This has never happened to me. I have been working in the public sector for 30 years. I have had a paying job since I was 10. Friday I was handed my walking papers. “It’s not working out,” despite being a productive member as a paralegal at this law firm for two years. I am an obscenely hard worker and know my work.
Anyway, any encouraging words or advice? I have sent out eight resumes so far. I get e-mail postings from Monster every day. I check craigslist several times a day and have an interview scheduled as a result of an ad I found there, though it pays $3.50 an hour less than I make right now. I have put the word out with all friends and brothers.
I am already getting depressed and spending far too much time on here, though that does help my mood a little.
Any Madison dopers know of any legal support positions? Any other dopers have any “I’ve been there” stories? I need the pay and insurance, and I am a self-supporting mom, and I am scared to death.
I hope you find a job quickly. Getting the lesser paying job will definitely help while you look for a higher paying one. You never know what will open up from taking a job either. Definitely don’t spend all day on message boards.
If I knew of any leagal support positions I’d be applying for them myslf. i went through MATC’s paralegal program several years ago, only to be told in my last semester that paralegals don’t get hired in Madison because firms hire the law school grads because they can pay them paralegal wages while they do lawyer work.
Sorry I can’t be more encouraging. Joblessness sucks.
Thanks guys. I think I actually have a good chance with the low low paying job. She likes my work ethic. Unfortunately the insurance also sucks. But I know it is much better to be employed when looking for employment.
Otto, thanks for the input. I have to say, the boss that didn’t like me at my current (oh, I mean last) job was an attorney in Rhinelander for 30 years. He said attorneys in Rhinelander don’t make as much as I make. That would be $31K a year. Methinks attorneys that work in Rhinelander that make that are fairly dumbass.
Hijack my own OP: Otto, have you checked your post about the popcorn?
Leaffan, nudge my now-dead brain about who all I can network with (and please provide your definition of “spam”). I have e-mailed: my brothers and their spouses (who are all well connected with area employers), former co-workers, co-workers of former co-workers, friends, loved ones… boggles the mind. Oh, parents too. So, maybe I am covering my bases.
So anyone know how to cheer me up in the meantime?
Maybe a law firm job isn’t the answer. I don’t know how things work over in Wisconsin, but have you checked into civil service opportunities as a state or county worker in the court system? Is there a court clerk or judge’s secretary who you’ve become phone-friendly with over the years who you can ask about upcoming opportunites or upcoming civil service tests, or who can at least put you in touch with human resources? Is there a court system website you can check? In our court system, jobs come in two basic flavors: “competitive” jobs, which require you to pass a test and get on a list of eligible candidates, and “non-competitive” jobs, which do not require a test and which are generally given to somebody who knows somebody, so if you happen to be fortunate enough to know/be related to somebody who has any political pull whatsoever, don’t be shy. (I realize that you probably don’t have a party boss uncle stashed somewhere, but I had to cover all the possibilities.) Have you checked to see if your local D.A. or County Attorney’s office uses paralegals? Around here, the Probation Department (oddly enough) has people who prepare petitions at no cost for people who want to file pro-se in Family Court; you might want to find out if your county does something similar.
I hope my suggestions aren’t completely useless; I am not a paralegal myself, I am a civil service court employee in my state (which is not Wisconsin). Civil service isn’t glamorous, but it tends to be steady work with decent benefits, at least around here.
Consider joining www.linkedin.com and linking yourself with whoever you know - especially other lawyers or paralegals you have worked with. That’s one way “networking” is done these days (by adults).
I know it must sting - but don’t let it bother you. Sometimes it just isn’t a fit. That may say more about them than you.
I left a company in 2001. I just didn’t fit. I dunno why, I have fit everywhere else I ever worked. Not there. No one ever wanted to do lunch, no one ever even said good morning when I came in.
My next job was head and shoulders up. I came in people called to me as I passed. Your next job will be better.
Have you applied for unemployment benefits? You’re been paying into them for years, so why not take advantage of them now? It might ease your mind to know you have an emergency source of income.
Don’t worry too much about it. If need be you can apply for unemployment and this way your days are free for networking and interviewing. I am sure you will be gainfully employed again very soon!