Why Companies Don’t Hire the Most Experienced Candidate Applying?

On September 4, 2022

I am often asked why an employer wouldn’t want to hire the most experienced candidate interested in a job. The most common reasons I get: The hire would upset internal hierarchy. Existing team members may feel like they will lose out on promotion opportunities or interesting projects. Experienced candidates want to be paid more than […]

Interview, Uncategorized

What Behavioral Questions Do Top Companies Ask?

On September 15, 2019

I like this recent Inc. article listing common behavioral questions asked by top companies like Google, Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Dropbox. I recommend reviewing the questions and my guidelines below on how to respond so you can comprehensively prepare for any interview, even if it’s not with one of these companies because smaller companies often follow […]

Uncategorized

ABA Releases Data on Lawyers (Spoiler: Silicon Valley Lawyers Paid #1 in Nation)

On August 18, 2019

The American Bar Association just released its 2019 profile of the legal profession. Some interesting stats: Compensation. The average national salary for lawyers is $144,230. The highest average for a region belongs to San Jose/Sunnyvale/Santa Clara, the heart of Silicon Valley, at $207,950. The second highest metro region is San Francisco/Oakland at $183,070. Southern California […]

Interview, Presentation, Uncategorized

4 Ways to Quantify Legal Achievements (Which Are Notoriously Vague)

On January 12, 2019

Interviewers want to know about your skills and concrete successes. See this recent interview with an Apple global HR specialist explaining the magic formula for answering interview questions in four steps: (1) describe a situation you were in, (2) outline what you had to do, (3) detail what you executed, and (4) explain how this […]

Interview, Uncategorized

Behavioral Questions Lawyers Face in Interviews & 5 Ways to Handle

On December 15, 2018

Interviewers often ask lawyers at least one behavioral question in the interview process. Below are typical behavioral questions lawyers face, whether from HR (who come up with these) or the hiring manager: What is a challenge you recently faced? If a client wants to do something you don’t agree with, what do you do? How […]

Uncategorized

What Areas Are Hot for Lawyers (Summer 2018)?

On June 24, 2018

Usually recruiting grinds to a halt in the summer when people are more focused on their vacations than interviewing or recruiting. This summer, however, I am amazed by the number of active legal searches. What’s hot? I am seeing a lot of activity in these areas: Fintech, payments, and blockchain. Employers from startups to Fortune […]

Career Management, Career Tips, Presentation, Uncategorized

5 Venues to Build Your Name

On February 25, 2018

Every once in a while, clients publicly recognize their lawyers’ work. But you don’t have to wait for that to happen in order to build your name proactively. Give presentations on your area of expertise! Below are 5 venues to do that: The easiest place to start is your place of employ. Volunteer to give […]

Uncategorized

How’s the Legal Market Doing?

On February 16, 2018

The legal market is still strong! Generally hiring tracks the stock market. However, I noticed a slowdown in tech hiring (but not life sciences) after the surprise election results in 2016. However, 2017 hiring ended strong (as the stock market held steady). The Recorder also noted the Northern California legal market has been doing well. […]

Interview, Uncategorized

5 Signs You Are Bombing Your Interview!

On January 7, 2018

Here are 5 ways you can tell you are bombing your interview: No eye contact. The interviewer is staring at your resume or the computer screen, and not looking at you. How to counteract this visible boredom with you? Get engaging! Recall from your research of the company and interviewer what key issues they are […]

Career Tips, Timing, Uncategorized

3 Things to Do for Your Career over Holiday Season

On December 10, 2017

Should you shelve your job search now that it’s the holidays? No! Here are 3 things you can do now for your career: Use any downtime to review the market and get your resume ready. Go to targeted office parties, yours and others! You need to be remembered (in a charming way) when a job […]

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