Networking

Graceful Ways to Network

  • On February 21, 2016
After you have identified whom to reach out in a job search (see my post “7 Circles to Contact in a Job Search”), don’t get stuck on the approach. Here are easy ways to touch base:  Review legal papers like The Recorder and Law360 each day. These publications have free trial and digital subscriptions, so […]
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Job Search

7 Circles to Contact in a Job Search

  • On February 15, 2016
If you are hunting for a job, you may feel like you are in the seventh circle of hell. Reach out to these seven circles of people for help instead: Friends. You must tell your friends, both close and distant, that you are looking. That way, you are on their mind when they see a job […]
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Job Search

3 Easy and Effective Job Search Tips

  • On February 7, 2016
If you’re looking for a job, you’ve probably been inundated by unhelpful advice that’s hard to implement. For example, I still haven’t opened the books What Color is Your Parachute and What Can You Do with a Law Degree. Instead, below are 3 high-impact and easy things to do for your job search. You already tell stories in […]
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Job Search

Advanced Search Techniques

  • On January 31, 2016
You’ve polished your resume, scoured the web, and applied online or through friends without success. Now what? Here are some advanced search tips: Monitor movement of people in your industry. Scan LinkedIn and legal/business publications for who is moving where. You could network with people you know, spot trends, and get ideas (e.g., of who […]
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Interview, Networking

Key First Impressions

  • On January 24, 2016
People form their first impressions of you in seconds. Professor Amy Cuddy (of the power pose fame) found that the first two traits assessed upon meeting are warmth/trustworthiness and then competence. The order of these traits matters. People must first like you; otherwise they won’t bother to find out how good you are. Remember this when you are interviewing or wooing […]
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Interview

3 Interview Essentials, No Matter the Role or Your Experience

  • On January 17, 2016
All lawyers have the basic skills to interview well. You are used to anticipating questions, assessing risk, and working hard. Now apply them to yourself – these top 3 work for lawyers of any level for any role:  Assess yourself objectively like a case you are working up. There are good facts to emphasize and […]
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Offer

How Much Time Off Can You Ask For Before Starting?

  • On January 10, 2016
Candidates often ask me how much time they can ask to take off before starting a new role. The minimum is 2 weeks since that’s the standard notice period. You can easily ask for 3 weeks without pushing the envelope. If you are asking for 4, it won’t raise eyebrows, though I suggest you give a […]
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Recruiter

How to Optimize Your Chances with a Recruiter

  • On December 27, 2015
Yes, it’s a crowded field. This article summarizes what piques my interest when employers (from unicorn startups to Fortune 500) ask me to find the best lawyer for them: Your LinkedIn profile is updated, has a photo, and summarizes your experience and skills. Your resume is clean, clear, and concise. You come referred by someone I trust. That definitely gets my […]
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Job Search

Why You Should Job Hunt Through the Holidays

  • On December 13, 2015
Yes, recruiting slows to a trickle between Christmas and New Year, but here are 3 reasons to keep at it:  You have time! Lawyers notoriously put down their heads and claim they have no time to think about their career. Well, now is the season to self-assess. See where you are versus where you want to […]
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Interview

​​How to Answer Hypotheticals

  • On December 6, 2015
Now that you what interviewers are evaluating you on when they ask you about hypos (your subject matter expertise, analytical reasoning, and presentation skills), here are 5 ways to excel in answering the hypo:  Lay out your reasoning systematically. Even if your answer doesn’t end up to be absolutely correct (or if there is no clear-cut […]
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