Back In The Race: Contemplating Change

If you're a temporary employee, should you look for a permanent position elsewhere while still employed or stay on at your current firm as long as possible in the hopes that it might lead to a formal hire?

It’s been a while since I posted about my job situation. It’s been a month and a half since I started working at the new firm and so far, I am enjoying it. The work is challenging, I am always busy, and I am given a good level of autonomy. I get along well with the attorneys and support staff and for the most part, I am treated as one of their own. I wish I got paid a little more, but I hope that will change in the future.

But there are times when I worry about being let go once the work is finished. And when that happens, it will be difficult finding another job because when you are unemployed, recruiters and employers automatically presume you are a failure, are a loser, are incompetent, have criminal tendencies, are likely to sue your boss (or even kill your boss), have no qualms about stealing, or are just plain weird.

So I have been thinking about making a career move. Should I look for a permanent position elsewhere while I am still employed? Or stay on at my current firm as long as possible in the hopes that it would lead to a formal hire?

To understand where I am coming from, let me explain what I and people like me had to go through in our early post-graduate years. You see, for those who don’t get a job at OCI, we start our careers working for a solo practitioner, a small firm, or some quasi-legal outfit. There is nothing wrong with that, as you get typically more hands-on and practical experience, and it’s better than nothing. But in most cases, there is no job security working for a solo or a small firm. Some solo and small firm practices have unstable income and it is a matter of time before business gets slow and cutbacks have to be made.

For most people, getting laid off comes as a surprise. One day, you are summoned to your supervisor’s office and are told that you are no longer needed. Your boss might give you his reasons for doing it. Or he might not. In any case, your boss hands you your final check and asks that you leave the premises immediately. Since I have been working for a while and have run my own practice, I understand why employers do this. It was a business decision and so you have to be let go as soon as possible in order to save costs. Also, employers are afraid that the employee will do something malicious if he knows the end is coming.

Once you are let go, unless you have made exit plans during your employment, you will have little choice but to check the classifieds on your smartphone while taking the subway to the unemployment office. This wouldn’t be so bad if employers and recruiters primarily hired from the unemployment pool. But for various (and some stupid) reasons, it is becoming harder to find a job when you have committed the crime of being unemployed.

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Because I want to avoid the headaches I described above, I have been giving serious thought about applying to other full-time positions while I am still employed and get along well with everyone. The firm I work for now is fairly well-known and respected. Being associated with them may present other opportunities which may never appear again if I do not take action. And if I were to get an offer elsewhere, I’m sure that Stephanie and her partners would understand and we can part ways amicably.

But I want to stay. They gave me a shot and my loyalty stays with them. Their office is in a nice part of town. The attorneys are smart and aggressive when the going gets tough. Yet they are also down to earth, have a sense of humor, and appreciate having a work-life balance. The work is exciting and the client list is impressive. I definitely see some growth potential. In short, I really like it here.

So while I won’t be sending out resumes anytime soon, at the very least I’ll look around and see what other opportunities are out there. I’ll also try to make some new connections and eventually bring in business.

I want to close by sharing what I would like to see from a firm and its managers if they want me to continue working for them.

Bonuses – Money talks. Assuming everyone gets a year end or holiday bonus, I want one as well.

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Inclusion – I want to feel like I am an integral part of the firm’s operations. If I get the feeling that I am being isolated, that worries me and makes me wonder if I am going to be laid off.

Trust – At some point, you’ll have to trust my work product and my judgment. I know that trust has to be earned and is easily lost. But if you don’t trust me after some time, then you probably never will and we’ll waste our time second guessing each other.

Communication – For the first few months, I’ll need constant feedback on my performance. I need to know whether I’m doing something right or if something needs to be fixed.

Help – Let’s face it: I’m not perfect. I’m going to make a mistake eventually. And several more mistakes after that. If you catch me screwing up, please help.

Next week, I plan to feature another former solo practitioner or small-firm partner who closed up shop for better or for worse. If you want to share your story, please send it to me. Click here to get an idea as to what I am looking for. While I am not necessarily looking for a crash and burn story, I and other readers of this column would like to know whether going on your own has helped your long-term career goals. Also, please include any challenges you faced and mistakes you made.


Shannon Achimalbe was a former solo practitioner for five years before deciding to sell out and get back on the corporate ladder. Shannon can be reached at sachimalbe@excite.com.