Is the job market now much worse than 2020? Forum

[Anonymous User]

That is my experience. I’m using the same set of materials updated with a little more experience. I couldn’t get networking or interview opportunities.

During the first half of the pandemic, I got several interviews. Many people replied to my networking emails.

If anyone is willing to take a look at my resume and cover letter, I would really appreciate it. I don’t know if something is wrong with my application materials. Looking for junior/entry level positions.

Many thanks in advance.

[mardash]

Since you’re targetting entry level positions, what were you doing in the two years between?

[Anonymous User]

I did a fellowship. Could that be part of the reason? Thanks.

[mandrewsf]

Your marketability as an entry level changes over time, too. You peak during the summer of 1L and go down from there, until you could reset it with actual firm experience or a clerkship. Idk if your fellowship counts as a reset but it doesn't seem that marketable unfortunately.

[comingoffalittleshy]

There was a recession in the first half of 2022 but growth turned positive in quarter 3 so technically the recession is over. But housing is now dead since mortgages are much higher. If you move out of your house and get a new mortgage, the interest payments will make you ill. This will play out in late 2022 and 2023 so we'll probably be back in recession. This hurts the job market.

[nixy]

I did a fellowship. Could that be part of the reason? Thanks.

It probably depends in part on what you did during the fellowship. If it was in a different area from where you want to work now (say it was something public-interest-y and you're applying to firms), yeah, it might not help b/c it won't appear to have given you relevant experience, or it may make it look like where you're applying now is your backup plan and not what you really want to do. Or, unfortunately, it may make the fellowship look like a back-up plan, which makes it look like you couldn't get a job doing what you really wanted to do, which makes you look less desirable (not saying this is justified or how things should work, just that I think it is a dynamic out there).

I also agree that as time goes on, you start to look stale as a candidate for entry level positions. Again, not saying it's right that someone right out of school should look more desirable than someone with the same level experience who's a year or two out, but I think it can be a thing.

(You say you had interviews and people answered your networking e-mails, but did you actually get aa job out of those earlier interactions?)

Frankly, it's hard to say what's going on without more information (not asking you to provide more info than you're comfortable with). I know you're asking about external changes that would explain why you're having a different experience now than earlier, but your law school, GPA, overall experience, and what kind of job you're looking for are all still pertinent for what's going on. (For instance, if you're aiming for biglaw, did you do a SA your 2L summer? It gets harder over time to break into biglaw if you don't get in during 2L. Not impossible, but harder.)

I don't say any of this to dissuade you - people in your situation can and do get jobs - just saying that your strength as a candidate can vary over time regardless of the job market, so it's worth working on countering that. I do think a big thing is going to be selling the kind of experience you got in your fellowship to employers.

[Lawman1865]

I did a fellowship. Could that be part of the reason? Thanks.

It probably depends in part on what you did during the fellowship. If it was in a different area from where you want to work now (say it was something public-interest-y and you're applying to firms), yeah, it might not help b/c it won't appear to have given you relevant experience, or it may make it look like where you're applying now is your backup plan and not what you really want to do. Or, unfortunately, it may make the fellowship look like a back-up plan, which makes it look like you couldn't get a job doing what you really wanted to do, which makes you look less desirable (not saying this is justified or how things should work, just that I think it is a dynamic out there).

I also agree that as time goes on, you start to look stale as a candidate for entry level positions. Again, not saying it's right that someone right out of school should look more desirable than someone with the same level experience who's a year or two out, but I think it can be a thing.

(You say you had interviews and people answered your networking e-mails, but did you actually get aa job out of those earlier interactions?)

Frankly, it's hard to say what's going on without more information (not asking you to provide more info than you're comfortable with). I know you're asking about external changes that would explain why you're having a different experience now than earlier, but your law school, GPA, overall experience, and what kind of job you're looking for are all still pertinent for what's going on. (For instance, if you're aiming for biglaw, did you do a SA your 2L summer? It gets harder over time to break into biglaw if you don't get in during 2L. Not impossible, but harder.)

I don't say any of this to dissuade you - people in your situation can and do get jobs - just saying that your strength as a candidate can vary over time regardless of the job market, so it's worth working on countering that. I do think a big thing is going to be selling the kind of experience you got in your fellowship to employers.

I largely agree with the above, there are certain trends that may affect your ability to gain employment in certain fields. I also agree that more information may be helpful, but not sure if it is necessary (you can determine your own situation based on this advice and in any case, I imagine you should still be plugging away on interviews as before, etc.

To end on a positive, I know a few associates that were in fellowship/alternative experiences for a couple years and got a corporate biglaw position (albeit, when things were busier). I realize that you aren't clear on what kind of position you are looking for, but anyway I think the conclusion is that your materials are probably fine. It will just mean perhaps modifying your expectations and perhaps targeting certain positions that may jive well with your fellowship experience (and that won't be as affected by the slowdown as perhaps standard M&A or Cap Markets). There are still great jobs out there, depending on what your are looking for.

[nixy]

Yeah, to be clear, I’m not asking you to give us more information to get different advice, just saying that those kinds of things we don’t know will affect your options and so it’s worth you thinking about them.

[comingoffalittleshy]

Goldman announced layoffs today Dec 16, 2022.
I will help you. When Goldman does that, adjust your hiring expectations accordingly.