moments, just big lessons learned. Mainly around managing my own energy and time; and learning ways to stay motivated during the inevitable phases of doubt. Recruitment is a great business. I love dealing with people and playing the role of match maker or middleman (woman!) between a person and their career. I also love that in my job, I simultaneously play that role for my clients; acting as the middlewoman between their business and their next key hire. It can be incredibly complex at times and at other times quite straightforward. It includes a lot of highs and disappointing lows. As an agent, you can do everything right and tick all the boxes but still, it's impossible to have total control over the outcome. That leads me to what I like most about recruitment, it teaches you so much about life. Sometimes good things happen when you least expect it; a new client reaches out to you; a candidate looks for your guidance and you find the perfect match. Sometimes you experience big disappointments no matter how much you try to avoid them. Sometimes, nothing really happens for a while and you wonder what it’s all about. All you can do is your best and when things don’t go to plan, carry on without thinking too much about it. And when things do go to plan, appreciate that your work has paid off and CELEBRATE! That is what I am doing now and I would also like to thank everyone who has supported me in this new venture. I plan to bring Shannon Legal to the next level in the upcoming 6 months and look forward to speaking with those of you who I can assist. If you are considering your next career move or interested in hiring a lawyer to your organsiation, get in touch with us by contacting Megan Shannon via email: megan@shannonlegal.ie to arrange a consultation
Online interviews are nothing new, but in the last 10 months we have had to get used to the entire hiring process being conducted online. Whether you are a job seeker or employer, it is just as important in todays world to make the best impression possible during the interview process. There have been many benefits to moving interviews online. Firstly, they save time - no more travelling to a potential employers office with an added fear of being seen by someone! There are also geographical benefits - employers looking to hire can expand their search to anywhere in the world and be in a position to arrange interviews with a potential candidate almost immediately. Of course, nothing will ever replace meeting someone in person. Virtual settings mean that simple yet very important signals are missed (studies have found that up to 93% of our communication is non-verbal) However, video call platforms allow some of that non-verbal communication to shine through and now, because our place of work is also our home, a lot more about the interview setting is within our control. Here are 5 tips we have collated for successfully conducting interviews online and apply just as much to the interviewer as they do to the person being interviewed. We hope you find them useful!
We spend about a 1/3 of our lives at work. Both employers and employees know the impact our work has on our life and general happiness. Companies state that recruitment is their biggest challenge facing their success and this year will be no different. So, It's important to get it right. Job seekers and companies don’t need to use a recruiter to find a new job or fill a position. They can do much of the work themselves. But, like with any big decision, it's good to get some help. A recruiter can provide invaluable assistance to both an organisation and a job seeker when navigating the employment market. Here are 4 reasons why; 1. A recruiter saves you time Looking for a new job or hiring for a new position takes time. Posting a job specification, searching jobsites, consulting your network, submitting applications, reviewing applications, arranging interviews etc. All of this time often goes unaccounted for as there are so many variables at play; you might have a very demanding job yourself, have childcare duties and internal HR departments might have numerous matters to deal with at any given time or you may not have a HR department at all. In dealing with a recruiter, the above tasks can be completely outsourced. Further, you can gain better management over the process by placing timelines on the search and working together with the recruiter to find what you are looking for in a certain timeframe. With budgets tight for companies looking to hire this year, I often suggest that companies implement a policy whereby when looking to hire, they place a timeframe on non-recruiter led searching (e.g. 2 weeks) within which time if the company can’t find suitable candidates themselves, they can enlist the services of a recruiter. 2. A recruiter increases your options When a company is trying to hire themselves, the talent pool which they attract might be restricted to “active candidates” i.e. people who are actively seeking to move job and will apply to the company themselves. A recruiter will be able to make introductions to “passive candidates” – suitable candidates who are not actively seeking to move job but who have registered with a recruiter, therefore increasing the chances of finding the right person for your company. Similarly, for a job seeker, a recruiter will be able to bring new opportunities to your attention which may not be released to the market yet. 3. A recruiter enables clear communication With everyone under pressure and companies striving to make 2021 a better year than the last, the process by which applications are received, reviewed etc. and communications between the organisation and a potential hire can sometimes become strained where little or no feedback is provided after an application is made. This is not done deliberately, but there might be too much going on internally for external applicants to be front of mind or an organisation may not have a HR department at all. This can have an impact on the perception of that firm or organisation within the market and can deter future applications from future candidates. A recruiter will work alongside both parties to ensure that communication remains open and strong between the organisation looking to hire and the candidate seeking a new job throughout the entire process (application to offer stage and beyond) so that everyone is on the same page. 4. A recruiter handles salary negotiation When an offer is made and the organsiation want to hire the candidate, things can fall apart during negotiation of the package when dealing directly with one another. This is, of course, not in every case, but asking your future employer for more money or questions about benefits can sometimes feel uncomfortable for a job seeker. In my experience, everyone is happier negotiating through a third party so that the end goal is met. Conclusion: With people working from home and companies operating almost exclusively online, hiring the right people and finding the right opportunities is even more challenging. As a recruiter within, I am here to assist with these challenges so businesses can continue to hire the best talent for their organisation and individuals can aim to get the most out of their careers, regardless of what’s to come in 2021. Thank you for reading. If you would like to discuss options for you within the legal industry or wish to hire for your organisation, contact me on megan@shannonlegal.ie to arrange a call
Mind Yourself Mental health awareness week took place this month and I spoke to Sarah Shannon, Corporate Lawyer turned Yoga Teacher, who shared her tips with a new intake of trainee solicitors last week (via Zoom) about finding balance in their working life as lawyers. These are the three tips she shared: Get out of your head and into your body Being in a “head-y” job (one that requires a lot of mental power and skill) means, yes you got it, you are in your head all day. As solicitors, we are fine tuned and trained to use the mind to memorise, cite, quote, problem solve and analyse. Wonderful. But, are we trained to turn off this machine at the end of the day? No. This is why yoga and meditation are necessary and crucial practices to learn so that the mind does not overwork, overload and maybe burn out. In yoga and meditation we are diverting our consciousness to the breath and different parts of the body. We are moving the thing that allows our mind to think (our consciousness) and bringing it elsewhere. We learn to embody different elements of ourselves. In this way, we experience that we are not just the mind. This is a powerful, but difficult thing for the busy mind to accept. It will be agitated to begin with as you sit in complete stillness. Slowly through practice, which can be movement, meditation or breath work, the mind will relax and ease. This type of practice is a balm and necessary antidote to “head-y” work and being at a computer all day. Get to know yourself The best thing I did as a trainee solicitor was to start a journal for my musings and thoughts. At the back of my journal, I had a blank page with the words “Things that I like” written in big letters. That page stayed blank for quite a while. As a young solicitor all I could think to put down was going out and drinking with mates but I didn’t feel that was what I wanted to sum myself up as. So I started paying attention to things that caught my eye and sparked my curiosity. Jasmine oil. Sanskrit words. Sunrise. India. Chanting. Over the years these pages filled up with words. When I look at them now, they are the blueprint for the work I am doing and the life that I am living now. This method is a wonderful skill for anyone to use. As a trainee, or someone starting their career or wanting to change their career, this page can tell you a lot. Start gathering your words, your interest, things that catch your eye. These things are your essence and will guide you to the work and life that will bring you most joy. I am still doing the “Things that I like” page and will continue to for the rest of my life. This page is my guide; it is a little peak into my soul. Find your balance Find your balance between movement and stillness. The world and your work is fast paced and it can be hard to become still. We are often drawn towards practices to keep up with this pace. We avoid things like meditation and slow paced yoga because it is too slow and doesn’t give the fast results that we want. We opt for fast paced, achievement driven yoga so that we can do impressive poses. We skip meditation and scroll on our phone instead. I have been there, and I am still there when my mind gets overwhelmed and when I have “no time“. This response “I don’t have time” is now my signal that I am out of balance. It means I need to bring stillness into my life through my yoga and meditation. Deepak Chopra gave a wonderful response when he was interviewed by Oprah Winfrey. She asked him how many times a day should we meditate? Deepak said once a day. What about the people who don’t have time to meditate once a day? Oprah asked. Well then, he said, they should meditate twice a day. This sums it up for me. It is challenging to make time for self-care. To prioritise yourself over deadlines, tasks, team workload and pressure. It is up to us to make this time. To make it the number one priority in our life because it is the most important thing you can do for yourself. And to do it once, maybe twice a day. Sarah Shannon is a yoga and meditation teacher. She qualified as a solicitor with the Law Society in 2013 and worked as a corporate associate in Dublin. She left her legal career in 2018 and set up Sarah Shannon Yoga which offers workplace yoga, meditation and webinars on wellbeing. Get in touch with Sarah to find out more https://www.sarahshannonyoga.com/yoga