I started my working life as a plasterer in the UK. I left school, learned the trade and spent years plastering walls before moving to Australia and then New Zealand. These days, I help lawyers with their job search rather than repair ceilings, but those old plastering skills came back into play recently when I started some renovations at home.
I thought it would be straightforward. So I grabbed my tools and began plastering my ceilings and walls. It felt familiar for about five minutes. Then it reminded me how much harder things feel when you try to squeeze them in around a full-time job and
The Reality of Doing It Yourself
Plastering is something I used to do every day, but I had not touched a trowel in more than 15 years. The job was rewarding, and I am pleased I completed it myself, but I can see the imperfections. Luckily, my wife cannot. So the ceilings pass the household inspection.
And that is when it clicked. You can know roughly what you are doing and get a decent result. But time away from a craft means you lose some sharpness, even when you used to do it well.
How This Links to a DIY Job Search
I see this same pattern with many job seekers, including lawyers. You can absolutely manage your own job search. You can update your CV, check job boards, reach out to firms and do a good job.
But fitting all of that in after a long day in the office is exhausting, and you do not have the full market view. Was there a better-suited role that never made it to Seek? Could a recruiter have negotiated a stronger salary package for you? Did you see every opportunity, or just the ones that were visible?
You might feel the process went well, but you could also miss the small imperfections, just as I did with my ceilings.
The Value of Getting Help
Someone who does a job every day naturally gets better results. A builder would have finished my ceilings faster and achieved a smoother finish. A recruiter offers the same advantage for your job search, except it does not cost you anything.
With a recruiter, you gain insight into the legal market, access to roles not publicly advertised, and support with negotiations. So you save time, reduce stress and avoid missing opportunities that sit outside your line of sight.
Make Your Job Search Simpler
Your work is demanding, so your job search should not take over your evenings. Let someone who understands the legal market handle the heavy lifting. I am glad I completed my ceilings myself. But I also learned that some jobs are better left to someone who does them every day.
And on that note. I am officially downing my trowel for another 15 years, so I’m keen to talk to lawyers looking for a change, but I’m not taking any plastering enquiries 🤣.
Contact
Ben Holloway
📧 bholloway@tylerwren.co.nz
📞 09 972 9988
For a confidential discussion about your job search.
Why Work With Tyler Wren?
- 10+ years of experience in the legal recruitment field
- Opportunities across New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and Ireland
- Access to roles not advertised publicly
- End to end career advice and job search support
- Specialist recruiters with deep legal market knowledge
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PS. I think I did an ok job:
