This was the opening line in Anna Potter's Cover Letter when she applied for an open role in our McEntee Law Group in January 2023.
"If you don’t ask, the answer is always no."
We were looking for a full-time, in-office (in Chicago) experienced attorney.
Anna was an experienced immigration attorney but she was based in California, and having young kids, only wanted part-time work.
But Anna's Cover Letter spoke to me deeply. She had read our job description that included our core values especially those around supporting both our clients, and our team's lives outside of work. As a mom of 2 kids, and a women Founder and Managing Partner, this forms the foundation of our firm.
"Your posting took my breath away. Not only was your team’s passion for immigration palpable, but also the passion for maintaining balance and celebrating your lives outside the firm."
Anna was looking for a firm that would allow her wear her lawyer hat and her mom hat equally... and we could do just that.
It quickly became apparent that Anna was a perfect fit for our firm -> she checked every box minus the in-office and full-time role part. We found a way to make it work and we have not looked back ! Anna's now been with us for over a year and she's even recently moved to a full-time role because she enjoys the work/firm/clients/team so much. Yay.
My takeaways from this:
Job Seekers: go for it - apply for the job (especially for women who are likely to only apply if we meet 100% of the requirements, whereas men apply if they meet 60% of them).
✍ Cover Letters are important: I know some people dislike writing them but they are your time to shine!
Employers: make sure to clearly describe your company, team etc. to ensure you get applicants who align very closely with your core values.
For All: Don't be afraid to think outside the box and take a leap of faith... it just might be perfect!
Photo below of Anna and I meeting IRL in Chicago a few weeks ago. She flew here to spend time with the team, and we even had the opportunity to do a live webinar on hashtagO1visas in office! Photo credit: Erin Stefanik (also an amazing working mom business owner).
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McEntee Law Group: If You Don't Ask, the Answer is Always No
