Put Your Job Search in High Gear (summer slowdown ahead!)

On March 30, 2014

Did you know the hiring process grinds to a halt 3 times a year? The longest period is summer: mid-June through August. (The other two times are the last two weeks of November and the last two weeks of December.) The only exceptions to the summer slowdown are companies in explosive growth mode (vacation be […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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.

Career Management, New Job

How to Hit the Ground Running with Your New Job

On January 19, 2014

Congrats! You got a new job. Now what? When leaving your current employer, do not burn bridges. The legal and business community is very small. Now is not the time to vent, but to leave gracefully with all connections intact. Before you start your job, meet with friends (and friends of friends) at the new […]

Career Management, Job Search, New Job

Time to Get a New Job! What to Do Starting Now

On January 12, 2014

Act on your New Year’s resolution to get a new job: Assess your skills and target your new employer. Set aside one hour per week (such a low bar!) to research target companies and see who you know there to facilitate introductions. Get your pitch ready! Show your expertise, e.g., by writing articles or leading […]

Career Management, Move

Presenting a Compelling Career Arc Even with Multiple Moves

On January 2, 2014

Your career arc needs to be clean and compelling, but what if you made some moves? Some ways to make the narrative clear in your resume: If your firm merged, list only the current (and usually better known) name under the employer/work experience section, and simply add “(f/k/a [old firm])” next to it. If you […]

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