Interview, Presentation

The Importance of War Stories.

  • On April 27, 2014
Why is telling war stories in a work or interview context so important? You become memorable! A recitation of your skills or facts will put people to sleep, and the key points about yourself will not stick in their minds. Stories are shorthand for what is most relevant about you. Choose stories that showcase your […]
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Networking

Effective Networking

  • On April 20, 2014
Patrick Ewers, an executive coach and a former LinkedIn director, lays out straightforward and effective ways to get your network to help you. Some top tips: choose whom you interact with and how, stay top of mind for others, deliver value (find out what others want and help them), and offer authentic positive feedback.
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Cover Letter

Are Cover Letters Helpful?

  • On March 23, 2014
Sometimes. But having a good one is worth the effort, especially if you are asking a connection to forward your resume for a position. Prepare a short 2-3 paragraph letter explaining your relevant skills and interest as follows: The first sentence should refer to the position and, to orient the reader, explain who you are: your current job, […]
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Career Management, Change

How to change practice areas

  • On February 23, 2014
Is it possible to change practice areas, e.g., from litigation to transactional, or patent prosecution to licensing? Yes, it certainly is. Be prepared for hard work and getting sponsorship: Get the skills you need in that new area. The first thing to do is to take classes (MCLE, technical classes, etc.), review all available resources […]
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Presentation, Resume

How Do You Show You are Good: A Primer in Gentle Self-Promotion

  • On February 16, 2014
For those who hate to self-promote (rule #3), work into conversation, or at least into your resume: You work with top clients. It is understood no employer would assign you top accounts unless you have the necessary skills and judgment. You negotiate or litigate against top companies. This experience shows you have worked on complex […]
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Presentation

Self-Promote at Least a Little

  • On February 9, 2014
Rule #3: Self-promote … at least a little. Self-promotion, horrible as it may sound, is a necessary skill. If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is around, did it make a sound? Similarly, if you did something great, but no one knows, does it count? Some things to think about: One way to […]
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Presentation

How to Take Compliments

  • On February 2, 2014
Rule #2 on how to present yourself professionally: Take compliments well! Part of showing confidence is to understand your value, so learn to accept well-wishes and admiration with grace. Do not disagree with the compliment giver. Now is not the time to undermine yourself (not that there ever is a good time!). Show gratitude for the […]
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Interview, Presentation

How to Present Yourself Professionally.

  • On January 26, 2014
Rule #1: Don’t over-apologize! Successful lawyers inspire confidence and carry themselves with assurance at all times. If you don’t seem to value yourself, why should anyone else? An interesting piece in the New York Times by an Asian American woman professional who learned to suppress her apology reflex: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/19/jobs/how-to-suppress-the-apology-reflex.html.
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