Lateral Hiring Follies - Part I: Top Five Dumb Candidate Mistakes

The start of the lateral hiring season brings its own traditions. Some of them are not worth repeating. In spite of the acres of forest and googles of typebits that have been devoted to this topic – we in the Lawcruiter community see our candidates and our clients make the same mistakes over and over. Thus - offers are withheld, jobs are turned down, RCs get frustrated, candidates get despondent and Lawcruiters lose their fees. In the interest of sparing us these indignities, here is a list of Top 5 dumb candidate mistakes to be avoided this year.

1. Uncontrolled use of Lawcruiters: It cannot be said often enough. A candidate that allows multiple Lawcruiters to make introductions to the same set of firms will seem to those firms to be either desperate or severely lacking in simple process and document management skills - either of which are instant turn-offs.
2. Typographical and Factual Errors: These mistakes range from merely embarrassing to those that are fatal to a legal career (see: disbarment and other sanctions). What usually happens is that the candidate is not hired and the law firm community and their clients are spared the risk of having someone so careless prepare their critical commercial documents.
3. Lack of Interview Preparation: The fact that there are literally hundreds of websites and books written about interviewing technique speaks volumes about how rarely candidates prepare properly for interviews. I won’t attempt to replicate the words of the those who precede me in making this observation – but it strikes me that a candidate that does not bother to internalize some basic answers as to why he or she is considering a lateral move and how that move corresponds from that attorney’s earlier experience; or does not bother to learn the names and biographies of the interviewing partners so as to be able, at the very least, to make intelligent conversation – should not expect and does not deserve to get an offer.
4. Lack of Life Planning: Significant Others – We’ve all heard the old saw that the Law is a Jealous Mistress. Unfortunately, all too many candidates fail to consider the Law of the Ticked-Off Spouse, which has an awesome ability to derail even the most carefully planned career path. So candidates – the next time you are thinking of taking a job in Moscow, or taking a “key” senior associate role with crazy hours and unlimited commitment – do please first ensure that the spouse or significant other is on board with the idea.
5. Bad Manners: We are taught to be respectful of our superiors. We are taught to “play nice” with our friends and colleagues. Why do some of us still forget to extend basic courtesies to secretaries, receptionists and paralegals? Do we really think that hiring managers will ignore their input in making a hiring decision? Well, they don’t!

Next: Top 5 Dumb Client Mistakes