- Written by Published
Making the decision to hand in your notice can be a difficult nerve-wracking part of looking for a new role.
If you’ve made the decision to leave, there are some formalities you will need to go through. The information below is designed to give you an insight to the resignation process and how best to handle it.
Notice
As tempting as it is to go full steam ahead and hand your notice in as soon as you are offered the new job, don't hand your notice in until you have received written confirmation of the offer of employment from your new firm.
Ensure that you give formal written notice of your intention to leave to the correct person (we can provide a resignation letter template), then negotiate a leaving date and clarify final pay and any outstanding holiday entitlement.
We would always suggest checking in advance your contract/terms of employment to see how much notice you are obliged to give, who your notice should be handed in to and what, if any, restrictions you might have in terms of future employment.
It is also worth identifying whether there are any course fees payable if you leave within a certain time period.
The Counter Offer
The stark reality of the legal profession is that there is a serious skills shortage in many practice areas and the vast majority of firms will make a belated effort to try to tempt you to stay.
This can often be the promise of promotion, or a salary increase. In can sometimes be a promise to improve work culture or reduce your case load. It often come with flattery or in some instances a “guilt trip” that they won’t be able to cope without you!
Such things can be confusing and lead to mixed feelings about your decision to move on. What should you do now?
We would suggest thinking about the following questions to help you eliminate doubt and be confident in your decision:
- Why have I been offered more money now when it wasn’t on the table previously?
- If I stay, will the situation improve just because I said I was leaving?
- If I stay, will my loyalty be questioned and affect my chance for advancement?
- Will I have to go through this process again next time I'm ready for a new position?
Our experience of recruitment tells us that over 75% of candidates who accept a counter offer tend to leave within 12 months for another role, particularly when it relates solely to a salary increase.
More often than not, the issues that caused you to look for a new role in the first place remain and promises made don’t end up materialising.
You need to stay strong, stay committed when the counter offer comes, be polite and say “no thank you”.
Working your notice
It’s important to remain professional throughout the resignation process. Maintaining a positive relationship with your bosses and colleagues will make working your notice period much easier and could allow you to return to the firm in the future.
Co-workers will be curious about why you are leaving. Whether they corner you at work or call you at home, be diplomatic about your reasons for leaving. Negative comments have a habit of finding their way to Partners and sour an otherwise healthy relationship.
Finally, do not underestimate the importance of your performance during your final weeks. It is a mistake to “mentally check out” and wind down while working out your notice. Give it your very best effort right up until the last minute you’re there.
We at Thornton Legal are experienced in guiding you through what can be a difficult time. If you have any queries, give us a call. We would be happy to help.
- Written by Published
Putting together your CV can be a daunting task, especially if you’ve been at the same firm for a long time or are simply unsure how to set your experience out in a way that is going to be attractive to potential employers.
Thornton Legal are always happy to take the sting out of the process and offer a comprehensive CV advice service to candidates who want their CV’s to stand out from the crowd.
We are often asked what the best advice would be for applicants unsure of the basics or in need of a CV MOT. Our golden rules on CV writing remain the same:
Get the basics right
Ensure that the document covers your education, qualification, and experience, interests and includes information pertinent to the role. A short candidate profile summarising your current role and suitability for the job should be inserted towards the top of the document to catch the eye of the person reading it.
Presentation is key
Other vitally important things to consider are a clean and well-structured layout that ensures the CV can be scanned quickly by the reader. It should be clear and concise and ideally no more than 3 pages in length. Insert paragraphs into the body of the text at appropriate points. Ensure that you get somebody to proofread the CV to ensure that it is grammatically correct and devoid of embarrassing spelling mistakes!
Your job history should be set out in reverse chronological order with your current/most recent role at the top. The dates that you were employed at each firm should be included together with full job titles.
Showcase your achievements/skills
If you are particularly good at something job related or have achieved something significant in a particular role, be sure to mention it. By way of example, law firms are always keen to see:
A consistent billing history
Examples of winning new business or business development
Leadership or management skills
Examples of training given to clients of your firm
Evidence of the type of client you have worked for, the value or complexity of work done or any interesting or niche skills that you may have, which could set you apart from other candidates in the process.
Understand the job description and tailor your CV accordingly
A general CV, setting out your experience is useful but in the event that you have a job description or job specification for a particular role, consideration should be given to tailoring the contents of the document with reference to the specific skills and experience sought by the firm.
If you don’t have an up-to-date CV or even want some help in putting a fresh one together, Thornton Legal are happy to help.
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Thornton Legal is a leading legal recruitment company, recruiting for legal jobs in across the North West, West Yorkshire and West Midlands. We are passionate about providing a professional, innovative and reliable legal recruitment service that is focused on quality and ensures our clients are matched with the strongest legal talent available. Contact one of our legal recruitment consultants today on 0151 307 5757 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to see what we can do for your law firm or legal career.