Articling to Associate

[Trew]

I am currently articling and would be happy to be hired back but also recognize there are other opportunities out there. I am wondering when is a good time to start looking and applying externally? In the past few months, I have seen associate postings I would like to apply to but did not since I won't be able to start until I finish my articling term. 

Edited September 9, 2021 by Trew

[HammurabiTime]

How long do you have left in your articling term? If you're only starting out it's probably premature to start applying. If you've only got a few months left, it may be worthwhile. It might be a bit of a mixed bag at the moment, though. It's generally pretty hard to land a position straight out of articling with zero post-call experience but the market is pretty hot right now and I've been seeing a lot of job postings for junior associates.

You should also probably speak with your current employer as they may be expecting or hoping to hire you back (again, assuming you're not just starting out at which point such discussions would be quite premature). It could be awkward if a prospective employer wants to contact your current employer/is wondering why they aren't being used as a reference and you haven't spoken with your current employer yet.