Networking

First-hand information on your chosen career is extremely useful; it’s worth your while speaking to someone doing what you think you might want to do.

The easiest way to get first-hand information is if one of your friends is in the career. If you want to be a lawyer, do you know anyone working in the law? If not, use your extended network. Ask your friends if they know anyone.

Another idea is to look at a social networking site and check what your old friends are doing. Maybe one of them became a barrister or solicitor, or entered another job in law. Anything you can do to find out more and give you an ‘edge’ is worthwhile.

If you can’t find anyone to contact from your extended network, there’s always ‘cold-calling’. Type ‘solicitor’ into a search engine and send a few emails to companies. Try to get a named person rather than an email to info@…, or some other unnamed address.