Question:
Hi, the 1L job search has been simultaneously exciting and nerve-racking. I feel that I am obsessing over tiny details too much. I put together my documents, but I keep going back and forth and editing them. I want to make a good first impression, but I also want to stand out.
Are dream journaling and lucid dreaming acceptable things to put in the “Interests” section of my resume? They are genuinely two of my main hobbies, but I don’t want it to come across as weird or juvenile. Thanks for your help!
Sincerely,
An Overthinking Dreamer
Answer:
I appreciate you writing in! The 1L job search involves many uncertainties, so it’s great that you’re asking for help. First of all, don’t beat yourself up about overthinking—it is typical and encouraged for attorneys.
Both dream journaling and lucid dreaming are relatively unique hobbies, but a distinction must be made between them. Dream journaling might come across as novel and unpretentious. However, dream journaling could also be perceived as rather pedestrian, an activity of mere description, mindlessly recounting facts in a parrot-like fashion.
Conversely, lucid dreaming is an art that can take weeks to learn and months to master. It is a puzzle that requires dedication to figure out. Moreover, the risk of sleep paralysis while trying to lucid dream demonstrates your ability to execute in high-pressure situations. Overall, lucid dreaming showcases agency and control over your mind, which is an invaluable asset for any legal employer. So, I would remove dream journaling from your resume, but I would keep lucid dreaming.
That being said, be cognizant of how much you can speak about lucid dreaming. Again, while lucid dreaming is a pretty novel interest, you will want to tie in relevant legal skills to your discussion. Consider discussing (a) the type of research you did to teach yourself, (b) the difficulties you overcame while learning to lucid dream, (c) the degree of control you have in dreams, and (d) any practical motivations behind learning lucid dreaming. For (d), perhaps you learned to lucid dream because you wanted more time in the day to study.
All in all, legal employers want hardworking winners who are skilled at learning complicated things. Lucid dreaming signals that ability. Dream journaling may come across as lackluster or uninspired. Best of luck, and I hope you get your dream 1L job!
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