This is something that I tell my kids a lot. Be especially kind to the ones that every one else is not so kind to.
I was recently friended on Facebook by a high school classmate. He was a nerdy kid who was pretty much ignored by everyone. We didn't hang out together, but I always tried to be nice to him, and we had all of our honors classes together. Now he has a Ph.D. in physics and has a fancy job in D.C., presumably making buckets more money than most of the cool kids with whom we went to school. You just never know where someone is going to end up. (Especially those "nerdy" kids.)
And today I mentioned to the service center guy that tomorrow was my last day. The service center guys are pretty much the bottom of the office totem pole--and a lot of people seem to treat them as such. But Service Center Guy and I always joked around and I treated him the same as I would any attorney that I work with. So, when I mentioned that I was leaving and why, he told me that his wife also works in a law firm and that they are looking for an attorney. Maybe it'll work and and maybe it won't, but I wouldn't even have that opportunity if I didn't have a relationship with Service Center Guy.
As it turns out, lots of people in my firm are trying to help with my situation. A secretary gave me the name of another firm that is hiring, and another associate gave me the link for his law school's job board. Next week, I'm meeting two other associates at a bar association meeting targeted at women-hopefully a good networking opportunity.
Even Partner called today and told me to use him as a reference (yes, I was shocked.) I think he was impressed that I was still working and sending out email about my cases today. But I am determined to leave with my character in tact.
Oh, and I got a request from another firm to do an interview next week! I haven't even started sending out my resume yet. (I was trying to jazz it up a little bit yesterday before I started sending it out.) I think the recruiter I was working with sent them my info--even though she can't collect a recruiting fee from that firm.
Things are looking up. Hopefully my unemployment will be short-lived and I will be moving on to bigger and better in no time.
2 comments:
Your advice is so true...besides the fact that someone might end up helping you out, it shows that you can appreciate you're all human...I could never understand why lawyers couldn't treat people in duplicating or IT like the rest of their coworkers when really they're some of the nicest, most normal people in the building!
Good luck with the job search and congrats on making it to the weekend!
Thanks, Leo.
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