Job Search Strategies: a(n unnerving) waiting game

Aurora Donnelly is a solo practitioner always looking forward to the next exciting transition.

So, last week I had a great interview.  At least I thought it was great.

I enjoyed the conversation, I thought the interviewer did too.  It lasted an hour and a half.  The qualifications he explained he needs were very much in line with mine, and I even have some that were not asked for, like being fluent in a couple of languages and somewhat fluent in a couple of others, which seemed to be a plus for the interviewer.

The area of law is very unusual and of course immediately appeals to me, since I always want to learn something new and flex my research muscles, and of course, never want anything easy.  The idea of practicing in federal court also appeals greatly, since, with all due respect, state court can be something of a zoo.

I would be very pleased to be back in federal court, where things are more dignified and the rules of procedure are both enforced and more streamlined.

All is well except that following my own advice is proving hard.  I tried all weekend not to focus on the possibility that I might/might not get an offer and tried just as hard not to repeatedly re-examine the details of the interview.  I find it difficult to avoid planning for how I will get to the office (it is in a suburb), finding a convenient place to work out and a dozen other details that are completely irrelevant until I DO get an offer, if I do.

Also running through my head all weekend is, do I want to work for someone else, again, after having my own law office, and not be the arbiter of my own day and direction. Compared to having to find my own clients, do the work my way and try to collect fees.

It may be a hard decision and at this point an unnecessary one, since I don’t have an offer.  I am seriously looking forward to having to make it.