Identifying the Problem  
 
One of the most essential things you need to do is to determine why you are unhappy at your current firm. Are you dissatisfied with the quality or type of work you’re handling? The hours you’re billing (either low or high)? The people you work with? Your prospects for partnership? Once you’ve identified the issue, you need to assess the following: Is the problem temporary or permanent? Could it be fixed if a few changes were made? Do you absolutely need to leave the firm to move past the problem? These might be the most important questions you ever ask yourself. You need to be 100 percent sure that you must change firms to resolve your issues.   
 
If the answers to the above questions continue to convince you that you should look for a new job, then the time has come to get serious about your job search. Looking for a job is a full-time job in itself. Your top competitors will be handling their searches that way, so a half-hearted approach will not work, especially in this market. You also need to be careful that your search stays confidential, and that you only discuss it with those who need to know or who might help you.
 
When a firm posts an opening or your recruiter tells you about an opportunity, you must be ready to pursue it immediately. Firms are receiving so many resumes these days that they often stop accepting them within a few days of the job posting. If you wait a day or two to mull it over, the window of opportunity is likely to close before you have had a chance to submit your resume. In this market, the early bird truly gets the worm.   

Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk
 
If you are one of the lucky candidates who is invited in for an interview, be prepared. I can’t stress this enough. Learn everything you can about the firm, the people you will be meeting, and the specific opportunity. Wear your best suit, smile your biggest smile, and be on your best behavior. Personal impressions are nearly as, if not more, important than your credentials. Remember, they have to work with you, not just your experience, so they must like you on a personal level, too. In this market, every nuance will be analyzed and re-analyzed before a firm decides to hire someone. Consider every interview you go on the most important interview of your career.
 
If you receive an offer, think very carefully before making a final decision. Is this opportunity truly worth risking the stability you have at the firm you are leaving? In most cases, firms that have let people go are still hiring attorneys to work in other practice areas. If you receive an offer from one of these firms, do not let their previous layoffs unduly influence your decision. 
 
You must consider your long-term objectives by asking yourself the same questions you asked yourself when first deciding to enter the job market. Will taking this opportunity help you get where you want to be in your career? You do not want to be in a position where you have to look for a new job anytime soon.  
 
No matter what you decide to do – whether you stay at your current firm or enter the job market – remember that nothing about the fourth quarter of 2008 has been normal. The decision to enter the market should be made with extreme care. There is no one-size-fits-all answer regarding whether you should look for a new job if you are unhappy at your current firm, but you will always be comfortable with the decision, if you treat it as one of the most important in your life.
 
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Eden Mandrell is the Regional Practice Manager for Major, Lindsey & Africa’s Associate
Practice Group – Central region. She can be contacted at 312-896-8557 or
emandrell@mlaglobal.com.