Fall 2015 Career Services Workshops

Resume Building Workshop: (Limited to 30 students)

Open to students in their last two semesters of a program – check with your instructor to make sure that they have not scheduled this workshop to be held in your class at a different time.

Tuesday, October 6, 11am-12:30pm

To register go here.

Linked In Workshops: (Limited to 25 students)

Bring a copy of your resume and get ready to set up your Linked In account. We will discuss how to set up an account as well as some tips on networking using this application.

Wednesday, September 9, 10am-11:30am, register here.

Thursday, November 12, 10am-11:30am, register here.

Interview Skills/Resume Building Workshop: (Limited to 40 students)

Open to students in their last two semesters of a program – check with your instructor to make sure that they have not scheduled this workshop to be held in your class at a different time.

Wednesday, November 18, 10am-12pm, register here.

Resume Reviews: Students in the last two semesters of a CTP* or HT program may submit their completed resumes via email for review. Submit your resume in a Word document to kentc@durhamtech.edu. Reviews may take up to 7 days to be returned with suggested edits/comments. The last date that resume reviews will be accepted for this semester is December 3^rd, so please get them in as early as possible.

For more information regarding possible one-on-one mock interviews or other career services, please contact Carla Kent at kentc@durhamtech.edu.

*CTP includes paralegal technology students

Save the Date! NCPA Meet & Mingle – May 13

The North Carolina Paralegal Association is hosting a “Meet and Mingle” on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 from 6-8 p.m. at Midtown Grille in North Hills (4421-115 Six Forks Rd, Raleigh).

They will be accepting donations for Military Missions in Action. You can check out the list of needed items at http://www.militarymissionsinaction.org.

Please RSVP to srstricklandnccp@gmail.com no later than 5 p.m. Monday, May 11, 2015.

This is an outstanding opportunity to network! And remember, NCPA student membership is free. Applications can be found here.

See you there!

Special Counsel Releases “The Guide to U.S. Legal Sector Hubs”

Special Counsel, a staffing firm specializing in attorneys, paralegals, and other support staff, has released an infographic showing where the growth opportunities are in the United States. They attribute their findings to information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and their own internal hiring data. Of particular interest is the potential for paralegals entering the E-discovery field.

Job Opportunity – Raleigh, NC

Civil Litigation Paralegal Needed

From Kurtz & Blum:

F/T Civil Litigation Paralegal/Legal Assistant needed to support a civil attorney in civil practice located within multi-discipline downtown Raleigh law firm. Computer proficiency, attention to detail, and strong organizational skills a must. Paralegal certification not required but desired; Spanish proficiency a plus. Must drive and have car. Experience in PI, prof. negligence and family law especially helpful. Salary commensurate with experience. Send resume, cover letter, writing sample, and three references to Kurtz & Blum, 434 Fayetteville St., Suite 710 Raleigh, NC 27601 (Attention Byron Jennings). They may also be faxed to (919) 832-2740 or emailed to b.jennings@kurtzandblum.com.

Job Opportunity – Estate Law – Asheboro, NC

We’ve received a job posting from Ivey & Eggleston.

Job Summary:

The primary responsibility of the Legal Assistant-Estates is to take ownership of the firm’s Estate matters, providing outstanding and compassionate customer service to clients, as well as first-rate legal support to the firm’s attorneys. This includes management and accounting of Estate files, research and analysis, document preparation and review, information discovery, and assisting with client intake interviews.

Education/Experience

1. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
2. 2+ years in Estate planning and administration at a law firm.
3. North Carolina Certified Paralegal preferred.

Skills/Competencies

1. Excellent communication skills.
2. Able to deliver outstanding customer service in a professional and friendly manner.
3. Positive, can-do attitude, with a commitment to excellence.
4. Able to think independently and make good judgments to resolve issues without supervision.
5. Capable of working under pressure and of multi-tasking.
6. Organized and detail-oriented.
7. Excellent computer skills

Please send a cover letter and resume to:
Ivey & Eggleston
Attorneys at Law
111 Worth Street
Asheboro, NC 27203

Don’t Sell Yourself Short

Don’t Sell Yourself Short

It’s not a phone.

It’s a Cisco IP phone. Or maybe it’s a 10-line PBX system.

And you’re not answering the phone. You’re assisting clients or customers by answering customer service related questions and directing calls.

Think about the difference between telling an employer that you can pick up a ringing phone, and convincing them than you are the best candidate in that big stack of resumes. Answering a phone is a skill most children learned before they entered first grade, while wrangling a multi-line system with professionalism and courtesy is a valued skill needed in a busy office.

As an entry level paralegal competing in a tight job market for a place in that office, you must find a way to stand out as a skilled professional even if you’re new to the paralegal field. An attention-grabbing resume may convince whoever is screening those resumes that you have relevant work skills, even if your resume is thin in the actual paralegal experience area.

To create that resume, think about the things you have done well at previous jobs and start illustrating those skills. How? Instead of jotting down that you’ve answered phones, think before you write. Was it a multi-line phone system? Can you find out from a manager the volume of calls averaged per day? Take a look at the difference:

• Answered phones

or

• Operated a multi-line phone system to answer an average of 75 customer service questions daily. Politely and efficiently directed calls to 10 office specialists

You’ve figured out by now that this isn’t just about answering phones. This is about applying the same resume writing strategy to all of your skills. If you stocked shelves, did that include a routine to make sure your inventory was accurate? If you had a job where you regularly gathered data, how much data was there? What was the end result?

Did you create an Excel spreadsheet that enabled management to track spending in certain areas? If so, that sure sounds better than sticking to just one tired old line that says you can use Microsoft Office.

Quantify what you have done whenever possible.  If you’ve accomplished something that resulted in increased sales or efficiency, find out what the number is. If you don’t have access to those numbers anymore, then work your way through your resume quantifying what you can.

But remember: don’t over-embellish your resume. If it was a simple task, leave it alone instead of trying to cover your would-be employer with fertilizer. And likewise, don’t ever lie on your resume, cover letter, or application. Ever.

You already know to keep a resume to two pages at most. If you need to save valuable real estate on those two pages, consider dumping a mediocre “objectives” statement. Everyone knows you’re “looking for a challenging position at ____ that will utilize your ____ skills”. Those lines of space might be better invested in telling your next employer exactly what those skills are and how you can put them to work in your new job. Don’t sell yourself short when you have so much to bring to the table.

Need Help Landing That Job?

Durham Tech has announced their lineup of workforce development classes, workshops and labs that are designed to help students prepare for their career. In some cases, the fees are waived for qualified individuals.

The classes cover key areas such as resumes, LinkedIn, and job hunt skills. There are also classes that help students that have been justice involved and need help with related education and career issues.

Click to have a look at the HRD Fall 2014 pdf.

Dress for Success Triangle Hosts “Jump Start Your Job Search” Event

Need some help with professional attire and career coaching? Dress for Success Triangle may be able to help. We’ve attached their most recent press release. The August 28th event will be held at Urban Ministries of Wake County.  Details are in the release.

Triangle Nonprofit Accelerates Low-Income Women’s Journey to Self-Sufficiency

  

RALEIGH, N.C. — August 19, 2014: Dress for Success Triangle will open its doors on August 28^th to all low-income women in the Triangle who are unemployed or underemployed for a special one day event, “Jump Start Your Job Search”. 

 

Dress for Success, which helps women achieve self-sufficiency by providing tools to succeed in the workplace, will provide each woman with a free suit and shoes for her job search and a short session with a Career Coach.

 

After a woman receives a suit for her interviews and obtains employment, she is invited to return to Dress for Success for her first week’s clothing at work, and becomes a free, life-time member of the Professional Women’s Group. Additional resources and support are available to her from Dress for Success throughout her professional career. Through its dedicated services and programs, Dress for Success Triangle addresses every phase of a woman’s career—from unemployed and searching for a job, recently employed and adjusting, and gainfully employed and succeeding. 

 

Often for many women, the suit provided is the first business suit she’s ever owned, and helps to boost her confidence when interviewing. One client, after receiving a suit and a short coaching session said, “I just wanted to let you know that I GOT THE JOB! I am so happy. I am really shy and never talk but thanks to Dress for Success, I was so ready for that interview. I am so confident and proud of myself.”

 

The “Jump Start Your Job Search” day, from 10 am to 6 pm, will operate at Dress for Success located in the Urban Ministries of Wake County building, at 1390 Capital Blvd, Raleigh. No appointment is needed, women only are invited. This event is for women who have not yet been to Dress for Success.

 

For more information, email trianglenc@dressforsuccess.org

Job Opportunity: Durham, NC

Durham county government has an opening for a Tax Division Supervisor. One of the qualifications includes a paralegal degree. You can apply for the position using the link at the bottom of this post.

DURHAM COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Position Title
TAX DIVISION SUPERVISOR

Department
TAX ADMINISTRATION

Contract Type
Full-time

Work Percentage
100.00

Posting Date
07/21/2014

Closing Date
08/01/2014

Salary Range
$43,560- $78,408.00

Position Number
40000036

Tasks
Maintains Computer Assisted Assessment System (CAAS) database. Reviews and adjusts CAAS valuation tables to ensure the same reflect proper appraisal schedule rates. On an annual basis, supervises listing of individual personal property including manufactured housing, boats/motors, aircraft and unregistered vehicles. Supervises discovery process for unlisted property, corrects value and tax bills, and the release of annual personal property tax bills. Supervises personal property appraisal personnel work planning. Trains workforce in adopted personal property appraisal techniques, methods, and procedures. Reviews personal property appraisals and answers inquiries. Coordinates and monitors work flow. Assures personal property appraisals meet standards set by NC Department of Revenue and Office of Tax Administration. Acts as resource person for complex personal property appraisals. Establishes and monitors internal control processes and ensures procedures comply with NC Machinery Act and local Ordinances. On a monthly basis, ensures timely Registered Motor Vehicle NC Department of Motor Vehicles data processing for billing purposes. Prepares formal assessment appeals cases; testifies and delivers oral presentation before the Board of Equalization and Review and/or North Carolina Property Tax Commission. Serves as primary contact on any escalated personal property complaint issue and recommends appropriate resolution. Measures effectiveness of Listing Line personnel; assists with hiring, training, evaluating, and disciplining. Maintains customer service by effective personnel work scheduling and coordination. Assists in development and implementation of policies, practices and procedures of Office of Tax Administration Listing Division. Participates in and recommends best practices for special projects. An Associate’s Degree in Real Estate, Business Management, Paralegal Studies or training in Tax Accounting, Collections or other closely related setting with one (1) year of supervisory experience is highly preferred.

Requirements 
Require any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from a community college with an associate’s degree in accounting, business or a related field and extensive experience in a tax, accounting, collection or other related setting with six months of supervisory experience.

Special Requirements: Must complete training and obtain certification in appropriate tax area from the North Carolina Tax Collectors’ Association or North Carolina Department of Revenue within two years of employment.

Durham County Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer

To apply, click here

Internship Opportunity: Durham, NC

The law office of Hopler & Wilms, LLP, has an opening for a part-time unpaid intern. If you are interested, put together a cover letter and resume, and contact them directly.

http://hoplerwilms.com/
Hopler & Wilms, LLP
2402 S. Miami Blvd., Ste 203
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 244-2019 (office)