Pandemic! Now What for My Career?

I haven’t been through a pandemic before, but this is my third boom/bust cycle (the first was the dot bomb in 2002 and the second the Great Recession in 2007-09). I’ve seen a lot of careers and observed how stars recover. Some tips: Live/work in a geographic area that will recover quickly. The San Francisco […]
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3 Lessons from Top GC

I enjoyed this recent interview with Jan Kang, the founder of Women’s General Counsel Network and serial GC, including at Chronicle, a Google X company. Jan’s former clients and colleagues keep inviting her to join them. Being asked to go from place to place is common for top lawyers. Why? Top lawyers are easy to […]
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Should You Move Now? Consider the Global Economy!

If you’re considering whether to move, jobs are still plentiful. Employers know they are competing for top candidates and will sometimes even consider people who are not spot-on for the role, so take advantage of these conditions. But will the strong market and flexibility in hiring continue? I am concerned about the impact of coronavirus on […]
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Classic Path to GC (& What to Do if You Are Not On it!)

The classic path to getting the general counsel spot is to attend a top 20 school, train 5+ years in corporate securities at a leading law firm, and then go in-house. Early responsibilities should include SEC, M&A, and equity plans. Responsibilities should broaden over time to include commercial, compliance, and HR. Additionally, candidates should have […]
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Are Gaps Between Jobs a Big Deal?

The hot job market and the increasing societal acceptance of sabbaticals make gaps between legal jobs not as big a deal as in the past. The WSJ recently reported that nowadays you can step out of the workforce for up to two years, whereas ten years ago a gap of six months could be “deadly.” […]
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Ask for Advice, Not Feedback, to Get Ahead

Careers take long and winding roads. To figure out what to do and how to improve yourself means getting the input of others. How do you best do that? This Harvard Business Review article says to use the word “advice” rather than “feedback” when you ask for help! Multiple studies have found asking for “feedback” […]
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Interviewing When Overqualified

I recently posted on ageism.  A related phenomenon is when employers reject applicants for being “overqualified.” Studies show, when presented with two good candidates, managers often prefer the one with less experience. The Wall Street Journal explains why. Hiring managers assume the candidate with the more impressive resume won’t be as committed to the company, stay […]
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