Regardless of the career path you choose, you will need to brand and market yourself effectively to get the job you want. Check out the video above and read through this guide for tips and ideas on how to get started.

Know Yourself

Look back on your education, work and volunteer experiences and identify the core competencies and skills you have developed. Reflect on the activities you performed in each position and:

• List your technical legal skills, grouping them based on areas of law (e.g. tax law) or type of skills (e.g. legal research).
• List your “soft” skills (e.g. problem-solving, leadership) and think of situations where you demonstrated these skills.
• Discuss your findings with a mentor, a trusted colleague or at one of CRIEC’s Core Competency workshops.

Brand Yourself

Now you need to tell others who you are and what you are looking for in your career. You will need to tailor your resume, cover letter and LinkedIn profile to demonstrate that you are a good fit for the job you aspire to have. For example, a resume for an office administrator job will be different than one for a commercial lawyer.

Here are steps to consider:

1. Prepare a resume that features your core competencies and values, and indicate how they have been demonstrated throughout your education, work and volunteer experiences.
2. Compare your resume and LinkedIn profile to relevant job postings. Note gaps and address them if possible.
3. Work with your mentor or resume writer to enhance your resume and LinkedIn profile. CRIEC workshops can also assist you with that.

Market Yourself

Now make yourself known and connect with professionals who can assist you in successfully pursuing the career path you have chosen.

Steps to consider:

1. Develop your professional network. Seek out a mentor and make connections with professionals working in your career path.
2. Join the Canadian Bar Association in your community, if you are eligible, and groups created to connect ITLs (e.g. Global Lawyers of Canada).
3. Volunteer in a community organization, legal clinic or research centre (e.g. Calgary Legal Guidance).

CRIEC has several no-cost strategies to help get you ready for employment—including mentoring, workshops, observerships in legal workplaces and more. Connect with us to learn more.

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