Master of Legal Studies
Pursuing a Career
Career Strategy and Professional Development
Mentoring Center
Print Date: 00/00/00
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I.
The M.L.S. Career Path……………………………………………………………………1
II. The M.L.S. Experience………………………………………………………………….…2
Marketing Yourself and Your M.L.S. to Employers
III. M.L.S. Application Materials………………………………………………………….….4
Preparing your Application Materials
1. Step 1: Identify the attributes the employer to whom you are applying is
seeking.
2. Step 2: Know your skills
3. Step 3: Draft your resume
4. Step 4: Draft a cover letter
IV. Helpful Hint for Successful Interviewing…………………………………….….…..17
Researching the Employer
Practicing Your “Sales Pitch”
Practicing Answers to Questions
1. Interview questions most frequently asked by employers
2. Questions to ask interviewers
3. Strategies for answering the dirty dozen questions
4. What do you do after the interview?
V. Using Job Search Resources………………………………………………..…………24
Resources at Arizona State University
1. ASU Career Services
2. Graduate College Services
3. ASU Alumni Association
4. ASU Hayden Library
Internet Resources
1. Alternative Law Careers: Websites of Interest
a. General Job Search
b. Arizona Job Resources
c. Business
d. Court Administration
e. Government
f. Health Care
g. Legal Education and Law-Related Careers
h. Media
THE M.L.S. CAREER PATH
Students in the unique, interdisciplinary Master of Legal Studies program receive an education
that better prepares them to advance in their chosen career or to enter a new field in which the
foundation provided by the program will help to assure future success. The M.L.S. program
gives students a basic familiarity with law, legal thought and the legal process and its
relationship to other fields, including biotechnology and genomics, real estate development, law
enforcement, human resources, corporate governance and a variety of entrepreneurial
disciplines. A graduate’s ability to assess his/her skills and strengths and market them to an
employer will drive the graduate’s success in the job market.
Career Choices
The career options for a person with a M.L.S. degree are only limited by his or her imagination.
When considering a new career, it is important to develop a career plan that includes selfassessment of the skills you brought into the M.L.S. program and the skills you acquire during
your course of study. When analyzing the skills you brought into your program—consider where
you have previous experience such as management, accounting, or human resources? Then
assess the fundamental legal skills you acquired through the M.L.S. program: problem solving,
legal analysis and reasoning, legal research, negotiation, dispute resolution, recognizing and
resolving ethical dilemmas. Also consider important generic characteristics such as energy,
initiative, motivation, follow-through, ability to juggle multiple tasks and priorities, picking up new
information quickly, dealing with time pressures and tight deadlines, and working well in team.
Identifying these characteristics and legal skills you acquire in your program will give you
strength when marketing yourself to employers.
Types of Employment
The skills developed from legal studies are highly beneficial in many professions. A sampling of
these professions would be arts and entertainment, banking and financial, bar associations,
communications, court administration, consulting, corporate training and human resources,
education administration and teaching, environmental, foundations, associations and non-profit
organizations, government, health care, labor, law enforcement, libraries, lobbying, public affairs
and politics, marketing and sales, real estate, sports, technology, and telecommunications. Jobs
that might be available within these professions are varied and depend on your level and type of
education and previous work experience.
Once you have identified job titles that interest you, you will want to determine the skills
necessary to succeed in that field and match those skills against your own strengths such as
personal attributes, educational achievements, and work experience. Next, learn all you can
about the organizations and types of positions in which you’re interested. This information will
give you credibility in the marketplace and provide direction for marketing your skills. Conduct
informational interviews to learn about these jobs. Once you talk to people who do what you
think you might like to do you will have the information you will need to persuade employers that
you are the right person to hire.
The M.L.S. Experience
Graduates from the Program should emerge with a working knowledge of the legal process, a
firm grounding in the discipline of legal research and analysis, and a solid introductory familiarity
with the law and legal literature.
Choosing classes in your particular areas of interest will also help you develop substantive
knowledge of the law as well as analytical and problem-solving skills necessary to understand
both the underlying theory and practical applications of the law in that area.
Students currently enrolled in the Masters in Legal Studies Program come from a variety of
fields and have diverse goals in areas such as the following:
Biosciences – legal regulation of science or
the protection of intellectual property
Business – better understanding of the legal
system in which they operate
Compliance – compliance officer with NCAA
Construction – development/ranching/
agricultural industries
Contracts
Finance
Government
Health Care
Human Resources
Journalism – desire to report on law-related
events
Law Enforcement – advance within a police
department
Real Estate Development
Sustainability
Technology
Your course of study will allow you to customize your study of law, which can either complement
and advance your current career or catapult you into an entirely new field.
Marketing Yourself and Your M.L.S. to Employers
Anticipate that employers will be unfamiliar with the M.L.S. degree and be prepared to educate
the employer about the degree and the academic preparation you have received. Make sure
that you develop compelling arguments to the questions listed below and back up your
arguments with information that will assist the employer in making an effective hiring decision.
Know the answers to the following questions before writing cover letters and scheduling
interviews.1
1. Provide Critical Facts and Details:
What are your credentials and qualifications as they relate to the job?
What are your practical skills as they relate to the job?
What do you know about the organization?
Why do your skills fit the job/organization?
How can you make a difference to the bottom line?
2. Expand on the Possibilities:
What kind of contribution can you make in the job?
What can you contribute to the organization?
1
Source: Lisa L. Abrams, J.D., “Selling Your Talents to Non-Traditional Employers”
What are possible ways your M.L.S. help you make a contribution?
How can your creative skills help the organization?
How are the skills you developed in your M.L.S. program transferable to this field or job?
3. Show that it makes sense to hire you:
Why does it make sense to hire you to do the work?
What are the advantages to hiring someone with a M.L.S. degree?
4. Impress the employer with your enthusiasm for their work:
Why do you want to do this type of work?
What experiences have you had that prove that you enjoy this work?
What do you have to offer the employees and consumers/clients of the organization?
What motivates you?
M.L.S. Application Materials
As you are probably aware, some of the most important components of a job application include
the resume, cover letter and interview. This section is a compilation of ideas and exercises
which provide a source of information for drafting a successful resume and cover letter, and also
for helping you to prepare for an interview. The information is put together from a variety of
sources, so some of the material and advice may be fairly universal. It is intended to be useful
for all M.L.S. students, regardless of where they might be in their career goals: this includes
candidates who are just beginning their careers and seasoned veterans. Feel free to use what
you like and what works for you.
Preparing Your Application Materials
STEP 1: Identify the Attributes the Employer is Seeking
The attributes which are sought after by most employers generally can include determination,
self-confidence, creativity, excellent analytical and writing skills, persuasiveness, persistence,
commitment, high energy, maturity, conscientiousness, attention to detail, thoroughness, and
good people skills. Identifying the specific attributes sought after by an employer is very
important, and you will need to flush out as much detail as possible about the position you seek
so you can match these qualities and skills with those you possess. If the job title is “Human
Resources Specialist” what does that really mean? What are the daily tasks? Distilling the job
down to the basic required skills might help you see that the skills you have learned during the
course of the M.L.S. Program have provided you with tremendous transferable skills.
STEP 2: Know Your Skills
Once you have identified the important attributes of the position you are seeking, it is important
for you to know what types of skills you have acquired (or will be acquiring) by virtue of having
obtained a M.L.S. degree. While your degree will not allow you to actually practice law, you will
learn many of fundamental legal skills during the course of your studies.
For example, you likely have developed strong legal research, writing, analytical, and problemsolving skills during the course of the Program. For a more specific listing of legal skills, the list
of fundamental lawyering skills outlined by the American Bar Association task force report on
the legal profession (“the MacCrate Report”) follows. You should review this list and make sure
you are highlighting some of these skills in your resume, cover letter and interview based on the
attributes you know will be important to the employer to whom you are applying:
Problem Solving
 Identifying and diagnosing problems
 Generating alternative solutions and
strategies
 Developing a plan of action
 Implementing the plan

Keeping the planning process open to new
information and new ideas
Legal Analysis and Reasoning
 Identifying and formulating legal issues
 Formulating relevant legal theories



Elaborating legal theory
Evaluating legal theory
Criticizing and synthesizing legal
argumentation
Legal Research
 Knowledge of the nature of legal rules and
institutions
 Knowledge of and ability to use the most
fundamental tools of legal research
 Understanding of the process of devising
and implementing a coherent and effective
research design
Factual Investigation
 Determining the need for factual
 investigation
 Planning a factual investigation
 Implementing the investigative strategy
 Memorializing and organizing information in
an accessible form
 Deciding whether and when to conclude the
process of fact-gathering
 Evaluating the information that has been
gathered
Communication
 Assessing the perspective of the recipient of
the information
 Using effective methods of communication
Counseling
 Gathering information relevant to the
decision to be made
 Analyzing the decision to be made
Negotiation
 Preparing for negotiation
 Conducting the negotiation session
 Counseling the client about the terms
obtained from the other side in the
negotiation and implementing the client’s
decision
Organization and Management of Legal Work
 Formulating goals and principles for
effective practice management systems and
procedures that ensure that time, effort and
resources are allocated efficiently
 Developing systems and procedures to
ensure that work is performed and
completed at the appropriate time
 Developing systems and procedures for
effectively working with other people
Recognizing and Resolving Ethical Dilemmas
 Understanding the nature and sources of
ethical standards
 Knowing the means by which ethical
standards are enforced
 Following the processes for recognizing and
resolving ethical dilemmas
GENERIC CHARACTERISTICS
 Energy
 Initiative
 Motivation
 Follow-through
 Ability to juggle multiple tasks and prioritize
 Ability to pick up new information quickly
 Ability to deal with time pressures and tight
deadlines
 Ability to work well in a team
STEP 3: Draft Your Resume
Now that you are familiar with the attributes required for the job you are seeking as well as the
transferable skills you are acquiring through the Program and those you brought to the program, you
can concentrate on drafting a resume that best conveys what you have to offer an employer. The most
useful resume is not a mere written record of what you’ve done in the past. Instead, a resume should
be your own personal marketing tool. A well-drafted resume:





Summarizes your education and experience
Introduces you to potential employers and focuses their attention on pertinent areas of your
background
Gets you through the door to an interview
Shows prospective employers how your background makes you valuable
Serves as an example of your work product
All of this boils down to one point: your resume tells employers what a great job you can do for them. If
you keep this in mind when preparing your resume, you will end up with a great product that fits your
needs.
Format and Stylistic Details
A visually appealing resume will command more attention. Aim for spaciousness and ease of reading.
Most people will spend about 30 seconds reviewing resumes—those that look promising are set aside
for a second look. A concise, easy-to-read resume with a professional appearance stands a better
chance of receiving this second look. Keep the following guidelines in mind:

Various formats can be used effectively,
so select a format that appeals to you
and best highlights your background. A
few samples are presented in this
handbook. Make sure any format you
choose uses white space, headings,
spacing, and indentation effectively and
consistently and does not have a
cluttered appearance. Pertinent
information should easily jump out at the
reader.

Your resume should be in an outline
format, rather than narrative.

Use a good quality printer.

Avoid the urge to use an unusual format
to stand out from the crowd. Employers
are much more impressed by a crisp
and professional resume which presents
your qualifications in an easily readable
manner.

Use letter-size white or cream good
quality paper, 20 lb. weight or heavier.

Use black ink and a conservative font
between 10 and 14 points in size.

A good rule of thumb is 1" margins on all
four sides of your resume.
Resume Do’s and Don’ts
DON’Ts:
DOs:

Proofread, proofread, proofread - and
then have someone else read the
resume as well. Fresh eyes often catch
errors you may have missed.

Don’t include irrelevant information.

When describing past employment,
don’t include salaries, reasons for
leaving, or street addresses of
employers.

Be consistent in format and text.

Effectively use white space, headings,
spacing, and indentations.

Don’t use first person pronouns (I, me,
mine).

Be concise and positive.


Include all work experience and
volunteer experience that demonstrates
qualities attractive to employers.
Don’t use wild colors, funky fonts, legal
size paper, dot matrix printers, or poor
quality photocopies.

Don’t include personal information such
as marital status or age.

Where appropriate, tailor resume to
particular employers.

Don’t title the document “Resume.”

Be absolutely certain there are no
grammatical, typographical, or spelling
errors.

Don’t crowd information.

Don’t underline or indent excessively, or
use too much bold print.

Don’t say that “References are available
on request.” You will provide this
information, if it is requested, on a
Reference Sheet.
POSITION: Specialist CES-1
DIVISION: Foster Care Division
OPEN UNTIL FILLED
SALARY: $47,000 – $63,000
POSITION SUMMARY:
Are you interested in improving the lives of
children in Arizona? Do you enjoy working
in a fast paced team environment and have
experience in child welfare issues?
Maybe you should consider putting your
skills to work for the Arizona Supreme
Court as a member of the Foster Care
Review Board Program.
This position supports the Foster Care
Review Board (FCRB) Program. The FCRB
Program Specialist provides professional
level recommendation reports to the
Juvenile Court Judges, as well as
maintains professional relationships with
various child welfare stakeholders and the
public. The position facilitates citizen review
boards which review the cases of
dependent children in out-of-home care.
This position is responsible to prepare and
schedule assigned cases; notices to
interested parties; coordinate the exchange
of information during each review; develop,
prepare and distribute the recommendation
report for the court and all interested
parties; recruit and screen potential board
members; develop professional
relationships with case managers, board
members and other community service
providers; staff State Board and other
committees as recommended
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
A Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Social
Work, Public Administration or a related
field and five years experience in a related
field. Superior verbal and written
communication skills and adeptness in
performing multi tasks are essential.
Knowledge of the Arizona laws, policies
and procedures pertaining to the operation
of the Foster Care Review Boards.
Effective Resumes for the M.L.S. Job
Search
The following is an example of how an M.L.S.
student can identify transferable skills and use those
skills to create different types of resumes. The
example involves a fictional M.L.S. student (“Jane
Student” who is responding to a job posting.
Knowledge of the Arizona Department of
Economic Security/Child Protective
Services policies and procedures. Word
processing skills in Word at a timely speed
is required. Statewide overnight travel
required.
__________________________
Jane Student has worked as a clinical social worker for
several years and is seeking a new direction for her career
after completion of the M.L.S. program. She is considering
career options related to family law but knows that her
current resume will not impress these employers because
it is geared primarily toward social work. She learns that
she must first identify her skills and background that
translate well to the family law field. She reviews her
current resume against the following job advertisement to
develop her list of transferable skills:
JANE’S TRANSFERABLE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
**Advanced degree
**Familiar with program evaluation/review
**Strong interpersonal skills
**Organizational/administrative skills
**Training and experience in child welfare
**Case work and assessment experience
**Familiarity with state and local law
**Writing skills
1. Types of Resumes
JANE STUDENT
1006 Candlewood
Phoenix, AZ 85053
602-555-9845
jstudent@gmail.com
EXPERIENCE
Arizona State University, School of Social Work, Phoenix, AZ
9/03 – 7/09
Clinic Director
• Assisted with the promotion, recruitment and development of juvenile assistance program.
• Coordinated program records and maintained ongoing communication with superiors.
• Responsible for coordinating and conducting intake interviews for new cases.
• Assessed needs and prepared support services for persons with developmental disabilities.
Texas Migrant Council/CCMS (Child Care Management Services), Austin, TX 8/01 – 5/03
• Assessed social-economical needs and provided supportive counseling to children and families.
• Consulted with schools, agencies and day care centers to facilitate services for families.
• Connected families to community resources.
• Co-facilitated various groups including social skills groups with children ages 3-12, teen parenting
group, adult women’s support group, and staff support group.
Inner Resources Women’s and Children’s Recovery Center, Santa Fe, NM 9/98-5/01
Social Worker
• Developed and implemented various programmatic components, including a relapse curriculum
program for women and an agency wide food stamp exchange policy.
• Coordinated all social services for up to 21 clients residing at the facility.
• Conducted group sessions pertaining to life skills, job development and addiction recovery.
• Chosen as "Counselor of the Year, 2002" by supervisors.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
• Austin Housing Authority, Austin, TX
• U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman’s Office, Las Cruces, NM
• Families and Youth Inc., Las Cruces, NM
Typically, resumes are either
chronological or functional. Legal
resumes are chronological, but many
non-legal employers prefer either a
functional or targeted resume which has
the benefit of highlighting transferable
skills
• Documented client services in compliance with agency policy and contract requirements.
1/03–5/03
8/01-12/03
9/00-12/02
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Foster Care Executive Board, Maricopa County
2004-2007
Executive Board Member. Reviewed all foster placements in Pima County. Submitted recommendations
to encourage policy changes. Participated in rewriting the Arizona Code on Foster Care.
EDUCATION
Master of Legal Studies Candidate
Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Concentration: Administration and Planning
Bachelor of Social Work
New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
HONORS & AFFILIATIONS
• Member, National Association of Social Workers
May 2010
May 1998
Original Resume
2. Functional Resume
Functional resumes organize experience into specific categories that highlight specific
accomplishments, rather than showing your experience with each individual employer.
It organizes the applicant’s work and community experience into categories that relate to the
desired position. This format also places emphasis on specific experience gained in volunteer
and leadership positions.
JANE STUDENT
1006 Candlewood
Phoenix, AZ 85053
602-555-9845
jstudent@gmail.com
Family/Juvenile Experience
Arizona State University, School of Social Work, Phoenix, AZ
2003-2009
Clinic Director
• Assisted with the promotion, recruitment and development of juvenile assistance program.
• Coordinated program records and maintained ongoing communication with superiors.
• Responsible for coordinating and conducting intake interviews for new cases.
• Assessed needs and prepared support services for persons with developmental disabilities.
Texas Migrant Council/CCMS (Child Care Management Services), Austin, TX 2001-2003
• Assessed social-economical needs and provided supportive counseling to children and families.
• Consulted with schools, agencies and day care centers to facilitate services for families.
• Connected families to community resources.
• Co-facilitated various groups including social skills groups with children ages 3-12, teen parenting group,
adult women’s support group, and staff support group.
Inner Resources Women’s and Children’s Recovery Center, Santa Fe, NM 1998-2001
Social Worker
• Developed and implemented various programmatic components, including a relapse curriculum program
for women and an agency wide food stamp exchange policy.
• Coordinated all social services for up to 21 clients residing at the facility.
• Conducted group sessions pertaining to life skills, job development and addiction recovery.
• Documented client services in compliance with agency policy and contract requirements.
• Chosen as "Counselor of the Year, 2002" by supervisors.
Community Service
• Austin Housing Authority, Austin, TX
• U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman’s Office, Las Cruces, NM
• Families and Youth Inc., Las Cruces, NM
Jan-May 2003
2001-2003
2000-2002
Community Leadership
Foster Care Executive Board, Maricopa County
2004-2007
Executive Board Member. Reviewed all foster placements in Pima County. Submitted recommendations to
encourage policy changes. Participated in rewriting the Arizona Code on Foster Care.
EDUCATION:
Master of Legal Studies Candidate, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University,
May 2010, Tempe, AZ.
Bachelor of Social Work, New Mexico State University, May 1998, Las Cruces, NM
3. Targeted Resume
Targeted resumes allow an applicant to focus on his/her skills, work experience and leadership
roles that are directly transferable to the targeted position. As a result, the reader immediately
focuses on the skills she possesses that relate to the targeted position.
For a targeted resume, you should structure it in a skills format, followed by a “bare-bones” work
history. The work history should include job title, location, years and name of employer. The
description of each job will not be included because that information should be listed in your Skills
or Experience section. This section is important because it gives the reader a frame of reference to
measure not only the number of years you have been working, but also your level of experience.
JANE STUDENT
1006 Candlewood
Phoenix, AZ 85053
602-555-9845
jstudent@gmail.com
Summary of Qualifications
• Extensive training and experience in family/juvenile issues.
• Expertise in coordinating and working with social services.
• Skilled communicator and presenter.
• Familiar with case law and local statutes applicable to family law, juvenile law and foster care issues
• Skilled at developing and maintaining relationships.
Selected Accomplishments
Worked exclusively in the realm of social services, since 2001, specifically with issues pertaining to children
and family welfare.
Served as Board Member of the Maricopa County Foster Care Executive Board. Reviewed all foster
placements in Maricopa County. Submitted recommendations to encourage policy changes. Participated in
rewriting the Arizona Code on Foster Care.
Working knowledge of applicable statutes and ethical rules pertaining to local and state child welfare laws.
Participate in annual extensive training on child welfare issues.
• Coordinated program records and maintained ongoing communication with superiors.
• Responsible for coordinating and conducting intake interviews for new cases.
• Assessed needs and prepared support services for persons with developmental disabilities.
Assessed social-economical needs and provided supportive counseling to children and families.
• Consulted with schools, agencies and day care centers to facilitate services for families.
• Connected families to community resources.
• Co-facilitated various groups including social skills groups with children ages 3-12, teen parenting group,
adult women’s support group, and staff support group.
Employment History
Clinic Director, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Caseworker, Texas Migrant Council, Austin, TX
Social Worker, Inner Resources Women’s and Children’s Recovery Center,
Santa Fe, NM
2003-2009
2001-2003
1998-2001
Community Leadership
Foster Care Executive Board, Maricopa County
2004-2007
Executive Board Member. Reviewed all foster placements in Pima County. Submitted recommendations to encourage
policy changes. Participated in rewriting the Arizona Code on Foster Care.
Education:
Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Master of Legal Studies Candidate
May 2010
New Mexico State University, Bachelor of Social Work, Las Cruces, NM
May 1998
Step 4: Draft a cover letter
During your job search, much of your communication with legal employers will be by mail or email.
Cover letters are often your first contact with an employer and offer an excellent chance to make a
good first impression. Don’t waste this golden opportunity! A well-prepared cover letter will:
• Spark the employer’s interest in you
• Show how your credentials match the
employer’s needs
• Introduce you and your qualifications
• Show why you are sending your resume to
this particular employer
• Persuade the reader to pay attention to your
resume
• Indicate your interest in a geographic area,
if not apparent from your resume
• Above all, who an employer what’s in it for
them—why they should take the time to
read your resume and consider hiring you.
A. THE THREE TYPES OF COVER LETTERS
There are three general categories of cover letters you are likely to send. Each will have a slightly
different tone. They are:
Response to a Posted Job Opening: A cover letter will accompany every resume or application you
send in response to a job advertisement, unless the employer specifically directs otherwise. The
letter will state your interest in the opening, highlight your qualifications for the position, and
establish a logical connection between you and the employer.
A Personal Letter to Someone You’ve Met or Been Referred to: This is a very powerful type of
letter. Starting a letter with “[Mutual acquaintance] recommended that I contact you” almost
guarantees you will get a response. After this beginning, the letter will go on to explain why the
reader should meet with you and what you want to happen next (generally, an interview).
Targeted Mailers: If you don’t have the name of a mutual acquaintance with which to open your
letter, the next best thing is a targeted mailer. This is a letter that is carefully targeted to a small
group of employers that you have identified through research. The letter will show the employer,
based on what you know about them, that you have skills they will be able to put to use.
B. MECHANICS OF DRAFTING A COVER LETTER
A cover letter should accompany your resume whenever you mail it to a prospective employer.
Keep the letter short and sweet - no more than one page, however, remember this letter represents
you and is a sample of your ability to write and to convey ideas. This “writing sample” will be
evaluated by the reader. These guidelines may assist you in formatting your cover letter.
Individualize: Type each letter individually - do not Xerox.
Paper: Cover letter paper and envelope should match your resume.
Proofread: Check your letter for grammatical, typographical or spelling errors.
Heading: Always direct your letter to a person, not a title (ie. “Dear Hiring Manager.”). If you are
responding to an advertisement, this person will generally be identified in the ad, otherwise, you will
have to do some research to find the right person. One way is to call the employer to ask who
handles employment inquiries.
The only exception to this rule of sending your letter to a particular individual, would be if the
advertisement to which you are responding directs you to send your materials to “Personnel
Department,” “Hiring Committee,” etc... In such case, always make sure your salutation is gender
inclusive, such as “Dear Sir or Madam.” You do not want to send letters to a female recruiting
manager that begins “Dear Sir.”
C. COVER LETTER DOs AND DON’Ts
DOs:
Use the name of a mutual acquaintance if you
were referred to an employer.
DON’Ts:
Say “Dear Sir” – this is the kiss of death if the
hiring manager is a woman.
Make it clear why you are sending a resume to a
particular company/firm. Explain your interest and,
where applicable, your interest in the geographic
area.
Repeat the name of the firm/company over and
over in the letter.
Think of the letter as a sample of your writing and
organizational ability. Keep it short and sweet.
Overdo references to the firm/company’s
“excellent reputation.”
Be certain the letter contains no typographical
errors, spelling mistakes, or grammatical errors.
Simply regurgitate your resume.
Use good quality paper that matches your resume.
Discuss specific coursework that pertains to the
position you’re seeking.
Be too cocky or attempt to be humorous.
Begin the letter with “Allow me to introduce
myself.”
Use the word “passion” to show your interest in
the firm/company. Explain your interest with
concrete examples.
D. SAMPLE PHRASES FOR COVER LETTERS
These phrases are offered as examples of the types of statements that may be useful as you prepare your
cover letters.
First Paragraph: (Introduction)
_________ recommended I contact you regarding opportunities in the field of biotechnology.
We met at XYZ Conference in May.
My interest in health care administration has prompted me to contact you.
I am currently enrolled in the Master of Legal Studies Program at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at
Arizona State University. (Do not start the cover letter with this sentence.)
I was pleased to see your advertisement for an intern because I have a strong interest in _____________.
I am responding to your advertisement posted on March 28, 2009 in the Arizona Republic.
I was interested to read about your company’s securities practice in the September issue of the Phoenix
Business Journal.
Second Paragraph: (Establishes Your Qualifications - Shows Why Employers Should Meet You)
Prior to beginning the Master of Legal Studies Program I spent ___ years as a ______.
The position you have advertised would enable me to use my background in_______.
My background in _______ would be an asset to _________ because…
My work at __________ strengthened my __________ skills in…
I developed strong ____________ skills at ___________ (college, prior job).
As President of __________, I gained experience in _____________.
I have been fortunate to gain extensive experience as _____________.
My experience working for _________ has strengthened my interest in ____________.
I can offer your firm/company __________________.
My background in ______________ might be of particular interest to you.
Third Paragraph: (What Happens Next)
I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to tell you more about the M.L.S.. program and discuss
my qualifications.
I am available for an interview at your convenience.
Thank you for taking the time to review my qualifications. I look forward to
speaking with you.
I may be contacted at __________ and look forward to hearing from you.
I would like to learn more about ______ and hope to meet with you in the near future.
E. SAMPLE FORM COVER LETTER
Your Address
City and State
Date
Contact Name
Firm Name
Address
City, State Zip
Dear (always use Ms. or Mr. Smith – not Brenda Smith):
First Paragraph: The first paragraph introduces you to the reader and explains why you are writing. It
should catch the reader’s attention and make them want to read the rest of the letter. If you are
responding to an advertisement, say so. If you have been referred to an employer by someone, say
“___________ recommended that I contact you.” If you are writing to an employer you became interested
in through research, you could open with a reference to what you found. Then describe yourself (“I am
pursuing my Master in Legal Studies degree at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State
University and have a strong interest in biotechnology.”)
Second Paragraph: The second paragraph establishes your value to the employer. Show the employer
how your past experiences have prepared you to do great work for them. To be effective, you must have
done research so that you are familiar with the employer’s areas of expertise, client base, and other
relevant factors. Your letter should demonstrate to the employer that you are familiar with their needs
and illustrate how your school and work background make you a good fit. If you have a strong connection
to the employer’s geographic location, show this. For example, if you are applying for a job with a real
estate developer, this would be the place to highlight specific courses you’ve taken that pertain to things
like bankruptcy, property valuation, and negotiation. Be careful not to simply repeat your resume. Focus
on those items on your resume that establish how your transferable skills will be of use to this employer.
Third Paragraph: The third paragraph states what you want to happen next. Let the employer know you
are available for an interview at their convenience. If you are writing to an out-of-town employer, indicate
when you will next be in the area.
Sincerely,
Signature
(BE SURE TO SIGN ALL YOUR LETTERS)
F. Sample Cover Letter
1006 Candlewood
(512) 555-9845
Phoenix, AZ 85053
June 1, 2010
Ms. Denise Jones
Arizona Supreme Court
Foster Care Review Division
1501 W. Washington
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Dear Ms. Jones:
I recently received a Master in Legal Studies degree from at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at
Arizona State University. The advertisement for a FCRB Program Specialist in the Arizona Republic is of
great interest to me because it would allow me to meld my extensive experience in social work with my
working knowledge of the legal process here in Arizona. I am confident that my combined training and
knowledge in these areas make me an attractive candidate for this position.
Prior to receiving my M.L.S. degree I worked extensively in the area of social work. As a result, I have
had considerable exposure to children and family-related issues. I was also privileged to work as a Clinic
Director for Arizona State University, where I maintained professional relationships with various child
welfare stakeholders and the public. Part of my duties entailed drafting professional level
recommendation reports to my department manager.
My M.L.S. degree afforded me the opportunity to learn much about Arizona and federal laws, policies and
procedures as they pertain to child welfare. In addition to developing substantive knowledge of the law, I
obtained analytical and problem-solving skills necessary to understand both the underlying theory and
practical applications of the law. I also learned how to effectively multi-task by working full-time while
simultaneously earning my degree.
I am available for an interview at any time and can be contacted at the above address, phone number
and email address. I look forward to speaking with you.
Sincerely,
(Written signature)
Jane Student
Enclosure
HELPFUL HINTS FOR SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEWING
The secret to a good interview is preparation. This cannot be emphasized enough. Your
preparation should include three parts - researching the employer, coming up with your own
“sales pitch,” and practicing answers to common questions you will be asked and the questions
you want to ask. Preparation will pay off, and a lack of preparation will be deadly.
1. Researching the Employer
Knowing as much as you can about the employer will make you feel more confident and will
impress the interviewer. Being prepared will also demonstrate your enthusiasm for the position.
Finally, your research may tell you whether or not you really want to work for this employer.
How do you conduct all this research? Whether you are researching an employer to identify
possible job opportunities or preparing for an interview, begin your research early. While you
may be able to access information easily through career or public libraries, you should not count
on having all the information you need, or having current or immediate access to information.
Think about sending away for information, contact individuals, or even visit a site out of the
immediate area.
Facts to Research - The following is a list of facts to know when gathering information on an
organization:
 Size of the organization in industry
 Annual sales growth for past five years
 Products and/or services
 How it differs from its competitors
 Geographic locations
 Reputation
 Corporate culture
 Number of plants, stores, branches, offices
 Organizational structure
 Location of headquarters
 Other companies they may own
 Relocation policies
 Typical career path in our field
 Company history
 In what areas they hire college graduates.
Obtaining these facts will help you stand out from your competition. However, think about how
to use and articulate this information to land the job.
2. Practicing Your “Sales Pitch”
The interview is your time to shine. If you have given some thought in advance to your strengths
and why they make you perfect for the job, things will go much more smoothly. Similarly, if you
have thought about how you will answer the typical “tough” interview questions, you will make a
much better impression.
Kimm Walton, author of Guerilla Tactics for Getting the Legal Job of Your Dreams, recommends
making up an infomercial about yourself. This would be a short statement that says the most
important things you want employers to know about you. It will include those points you want to
be sure you make - for example, highlighting how the analytical and problem-solving skills you
acquired from M.L.S. course work makes you a great candidate for the position. When
employers ask “What are your strengths” or “Why should we hire you” you will have an answer.
To come up with your infomercial, Kimm suggests the following steps. First, think about your
background and pick out those accomplishments you are most proud of. Then, identify three to
five job related strengths those accomplishments show you have, such as the ability to work
under pressure or excellent writing and presentation skills, or working well as part of a team.
Next, memorize an infomercial that cites your job-related skills and uses your accomplishments
for support. For example, you might say “I work well under pressure. At my last job, I was able
to step in for a co-worker who left our company and finish the year-end bookkeeping in one
week.” Of course, everyone’s infomercial will be different, but this gives you the idea. Finally,
you will tailor your infomercial to the particular employer with whom you are interviewing.
Certain parts of your background will be of greater interest to some employers than others. Use
what you have learned about the employer through your research to emphasize qualities the
employer values.
You will probably not use all of your infomercial in every interview. But having prepared the
infomercial will ensure that you are ready to answer all of those tough interview questions like
“Tell me about yourself.” You can then just highlight a few of the job-related skills and
supporting examples that make up your infomercial, choosing those that are most relevant to
the employer.
Most importantly, be professional and be yourself. You want your words to be honest and
comfortable, and you do not want to sound artificial or canned. When you are selling yourself,
you are simply bringing out your own best qualities in the interview. There is no need to try to be
something you’re not.
3. Practicing Answers to Questions
There are many questions that you will hear over and over in interviews. Think about how you
will respond to these questions and rehearse your answer if required. Make your answers
positive and honest. Also, be very familiar with your resume and writing sample if required. Be
prepared to answer any questions about anything you have done in the past. Consider the
following when answering the questions below:
Why did you pursue an M.L.S. degree?
Your answer should reflect motivation, drive, ambition, and commitment, not aimless drifting
into more school. For example, your answer could reflect that you are now better prepared
to pursue your current career, or that you are now ready to enter a chosen field because of
the foundation provided by the M.L.S. degree.
What are your career goals?
Your answer should reflect thoughtfulness, sense of making a contribution, goal orientation,
rather than merely job security.
4. Preparing Questions for the Interviewer
You should also prepare some questions you will ask the interviewer. Intelligent questions help
you learn about the employer, create personal rapport with the interviewer, and show off what
you know about the employer through your research. You can ask various categories of
questions, such as:
Personalized questions for the interviewer:
 How did you choose this job? or What kinds of cases are you working on?
Questions that show what you know about the employer:
 I read that you represent XYZ Company. Are they a typical client?
Questions about what your job experience would be like:
 What would a typical day be like?
 What kind of feedback will I get?
General employer questions:
 What are the company/firm/agency’s plans for the next five years?
 What are the objectives or plans for growth?
 What is the company/agency hierarchy?
 How does the company/firm/agency determine what type of work a new employee
is to be assigned?
Ask about training/supervision opportunities:
 Are there formal training programs? Are new employees encouraged to attend
outside training?
1. WHAT DO YOU DO AFTER THE INTERVIEW?
Always send a thank you letter to the interviewer after the interview. It can either be a typed letter or
a handwritten note if you have professional looking correspondence cards and good handwriting.
Thank them for their time, refer to something you discussed during the interview, and reiterate your
interest in the job.
At the end of your interview, ask the employer when they plan on contacting candidates for second
interviews or offers, and ask whether you can contact them if you haven’t heard back by that time.
A few days after that deadline, call if you haven’t heard anything. Just be polite and say something
like “I am calling to follow up on an interview I had two weeks ago with Jan Doe.” Employers often
don’t respond as quickly as you would wish. Do not take this personally!
2. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED BY
EMPLOYERS
As you continue to interview, you will notice that certain questions occur frequently. The following is
a list of questions, or variations of questions you will in one form or another be asked. Drafting
truthful and positive replies to each of these questions will help prepare you for your interviews.

Tell me something about yourself?
How would you describe yourself?

What do you know about us? Why do
you want to work for us?

Why should I hire you? What qualities
do you have that would make you a
successful at our
firm/agency/company?

Why did you decide to pursue your
M.L.S. degree? How has your degree
prepared you to work here?

What are your long range and short
range goals and objectives? When
and why did you establish these goals
and how are you preparing yourself to
achieve them? What do you see
yourself doing in five years?

Discuss a problem you solved
creatively.

What things do you do best?

Are you willing to travel or relocate?

Which is more important to you, the
money or the type of job? What
motivates you?

What two or three things are most
important to you in a job?

What did you like best about your last
job? What did you dislike most about it?
What was the most difficult decision
you had to make and why was it so
difficult?

Do you have any questions? What else
do you think I should know about you?
What was your most stressful

What salary do you hope to receive?

I see from your resume that you.(fill in
each item on your resume).

What are your weaknesses? What are
your strengths?




experience in your last position?
Describe your most rewarding careerrelated experience.
How would you solve this problem?
(This is your hypothetical question)
In what ways do you think you can
make a contribution to our
firm/agency/company?
3. QUESTION TO ASK INTERVIEWERS
It is not only appropriate but expected that a candidate will ask pertinent, well-thought–out
questions of the interviewer. Questions should be genuine and appropriately tailored to the
specific employer. The following sample questions are to serve as a stimulus in formulating
questions.

What type of work would I be doing in the beginning?

What type of supervision and responsibilities are given to a new employee?

What is the firm’s/company’s/agency’s management style and structure?

What criteria will be used to gauge my progress and performance?


When will I know of your decision?

What made you join the firm/company/agency? What do you like most/least about your job?
4. STRATEGIES FOR ANSWERING THE DIRTY DOZEN QUESTIONS
1. Tell me about yourself:
This is not an invitation to ramble on. Qualify
the question first. Ask something like, “What
area of my background would be most relevant
to you?” That enables the interviewer to help
you with the appropriate focus, so you can
avoid discussing irrelevancies. Never answer
this question without qualifying whether the
interviewer wishes to hear about your business
or personal life.
2. What is your greatest strength/
weakness?
Strength: Isolate high points from your
background and build in a couple of the key
value profiles from different categories. You will
want to demonstrate pride, reliability, and the
ability to stick with a difficult task yet change
course rapidly when required. You can
rearrange the previous answer here. Your
answer in part might be: “I believe in planning
and proper management of my time. And yet I
can still work under pressure.”
Weakness: This is a direct invitation to put your
head in a noose. Decline the invitation. If there
is a minor part of the job at hand where you
lack knowledge but knowledge you will
obviously pick up quickly — use that. For
instance: “I haven’t worked with this type of
spreadsheet program before, but given my
experience with six other types, I don’t think it
should take me more than a couple of days to
pick it up.” Here you remove the emphasis from
weakness and put it onto a developmental
problem that is easily overcome. Be careful,
however: This very effective ploy must be used
with discretion.
Another good option is to give a generalized
answer that takes advantage of value keys.
Design the answer so that your weakness is
ultimately a positive characteristic. For
example: “I enjoy my work and always give
each project my best shot. So when sometimes
I don’t feel others are pulling their weight, I find
it a little frustrating. I am aware of that
weakness, and in those situations I try to
overcome it with a positive attitude that I hope will
catch on.”
Also consider the technique of putting it in the
past. Here you take a weakness from way back
when, and show how you overcame it. It answers
the question but ends on a positive note. An
illustration: “When I first got into this field, I
always had problems with my paperwork — you
know, leaving an adequate paper trail. And to be
honest, I let it slip once or twice. My manager sat
me down and explained the potential troubles
such behavior could cause. I really took it to
heart, and I think you will find my paper trails
some of the best around today. You only have to
tell me something once.” With that kind of
answer, you also get the added bonus of showing
that you accept and act on criticism.
Congratulations! You have just turned a bear of a
question into an opportunity to sell yourself with
your professional profile. In deciding on the
particular answer you will give, remember that the
interviewer isn’t really concerned about your
general weaknesses — none of us are saints
outside of the interview room. He or she is simply
concerned about any red flags that might signal
your inability to perform the job or be manageable
in the performance of your duties.
3. Why did you leave your old job?
This is a common trick question. You should have
an acceptable reason for leaving every job you
have held, but if you don’t, pick one of the six
acceptable reasons from the employment
industry formula, the acronym for which is
CLAMPS:
Challenge: You weren’t able to grow
professionally in that position.
Location: The commute was unreasonably long.
Advancement: There was nowhere for you to go.
You had the talent, but there were too many
people ahead of you.
Money: You were underpaid for your skills and
contributions. (Be careful how you answer this.)
Pride or prestige: You wanted to be with a
better company.
Security: The company was not stable. For
example, “My last company was a family-owned
affair. I had gone as far as I was able. It just
seemed time for me to join a more prestigious
company and accept greater challenges.”
4. Why do you want to work for us?
To answer this question, you must have
researched the company and built a dossier.
Reply with the company’s attributes as you see
them. (You must have done your homework on
the company.) Cap your answer with reference
to your belief that the company can provide you
with a stable and happy work environment —
the company has that reputation — and that
such an atmosphere would encourage your
best work.
“I’m not looking for just another paycheck. I
enjoy my work and am proud of my profession.
Your company produces a superior
product/provides a superior service. I share the
values that make this possible, which should
enable me to fit in and complement the team.”
“Well, let’s see if I understand the responsibilities
fully...” You then proceed to itemize exactly what
you will be doing on a daily basis and the
parameters of your responsibilities and authority.
Once that is done you will seek agreement: “Is
this the job as I see it or have I missed anything?”
Remember to describe the job in its most
flattering and challenging light, paying special
attention to the way you see it fitting into the
overall picture and contributing to the success of
the department, workgroup, and company. You
can then finish your response with a question of
your own: “What figure did you have in mind for
someone with my track record?” or, “What range
has been authorized for this position?” Your
answer will include, in part, something along the
lines of, “I believe my skills and experience will
warrant a starting salary between ________ and
_______.”
You could also ask, “What would be the salary
range for someone with my experience and
skills?” or, “I naturally want to make as much as
my background and skills will allow. If I am right
for the job, and I think my credentials
demonstrate that I am, I am sure you will make
me a fair offer. What figure do you have in
mind?”
5. Why did you like your old job?
Always answer positively. Keep your real
feelings to yourself, if they’re negative. There is
a strong belief among the management
fraternity that people who complain about past
employers will cause problems for new ones.
Your answer is, “Very good” or, “Excellent.”
Then smile and wait for the next question.
Another good response is: “I would expect a
salary appropriate to my experience and ability to
do the job successfully. What range do you have
in mind?”
Such questions will get the interviewer to reveal
the salary range, and concentrate his or her
attention on the challenges of the job and your
ability to accept and work with those challenges.
6. What kind of salary are you looking for?
You are being asked to name a figure here.
Give the wrong answer and you can get
eliminated. It is always a temptation to ask for
the moon, knowing you can come down later,
but there are better approaches. It is wise to
confirm your understanding of the job and its
importance before you start throwing numbers
around, because you will have to live with the
consequences. You need the best possible
offer without pricing yourself out of the market,
so it’s time to dance with one of the following
responses:
When you are given a range, you can adjust your
money requirements appropriately, latching on to
the upper part of the range. For example, if the
range is $30,000-$35,000 a year, you can come
back with a range of $34,000-$37,000.
Consequently, your response will include: “That
certainly means we have something to talk about.
While your range is $30,000 to $35,000, I am
looking for a minimum of $34,000 with an ideal of
$37,000. Tell me, what flexibility is there at the
top of your salary range?” You need to know how
to put yourself in the strongest negotiating
position, and this is the perfect time and
opportunity to gain the information and the
advantage.
All this fencing is aimed at getting the
interviewer to show his or her hand first. Ask for
too much, and it’s “Oh, dear, I’m afraid you’re
over -qualified” — to which you can reply, “So
overpay me.” (Actually, that works when you
can carry it off with an ingratiating smile.) If your
request is too low, you are likely to be ruled out
as lacking the appropriate experience.
When you have tried to get the interviewer to
name a range and failed, you must come up
with specific dollars and cents. At this point, the
key is to understand that all jobs have salary
ranges attached to them. Consequently, the last
thing you will ever do is come back with a
specific dollar figure — that traps you. Instead,
you will mention your own range, which will not
be from your minimum to your maximum but
rather from your midpoint to your maximum.
Remember, you can always negotiate down,
but can rarely negotiate up.
7. What do you know about our
company/firm?
You can’t answer this question unless you have
enough interest to research the company/firm
thoroughly. If you don’t have the interest, you
should expect someone who has made the
effort to get the job.
to be the same people who cause the most
disruption in a department. This question means
the interviewer has no desire to hire trouble. “I
liked her as a person, respected her
professionally, and appreciated her guidance.”
10. What are your long-range goals?
The safest answer contains a desire to be
regarded as a true professional and team player.
As far as promotion, that depends on finding a
manager with whom you can grow. Of course,
you will ask what opportunities exist within the
company before being any more specific: “From
my research and what you have told me about
the growth here, it seems operations is where the
heavy emphasis is going to be. It seems that’s
where you need the effort and where I could
contribute toward the company’s goal.” Or, “I
have always felt that first-hand knowledge and
experience open up opportunities that one might
never have considered, so while at this point in
time I plan to be a part of (e.g.) operations, it is
reasonable to expect that other exciting
opportunities will crop up in the meantime.”
11. Do you like to work overtime?
You’ll want to stress that you pride yourself on
your ability to manage your time and that you
believe one should usually be able to get the job
done within an 8- hour day schedule. However,
you will do whatever it takes to meet a deadline.
8. Why should we hire you?
12. You seem over-qualified (or underqualified)
Your answer will be short and to the point. It will
highlight areas from your background that relate
to current needs and problems. Recap your
interviewer’s description of the job, meeting it
point by point with your skills. Finish your
answer with: “I have the qualifications you need
(itemize them), I’m a team player, I take
direction, and I have the desire to be a
complete success.”
Ask what they mean in order to better understand
the objection. Then state your reasons for
wanting to work there (with enthusiasm) and
show how you will be a valuable employee. For
under-qualified, stress the personality
characteristics you have that will make you a
valuable employee and meet the job
requirements point-by-point with the qualifications
you do have.
9. What did you think of your old boss?
Taken from Knock ‛Em Dead
Be short, sweet, then shut up. People who
complain about their employers are recognized
USING JOB SEARCH RESOURCES
You know your employment-related skills and strengths. Your next step is to identify where you
want to use them. You will need to use multiple resources to research where your opportunities
lie. Use this five step approach as a job search strategy:
Job Search Strategy
Identify
Research
Utilize
Develop
Maintain
your work-related skills and interests.
career possibilities and fields that match your qualifications.
multiple job search strategies and resources.
a strategy to implement your plan of action for employer targets.
accurate records, timelines and follow-up procedures.
ASU offers several means to help you with your job search. Using the services listed below will
assist in accessing on-campus recruiting opportunities, job listings, and career and job fairs as
well as help you prepare for the job search process and identify employment opportunities.
A. Resources at Arizona State University
1. ASU Career Services, Student Services Building Rm. 329
http://career.asu.edu
Whether you are searching for a full-time career, an internship or a part-time job, the ASU
Career Services Office helps you find opportunities that align with your interests. Career
Services offers a variety of events from large-scale job fairs serving all majors and interest
areas, to smaller career mixers, which are often targeted to specific industries. Each ASU
campus also hosts signature events every semester to help you succeed in your job search
endeavors.
When you attend one of their many career-related events, you will network with recruiters from
companies, agencies and organizations throughout the country while collecting information on
internships and career opportunities in your desired field. Two of the signature events on the
Tempe campus are Career Fiesta in the fall semester and the Collegiate Job Fair in the spring.
Check the Career Services website at the beginning of each semester for dates, locations and a
list of participating employers.
Career Fiesta
Fall Semester
Memorial Union, Arizona Ballroom, Tempe campus
This large annual career fair takes place on the Tempe campus with more than 100 employers
attending each of the four days, representing organizations from a wide range of industries.
Career Fiesta is intentionally scheduled early in the fall semester to set the tone for the entire
recruiting season, and students and alumni from all majors and disciplines are encouraged to
participate. Register at the event; it's free and quick, so just bring your Sun Card or old ASU I.D.
to receive a name tag. For a list of the employers attending log on to Sun Devil CareerLink with
your ASURITE ID or use the Guest View option on our web site at
http://www.students.asu.edu/career. This event is free for students, alumni, and community
members to attend.
ASU Sun Devil CareerLInk http://career.asu.edu
Sun Devil CareerLink is a national, Web-based system for recruiting ASU students for non-legal
employment and internship opportunities. It is provided by ASU Career Services, in
collaboration with NACElink Network, which is owned and operated by the National Association
of Colleges and Employers. There is no cost to use Sun Devil CareerLink, and you will need
your ASURITE UserID to register.
See what you can do with Sun Devil CareerLink





Apply for jobs and internships, nationally and internationally, targeted to only ASU
students.
Schedule on-campus interviews for jobs and internships.
Post your resume for employers to see.
Receive e-mails with important information about upcoming career events.
Build a Job Search Agent to monitor jobs as they are posted. You can have up to 10
agents and give each its own name.
Register with Sun Devil CareerLink
Get the inside scoop on career events. Register with Sun Devil CareerLink today and start your
job search process. You will need to sign in with your ASURITE UserID then complete the
registration form. For instructions on how to use this service, please see a student user guide
located at the end of this document.
2. Graduate College Services
http://graduate.asu.edu
The Graduate College at ASU provides support for all phases of the graduate student
experience, including services for assisting with in-school and post-graduate employment. They
provide a variety of workshops and programs designed to help you prepare for a successful
academic or professional job search.
Teaching and Research Assistantships
The most common forms of financial support for graduate students at ASU are graduate
research and teaching assistantships.
Applications for graduate teaching/research assistantships are available in either Word or pdf
format at graduate.asu.edu/forms, or through a student's academic unit. Graduate
teaching/research assistantship vacancies are posted by the hiring unit (usually on their website
or their college's website). Students are encouraged to contact those units where their
academic credentials, skills, and/or experience may be appropriate for an assistantship.
Assistantships carry a monthly compensatory stipend for services rendered, include activities
that are relevant to each student’s own program of study, and contribute to ASU’s teaching and
research effort. Each department publishes assistantship opportunities. Assistants must be
enrolled for a minimum of six credit hours each semester (audit hours do not count towards the
six hour minimum); appointments can range from ten to twenty hours a week. Stipend amounts
can vary according to the responsibilities of the position. Students who are nonresidents and
hold an assistantship pay tuition at the resident rate.
There are two assistantship categories:
Teaching Assistants have a primary responsibility in an instructional capacity. Services
provided by a graduate teaching assistant may include lecturing, leading discussion
groups, serving as assistants to laboratory classes, and grading tests and papers.
Research Assistants are selected for excellence in scholarship and promise as
researchers. They do part-time research as a portion of their training under the direct
supervision of regular faculty members.
Getting Your 1st Job After Graduate School
When your time at ASU draws to a close and you walk across the stage, we hope that you work
somewhere that will pay you for the extraordinary qualities you possess. The following
workshops hosted by the Graduate College, are meant to assist you in that process, whether
pursuing a professional career or a career within academia.
Academic Jobs http://graduate.asu.edu/sfs/workshops/Academic+Jobs
 Preparing Your Curriculum Vitae (Part 1)
How to construct an effective CV for the job search and other purposes including
various components of CVs and how to arrange them strategically.
 Interviewing for Academic Jobs
Information on the formats for academic (faculty position) job interviews held at
professional conferences, via phone, and on-campus.
 Preparing Your Curriculum Vitae (Part 2)
A hands-on interactive session to further develop your CV. Bring four copies of your
CV and get feedback for revisions. Previous attendance at Preparing Your Curriculum
Vitae (Part 1) is recommended.
 Constructing Teaching Portfolios (Part 2)
Provides the rationale, theoretical underpinnings, and contents for effective teaching
portfolios. We will also look at sample teaching philosophies, which are foundational
for any teaching portfolio.
 Preparing for the Academic Job Search
Learn about what you can be doing to prepare yourself for the academic job search,
beginning on the first day of graduate school. This workshop explores the many things
that you can and should be doing while in graduate school to be better prepared when
the time comes to take that next step.
Post-doc Jobs http://graduate.asu.edu/sfs/workshops/Post-doc+Jobs

Postdoc.com
Postdoc.com is the first niche recruiting channel and marketplace to bring together
recent Ph.D.s professors, research institutions and other employers to find a good
match. Website: www.post-docs.com

FindAPostDoc.com
A partner of FindAPhD.com, FindAPostDoc.com is a comprehensive guide to current
scientific research and post Ph.D. studentships all over the world.
Website: www.findapostdoc.com

AfterCollegeTM
AfterCollegeTM is a service for college students and recent graduates who are looking
for entry level jobs, internships, and other opportunities.
Website: www.aftercollege.com/jobseekers/phd

Research and Training Opportunities at the National Institute of Health
Website: http://www.training.nih.gov/postdoctoral/index.asp

Guide 4 Grads
Helpful tips for having a successful Post Doctoral experience. (pdf)
http://graduate.asu.edu/files/pdfs/Guide4Grads_ByGCT.pdf

Finding a Post Doc Position
Informative PowerPoint presentations from the workshop on Finding a Post Doc Position
that took place on Tuesday, October 23, 2007.
Presentation 1 (pdf) http://graduate.asu.edu/files/pdfs/Postdoc.pdf
Presentation 2 (pdf) http://graduate.asu.edu/files/pdfs/how_to_find_postdoc.pdf

National Institute of Health (NIH)
This site is a good place to start to see the research and training opportunities that are
available through the National Institute of Health (NIH).
Website: http://www.training.nih.gov/postdoctoral/index.asp

The Scientist
The Scientist has published an article entitled “The Best Places to Work 2008: Postdocs”
http://www.the-scientist.com/2008/3/1/53/1/# . Check this article out if you are
considering a Postdoc in a science oriented field upon graduation.
Professional Jobs http://graduate.asu.edu/sfs/workshops/Professional+Jobs
 Creating a Resume and Cover Letter
This workshop focuses on constructing a skill-based resume that will highlight
experiences from work, school or extracurricular activities to help you present yourself in
the most competitive way for non-academic professional positions.
 Interviewing for Professional Jobs
This workshop will cover how to prepare for and conduct yourself during an interview for
a job outside of academics, i.e. government, industry, or business, and what you can
expect in the job interview process from the initial interview to the final interview and job
acceptance.
 Interviewing for Professional Jobs
This workshop will cover how to prepare for and conduct yourself during an interview for
a job outside of academics, i.e. government, industry, or business, and what you can
expect in the job interview process from the initial interview to the final interview and job
acceptance.
3. ASU Alumni Association
As a current student you can take advantage of several of the career and employment services
available through the ASU Alumni Association. Of course, once you graduate, as a paid
member of the Association you will have even more opportunities to explore and develop your
career options. The following services may be of interest to you as you explore post-graduate
opportunities.
Career Network http://www.asu.edu/alumni/career/career_program.html
 Offers access to the ASU Alumni database for information interviewing and networking
contacts.
 Utilize the Job Portal, powered by Jobing.com to search for local and national job
openings.
 The Voice of Experience provides a series of videos of alumni career profiles and
interviews with local recruiters discussing what employers seek in candidates.
 View a calendar of events and opportunities to network with alumni including industry
specific career mixers. Students or non-members can attend for a nominal fee.
 The Sun Devil Career Advisor Network helps ASU alumni and students contact fellow
Sun Devils for insight into a particular career or career-related interest.
 ApplicantSearch is a new program designed to create a job match suited to your skills,
knowledge, abilities, and characteristics.
4. ASU Hayden Library
Business Related Guides to Employer Research
When researching potential employers, the following is a list of facts to know when gathering
information on an organization.
 Size of organization in industry
 Organizational structure
 Annual sales growth for past 5 years
 Location of headquarters
 Products and/or services
 Other companies they may own
 How it differs from its competitors
 Relocation policies
 Geographic locations
 Typical career path in your field
 Reputation
 Company history
 Corporate culture
 In what areas they hire college
 Number of plants, stores, branches
graduates
The following guides from the ASU Hayden Library provide a Business and Company Research
section that will supply facts regarding an organization’s products, locations, philosophy, career
opportunities and training, financial status, and future potential.
Agribusiness:
http://libguides.asu.edu/agribusiness
Business & Economics Databases:
http://libguides.asu.edu/BusDB
Arizona Business and Economic Statistics:
http://libguides.asu.edu/bizstatAZ
Business & Marketing Plans:
http://libguides.asu.edu/bus-mktplans
Arizona Business Information:
http://libguides.asu.edu/azbusinfo
Business (West Campus):
http://libguides.asu.edu/westbusiness
Economic sites on the Web:
http://libguides.asu.edu/econ
Historical Consumer Prices:
http://libguides.asu.edu/hprices
International Business Etiquette:
http://libguides.asu.edu/intletiq
Marketing and Advertising Resources:
http://libguides.asu.edu/mkt-advert
Marketing (West Campus):
http://libguides.asu.edu/westmarketing
Marketing Course Projects (Tempe
campus):
http://libguides.asu.edu/mktprojects
Salaries, Wages and Employee Benefits:
http://libguides.asu.edu/salaries
The complete list of guides is available at http://libguides.asu.edu/browse.php. If none of these
guides meet your needs, please contact one of the business librarians to see if they may be
able to provide more assistance.
B. INTERNET RESOURCES
When researching potential job opportunities, the following sources will provide a majority of the
job openings currently available.
1. Networking: Making contact with prospective employers through membership in
groups, clubs, and organizations has proven to be the best way to get to know people
who make hiring decisions. In addition to accessing the alumni network of your alma
mater, the Sun Devil Career Advisor Network helps ASU alumni and students contact
fellow Sun Devils for insight into a particular career or career-related interest. You may
access the wealth of resources ASU alumni provide by viewing the online community
resources at http://asu.jobing.com/
2. Internet job boards: The internet remains a constant source of position listings. Many
companies and educational institutions provide access to their own or post to other
online websites. The resource listings at the end of this document list multiple websites
in a variety of discipline areas.
3. Newspapers/professional publications: Employment advertisements are always a
consistent source for current job-openings.
4. Federal, state, county, and city job opportunities: Regularly published
announcements of public and civil service jobs are maintained in career centers,
libraries, and on-line.
Alternative Law Careers: Web Sites of Interest
Resources for each of the above can be found in the following list of websites on alternative
careers to practicing law.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
General Job Search
Arizona Job Resources
Business
Court Administration
Government
F. Healthcare
G. Legal Education & Law-Related Careers
H. Media
A. General Job Search
1. http://www.attorneyjobs.com/
While the best resources on alternative jobs found on this site require a monthly fee, the rates are
quite reasonable and may well be worth the investment for a few months.
2. www.bls.gov
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, maintains this extraordinarily detailed web
site. Of particular interest to the alternative career seeker are descriptions of major industries and
compensation data for hundreds of occupations.
3. www.careerjournal.com
This site, sponsored by the Wall Street Journal, features job search news, tips, discussion
groups, and a database of job listings searchable by job title or description.
4. www.hg.org/empchange.html
Hieros Gamos Career Center maintains a special section on changing jobs and career change
generally.
5. www.job-hunt.org
This comprehensive site contains job search tips, recent news articles, and links to tons of other
resources. Search for job resources by location or industry/profession. The site has links to great
general job search information. Be sure to check out The Online Job Search Guide.
6. www.jobhuntersbible.com
This is Dick Bolles’ job search web site that is intended to serve as a companion to this book
“What Color is Your Parachute?” It’s a great resource – full of articles, links, tips, tools, and even
fun lists (e.g., Ten Best Jobs for People who…).
7. http://www.jobsearchprivacy.org/jobsearch.htm
The Online Job Search Companion section has a list of employment-related web sites. Of
particular interest is the list of the “Big Ten” sites and the regional job database lists.
8. http://www.lexisnexis.com
On the LexisNexis homepage, click on “Company Information” at the top, then “Employment” on
the left side, then click on “Alternative Careers” in the box on the right to find positions with Lexis
Nexis.
9. http://online.onetcenter.org/
This is an interactive database of occupational information. Conduct a skills search to find jobs
that match your skills or find information (nationally and by state) on particular occupations.
10. www.opportunityknocks.org
Look for nonprofit jobs and career opportunities on this site. Registration to receive email alerts of
open positions matching your interests is free.
11. www.rileyguide.com
This is a well-known guide to online job search articles and resources.
12. www.thomsoncareers.com
The Thomson Corporation, which owns Westlaw, among its many holdings, lists careers with the
company through its web site.
13. www.vault.com
This is a comprehensive job search site, which provides job listings, as well as company-specific
message boards. Vault produces various career guides for law students and other professionals.
14. www.wetfeet.com
This is a great general job search resource providing career research information as well as job
search resources. Check out company, career, or industry profiles to learn more about the job
options that are available.
B. Arizona Job Resources
1. Arizona Attorney Magazine classifieds: www.myazbar.org/AZAttorney/classifieds.cfm
(search“Positions Available” category for attorney positions)
2. Arizona Women Lawyers Association- has a “Jobs” section for legal opportunities:
www.awla-state.org
3. Craigslist- classifieds for legal/paralegal jobs in Phoenix area: phoenix.craigslist.org/lgl
4. MCBA Career Center: maricopa.legalstaff.com
5. Phoenix Business Journal- Legal classifieds: phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/jobs/legal.html
6. Arizona State University- Human Resources: www.asu.edu/hr
7. Arizona State University- Career Services (for ASU alumni): students.asu.edu/career/alumni
GOVERNMENT - Legal
1. Arizona Attorney General: www.azag.gov/employment/attorney.html
2. Maricopa County Office of the Public Defender: www.pubdef.maricopa.gov/Employ.htm
3. Maricopa County Attorney’s Office: www.maricopacountyattorney.org/employment
GOVERNMENT - General
1. State of Arizona Government Jobs official website: azstatejobs.gov
2. State of Arizona - All departments: az.gov
3. State of Arizona - Department of Economic Security: www.azdes.gov
4. Maricopa County - Job Line: (602) 506-3329: www.maricopa.gov
5. City of Avondale - www.ci.avondale.az.us; Job listings: agency.governmentjobs.com/avondale
6. City of Chandler - Job Line: (480) 782-2354; Job listings: www.chandleraz.gov/hr/jobs
7. City of El Mirage - Job Line: (623) 933-6565; www.cityofelmirage.org; Job listings: azelmirage2.civicplus.com/jobs.asp
8. Town of Fountain Hills - www.fh.az.gov; Job listings: www.fh.az.gov/human-resources/positions
9. Town of Gilbert - Job Line: (480) 503-6003; www.ci.gilbert.az.us; Job listings:
agency.governmentjobs.com/gilbert
10. City of Glendale - Job Line: (623) 930-3699; Job listings:
www.glendaleaz.com/jobs/openings.cfm
11. City of Goodyear - Job Line: (623) 932-1716; www.goodyearaz.gov; Job listings:
agency.governmentjobs.com/goodyear
12. City of Mesa – Job Line: (480) 644-2759; Job Listings: mesaaz.gov/Jobs/Job_Openings.aspx
13. City of Peoria - Job Line: (623) 773-7105; Job Listings: www.peoriaaz.gov/jobs
14. City of Phoenix - Job Line: (602) 534-JOBS (534-5627); Job Listings: phoenix.gov/jobs
15. City of Scottsdale - Job Line: (480) 312-2395; Job Listings: www.scottsdaleaz.gov/HR/Jobs.asp
16. City of Surprise - Job Line: (623) 875-4279; Job Listings: www.surpriseaz.com/careers
17. City of Tempe - Job Line: (480) 350-8217; Job Listings: www.tempe.gov/jobs/jobs.aspx
C. Business
1. www.aimr.com
The Association for Investment Management and Research provides education for investment
managers and analysts, as well as promotes high professional standards. The Association also
oversees examination and awarding of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
2. www.amanet.org
Maintained by the American Management Association, this site offers a full range of management
development and educational services for business professionals.
3. www.amcf.org
The Association of Management Consulting Firms is an international association of firms
engaged in the practice of consulting to management.
4. www.apics.org
The American Production and Inventory Control Society is the source of expertise in resource
management for manufacturing and service industries. Registration is required for job bank
access.
5. www.astd.org
The American Society for Training & Development is a leading professional organization and
resource for workplace training and performance issues. A job bank is included on the web site.
6. www.imcusa.org
The Institute of Management Consultants USA is a national professional association representing
management consultants. It awards the CMC (Certified Management Consultant) certification
mark.
7. www.managementconsultingnews.com
This web site provides subscribers a free newsletter via e-mail covering the management
consulting industry.
8. www.marketingpower.com
One of the largest organizations for marketers, the American Marketing Association maintains
this site, which provides career and salary information, as well as job bank listings.
9. www.shrm.org
The Society for Human Resource Management is the world’s largest organization devoted to
human resource management. The site provides links to resources, local chapters and job banks.
10. www.sia.com
The Securities Industry Association is an organization of 600+ securities firms, including
investment banks, broker-dealers and mutual fund companies, active in all phases of corporate
and public finance.
D. Court Administration
1. http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/jobs/
The Judicial Council of California provides information pertaining to court administration in
California.
2. www.courttv.com
This site contains information regarding careers and open positions at Court TV.
3. www.judges.org
The National Judicial College (NJC) is the nation’s leading judicial training and education
institution.
4. www.statejustice.org
The State Justice Institute (SJI) was established by Federal law in 1984 to award grants to
improve the quality of justice in State courts, facilitate better coordination between State and
Federal courts, and foster innovative, efficient solutions to common problems faced by all courts.
5. http://www.uscourts.gov/
Click on “Employment,” then “Employment Opportunities in the Federal Judiciary,” then on the
“Search for Court Positions” to find open positions within the Federal Judiciary.
6. www.whohascourtjobs.com
The National Center for State Courts created this site as a gathering place for job seekers to
browse open court positions.
7. [Consult the Administrative Office of Courts in your preferred state for a list of available job
openings and their requirements.]
E. Government
(1.) Federal Government
1. http://www.archives.gov/careers
The National Archives employment website.
2. http://www.attorneyjobs.com
Federal Reports maintains the Legal Career Center.This site contains an extensive database of
attorney and law-related positions in a variety of settings, including federal, state and local
government. Attorney Jobs also includes JD Preferred – Alternative Legal Careers for Lawyers,
which is a useful resource for any student considering non-traditional legal careers. Students will
also find a number of helpful pages on the site including resume and interviewing tips and federal
and state government application forms, which can be downloaded.
3. http://www.calltoserve.org
The Partnership for Public Service has joined with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to
develop a national initiative, A Call to Serve: Leaders in Education Allied for Public Service. This
initiative is designed to educate a new generation about the importance of a strong civil service,
help re-establish links between federal agencies and campuses, and provide students with
information about federal jobs. This site includes information regarding applying for federal
employment, contains profiles of various opportunities with federal agencies (throughout the
country), and links to each agency’s main and job listing web pages. It profiles specific federal
opportunities by interest areas such as Economics, Education, Health, Human Resources, Law
Enforcement, and Public Relations.
4. http://www.fedjobs.com/
The Federal Research Service is a private organization which maintains a searchable database
of federal government jobs. Choose an occupation and narrow your search by location, agency,
and other criteria.
5. http://www.fedworld.gov
This site provides general career related information in the federal government and databases
containing law-related positions in various federal agencies.
6. http://www.firstgov.gov
This is the official U.S. gateway to all government information on the Internet. This
comprehensive site provides links to all federal entities in the three branches of government.
7. http://www.infoctr.edu/fwl/
The Center for Information Law and Policy maintains this collection of links to federal government
home pages.
8. http://www.pmi.opm.gov
This site details the Presidential Management Intern Program, a federal program designed to
groom graduate students for upper-level management positions in the federal government. The
site provides lists of agencies and their departments and offices that hire PMIs.
9. http://publicservice.monster.com/
This is a new section on the Monster.com mega site. The entire section is devoted to employment
opportunities in the federal government. Students can search for positions throughout the nation
in a number of job categories.
10. http://www.usajobs.opm.gov
The Federal Government’s Office of Personnel Management announces all of its jobs across the
country on this newly revamped site. This site allows to you search for government positions by
agency, location, and series. Series include traditional legal positions such as Attorney and Law
Clerk in addition to numerous law-related positions including Criminal Investigator, Equal
Employment Opportunity, and General Investigator. The site also includes a Career Interest
Guide section which allows you to select an occupation based on your interests or based upon a
career area.
(2.) State Government
1. http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs042.htm
The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides information on state and local government describing the
nature of the industry, related occupations, working conditions, earnings and outlook for the
industry.
2. http://www.firstgov.gov
This site includes several links to state and local government home pages and related web sites,
such as state administrative agencies, categorized by topic (e.g., Drug, Education, Health,
Housing, Labor, etc.)
3. http://www.hg.org/usstates.html
This page on the Heiros Gamos web site contains links to state government resources for all the
US states, as well as to associations dealing with state and government municipalities and other
related sites. It provides a very comprehensive list of links and is a wonderful starting place for
conducting research.
4. http://cgi2.www.law.umich.edu/CareerServices/UsefulLinks/Links.aspx?typeid=39
The University of Michigan Law School Career Services maintains this page of links to state
government websites.
5. http://www.naag.org/
The website of the National Association of Attorneys General provides access to research, news,
and links to the Attorney Generals Office for each state.
6. http://www.statejobs.com
View job listings by industry, including state and local government opportunities, and post a
resume on-line. This site contains state and federal government job listings as well as Fortune
500 listings.
7. http://www.statelocalgov.net
This site provides state government links for all 50 states. Click on the state that interests you and
find links to the state home page, Statewide Offices, Legislative branch, Judicial branch,
Executive branch, Boards & Commissions, Cities, Counties, Towns, and Libraries for each state.
Additional resources are also available on national organizations for state government
employees, regional governments, and other related topics. This is a wonderful starting point for
locating state government information.
(3.) Political/Legislative
1. http://dnc.capitolworks.com
The Democrat National Committee lists positions within the organization at this section of its main
site (www.democrats.org)
2. www.gop.org/
The Republican National Committee does not list positions with the organization on its site, but
provides helpful information for those interested in conservative politics and causes.
3. www.house.gov/cao-hr/
This page of the site maintained by the U.S. House of Representatives contains a discussion of
employment opportunities at the House.
4. www.hillzoo.com
This “inside the beltway”site lists positions on and off Capitol Hill for those interested in working
on either the Right or the Left.
5. http://www.opajobs.com
This site contains job listings in government affairs, public relations, legislation, print and
broadcast journalism on the Hill, and in non-profits, corporations, and federal agencies in the
Washington, DC area. Subscription required.
6. http://www.rcjobs.com/
The Roll Call, one of Capitol Hill’s political newspapers, lists jobs through these pages on its
website.
7. www.senate.gov
While the U.S. Senate web site does not contain a specific page on employment opportunities
there, this general overview may prove useful to job seekers looking for a comprehensive
overview of the entity.
(4.) Think Tanks
1. www.nira.go.jp/linke/tt-link/
National Institute for Research Advancement is a Japanese organization established to conduct
independent research that will contribute to the resolution of various complex issues facing
contemporary society. The Institute's research focuses on current and emerging issues in many
areas, including politics, economics, international affairs, society, new technologies, and
administration. This page of NIRA’s site lists international think tanks, a brief description of their
purposes and links to their webpages.
2. http://www.politinfo.com
PolitInfo.com is an independent and non-partisan portal for political resources, news, and
information.
3. www.politixgroup.com/ttjobs.htm
www.politixgroup.com/dcintern/tt.htm
The Politixgroup is an independently run private organization whose purpose is to increase
knowledge and understanding of the political process with the purpose of inspiring early
involvement and activism at the local, state and federal levels of government. These two pages
provide links to full time employment and internship opportunities with think tanks and partisan
organizations.
F. Health Care
1. www.ache.org
The American College of Healthcare Executives is the international organization for healthcare
executives. Click on the Career Services tab to search the ACHE job bank and to find a list of
healthcare career-related resources. Also check out the Publications section and view the books
available on career development. This is a great starting place for information on healthcare
management.
2. http://adams.mgh.harvard.edu/hospitalwebusa.html
This directory of hospitals in the United States provides direct links to hospital web sites.
3. http://www.asbh.org/index.htm
The American Society for Bioethics and Humanities hosts this site, providing news articles,
resource links, and employment listings.
4. http://www.healthcarejobstore.com/
This web site is an enormous database of all types of healthcare jobs. Search for jobs by job title,
get assistance with preparing a healthcare resume, or post your resume in the employer access
database.
5. http://www.healthcarelawnet.com/
This web site is a comprehensive resource for corporate counsel and healthcare professionals.
The Daily Newsfeed provides up-to-date health law news. The Desk Reference section provides
an enormous list of links covering everything from legal and business research to healthcare
organizations to travel and weather. The Online Forum offers opportunities to participate in online
interviews and seminars. Use the site to find out about upcoming healthcare conferences and
events.
6. http://www.healthlawyers.org/
This is the web site of the American Health Lawyers Association. It contains information about
relevant news and publications, listserves, related resources, and a national job bank.
7. http://www.healthleaders.com/index.php
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
This multimedia company provides information to healthcare professionals through its
HealthLeaders Magazine, online news, and relevant research.
http://www.healthmanagementcareers.com/
This site from the American College of Healthcare Executives provides information on what a
healthcare executive is and the types of opportunities available within the profession.
http://www.hfma.org/
The Healthcare Financial Management Association is a national professional membership
organization. Its web site offers a Job Bank, lists of executive search firms, and resume-referral
services (available to members only).
http://www.hhs.gov/
This is the web site for the United States Department of Health and Human Services. It provides
information on the various HHS programs and operating divisions. Follow the links to learn more
about employment opportunities both for students and graduates.
www.mgma.org
This site, from the Medical Group Management Association, offers information on physician
practice management. The Job section contains a job bank and other career resources, including
salary and internship information.
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/
This is the on-line version of Modern Healthcare magazine. It is a great source for current
healthcare news and hot topics articles. There is a members-only career center and a page of
resources with archived articles, surveys, and lists.
http://www.nih.gov/sigs/bioethics/
This comprehensive site, maintained by the National Institutes of Health, provides links to
“Bioethics Resources on the Web.” There are links to specific topics, general and federal
resources, and organizations of interest. The section on Careers in Bioethics provides job
postings and information on post-baccalaureate opportunities.
G. Legal Education and Law-Related Careers
1. http://www.nontradlegal.com The Non-traditional Careers Report, Username:azst Password:009
2. http://www.aals.org/frs/index.html
The Association of American Law Schools maintains these pages to facilitate the Faculty
Recruiting Conference, at which entry-level candidates meet with law school appointments
committees each fall. An older, but still relevant, article providing advice on legal teaching is also
included.
3. http://law.gonzaga.edu/ILST/ilst.htm
The Institute for Law School Teaching is a center at Gonazaga University School of Law that
focuses on the teaching, as opposed to scholarship, aspect of legal education. While there are no
"nuts and bolts" tips on getting a faculty position, this is an interesting site as it highlights the
classroom side of legal education.
4. http://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/faculty-pages/wendel/teaching.htm
Professor Brad Wendel at Washington and Lee University School of Law covers the nuts and
bolts of pursuing tenure-track positions and discusses clinical, adjunct and legal writing positions
as well.
5. http://jurist.law.pitt.edu
These pages on the Jurist web site, maintained by the University of Pittsburgh School of Law,
contain many helpful links for the would-be law professor.
6. http://www.utexas.edu/law/faculty/bleiter/GUIDE.HTM
This is an article by Brian Leiter, a professor at the University of Texas Law School. It provides a
good overview of the traditional pathway to tenure-track positions at law schools.
7. http://www.aallnet.org/committee/rllc/rc-links.asp
Resources suggested by the American Association of Law Libraries on law librarianship as a
career.
H. Media
1. www.aaaa.org
American Association of Advertising Agencies is a national trade association representing the
advertising agency business in the United States. Its membership produces approximately 75
percent of the total advertising volume placed by agencies nationwide.
2. http://www.aejmc.org/
The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication is a non-profit,
educational association of journalism and mass communication faculty, administrators, students
and media professionals.
3. www.ajr.org.
The American Journalism Review lists news sources and journalism organizations. Also contains
a section called “Reporters’ Tools” that lists “reportorial aids from guidelines for searching the
Internet to lists of quotable experts, from tips on using public opinion polls to video feeds for
television newscasts.”
4. http://www.allstarjobs.com/
This site contains links to many media-related job boards.
5. http://www.attorneyjobs.com
Attorneyjobs.com has a large section discussing alternative careers in general. Media and
entertainment is a subset of the proposed alternative careers. The page provides a sampling of
representative job titles within media and entertainment fields.
6. http://www.business.com/directory/media_and_entertainment/index.asp.
The media and entertainment pages of business.com provide information on corporations in the
field.
7. http://career.berkeley.edu/Communications/Communications.stm#journalism.
The web site of the Career Center of University of California, Berkeley contains a section on
communications careers which lists professional organizations and contains articles about
careers in advertising, public relations, broadcasting, journalism, publishing, and writing.
8. http://careers.cua.edu/explore/mediastudiesresources.htm
The Catholic University of America Career Services Office provides articles about media careers
in general and links to job search sites.
9. http://www.careerexplorer.net/curriculum/advertising.asp
This section of careerexplorer.com focuses on advertising and marketing. The site discusses
growth in the field, average salaries, typical jobs in the field, and links to job descriptions.
10. http://www.collegegrad.com/careers/
On the main career page, click on “browse by career category,” then click on “Business,
Management and Executive Careers.” In this section you can review information on careers in
advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations and sales. It contains hiring projections,
descriptions of the nature of the work, work environments, necessary training and skills, and
statistics.
11. http:// www.ipra.org.
The International Public Relations Association constitutes an international group of public
relations practitioners worldwide, active in promoting the exchange of information and cooperation within the profession, and building a program of professional development opportunities
and other initiatives aimed at enhancing the role of public relations in management and
international affairs.
12. http://www.iwantmedia.com/jobs/
This site contains links to media and entertainment job boards and career resources, broken
down by industry. For example, the site has separate areas for careers in entertainment, internet,
television and radio, etc.
13. http://www.khake.com/page43.html
The Vocational Information Center maintains this page which serves as a “Broadcast Media and
Journalism Career Guide.” It contains links by job descriptions. Each link generally includes
information about job duties, job requirements and training needed, and salary. The site also
includes links to media and journalism related sites such as union sites, news sites, and other
information.
14. http://www.law.com/service/site_map.shtml
This part of law.com’s site lists American Lawyer Media Publication sites and properties.
15. http://www.nationjob.com/media/
This job-searching tool provides a laundry list of media positions with a focus on publishing.
16. http://www.nd.edu/~ndlaw/career/strategies/business.html
The University of Notre Dame Law School’s Career Services Office’s web site contains a
discussion of alternative careers including a short section on legal publishing houses.
17. http://www.prsa.org/
The Public Relations Society of America is the world’s largest organization for public
relationsprofessionals. Its nearly 20,000 members, organized into 116 chapters, represent
business and industry, technology, counseling firms, government, associations, hospitals,
schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations.
18. http://web.grinnell.edu/careerdevelopment/Library/communications&media.html
Grinnell College’s Career Development Office provides a list of books about media careers and a
summary of each.