We’ve been recruiting offshore lawyers for 25 years, so as you can imagine, we’ve seen a lot of CVs. Plenty have been brilliant, plenty more have been good (if needing the odd tweak), and a few have raised the question: “This… from a lawyer… really?”
What we rarely see, though, is something tailored to the international move the person is looking to make. Fair enough — lawyers are busy, and maybe it’s harder to write something compelling about ourselves than it is to draft a brilliant piece of legal wizardry.
We don’t mind. After all we earn our crust helping lawyers present the strongest possible application for an offshore role. But if you want to have a crack at it yourself — or if (and we don’t condone this) you’re thinking of applying directly — here are a few pointers.
Address your motivations. Use your profile or cover letter to explain why you’re targeting an offshore move. The firm will spend a lot of money getting you there and it will take you some time to find your feet once you arrive, so they need people who are likely to stick around. The magic is showing that your motivation is equal parts professional and personal.
Show that you can handle the move. Not everyone goes through with an international relocation — “cold feet” can be real. If you’ve lived or worked overseas before, say so. Even six months studying in France or a gap year working in an Australian bar will reassure a firm that you’re up for the move.
Highlight relevant experience. If you’ve worked with offshore firms on deals, mention it. If your clients include hedge funds, mention it. If you’ve got deep experience with shareholder disputes, mention it. They might guess, but why leave it to chance?
Think about your skill set. Offshore teams are smaller, practices more varied, and client contact greater. Reflect on your strengths and show how you’ll thrive in that kind of environment.
Tailor your outside interests. Yes, it’s lovely that you enjoy West End theatre and skiing — but if you’re applying to the Cayman Islands, maybe mention that you also enjoy a spot of scuba diving.
Will it make a difference? Not always. If you’re three years in at Slaughter and May, you can probably just drop your CV in an email and expect a call. But for others, it might. When shortlisting for interview, some applications are inevitably borderline. Getting this right could swing it your way.
