Don’t know how I stumbled on your site, but it is extremely well done and glad I did.  Have spent a few hours reading it and your site made me feel better, and some great laughs.

Sites like yours CAN be money makers; I have explored Google AdWords & AdSense programs, but Content (not cash) is King, and if you can’t put in the daily content streams to ensure returning eyeballs and new ones, one should not enter New Media.

Misery loves company, you know.

Ron

First, there's an 80% plus chance that your next job will come through a referral.

Second, job searchers that leverage a broad network of distant friends and friends of friends and people they have never met have better careers than people that leverage a small network of people they know well.

Third, don't apply for any job you wouldn't be happy to go to in the morning. If it is a “third-rate, God knows who firm or a recruiter on Craigslist” don't waste your time and theirs. In this market people with a passion who are on a mission from God are getting hired. People just looking for a job don't and shouldn't get hired.

Finally, you paid huge dollars for an Ivy League network. People feel a responsibility to help those with whom they share a connection. Call people from that network and get in front of them. Be positive and optimistic but let them know you are in a process thrust upon you by the economy and you would like any help they can provide. 100% of them will feel your pain, most won't be able to help at the moment but if you keep in touch they will send things your way when they come along and if you talk to enough people things will come up. Some will act like you are an annoyance but if the shoe was on the other foot they would do the same thing.

Decide who you are going to be. Maybe it's the top litigator at a particular firm, or the firm's managing partner or a “poni” (partner of no importance – but a partner). Realize that you are that person today, you just happen to be at a different point on the time continuum dealing with one of many inevitable setbacks. Decide what you should do from that perspective then leverage your network to make it happen. Top litigators with Ivy League degrees don't fill down time with part-time jobs from Craigslist.

The other thing I would do is call senior partners at the firm you left and ask for 20 minutes face to face to solicit their ideas on what you should be doing. Tell them you appreciate the opportunity they gave you and you just want their input and ideas on how you should go about pursuing whatever you are passionate about. Anyone can go through campus recruiting with a good school, good grades, good extras and get a job. It takes grace and maturity to keep your eyes on the big picture and accomplish your goals after a setback and people will remember that about you.

[JL], I find myself drawn to your blog, likely because I went through a similar experience and know firsthand how trying and humbling the search can be (as an aside, the blog is incredibly well written and entertaining, to the point where you may have another burgeoning calling).

I'm sure I don't have any pearls of wisdom you haven't already heard or realized, nor have that elusive magical solution, but hang in there. If there was one thing I learned from my experience it's that perseverance and creative thinking pay off. The hardest part, at least for me, was overcoming pride and tempering expectations – based on your blog, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.

Good luck and I'll be reading.

When I came out of law school 15 years ago, nobody wanted to know me either. I couldn’t get an interview at any law firms (I got a lot of agency interviews, but I quickly figured out they offer a lot of these appointments, I think its to get leads on where other jobs are going).

I struggled for years, doing small time law. Then after 5 years of struggling, I went back to university and did a post grad. degree in IT for 1 year. I worked for a bit in programming, but then soon after landed a job at an IT company and have done really well since.

Having the degree totally answered the question ‘are you going to stay here’ – the answer was yes ! The niches are out there, but you have to work hard.