By: Kandice Thorn
The holidays are just around the corner and that means gifts galore for everyone! As you prepare your wish list, please allow me to suggest a few things that might help you on your way to finding your dream job.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Eat, Drink, Be Merry... and Strategize
By: Kandice Thorn
Did anyone notice the chill in the air this morning? Winter is rapidly approaching, bringing with it the end of the fall semester. Before you know it, you'll be handing in your last final and running off to enjoy a few weeks of well deserved rest. As you should. But I also want to encourage you to consider winter break as a time to review your career strategy.
Did anyone notice the chill in the air this morning? Winter is rapidly approaching, bringing with it the end of the fall semester. Before you know it, you'll be handing in your last final and running off to enjoy a few weeks of well deserved rest. As you should. But I also want to encourage you to consider winter break as a time to review your career strategy.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Making a Positive First Impression
By: Kandice Thorn
A few weeks ago, I wrote that your resume must make a positive impression on a viewer in about six seconds. Similarly, when you meet someone in person you have a very short time in which to make a positive first impression.
A first impression is developed very quickly and takes an excruciatingly long time to change once it is formed. Unfortunately, when you are networking or looking for a job, you don't have the luxury of taking the time to correct a negative impression - your first impression has to count. The good news is that a positive first impression can stick just as well as a negative one.
Here are a few tips for making a positive first impression:
A few weeks ago, I wrote that your resume must make a positive impression on a viewer in about six seconds. Similarly, when you meet someone in person you have a very short time in which to make a positive first impression.
A first impression is developed very quickly and takes an excruciatingly long time to change once it is formed. Unfortunately, when you are networking or looking for a job, you don't have the luxury of taking the time to correct a negative impression - your first impression has to count. The good news is that a positive first impression can stick just as well as a negative one.
Here are a few tips for making a positive first impression:
Monday, October 20, 2014
Engage Your Senses for Powerful Proofreading
By: Kandice Thorn
I am constantly emphasizing the importance of a *PERFECT* resume and cover letter, and today I'm going to give you a powerful tool to help you get there: using your senses.
Obviously, I am not suggesting that tasting or smelling your resume will bring it to the next level - that would be gross and creepy and ultimately useless. But here is how engaging your senses of touch, sight, and hearing can help you make your document perfect.
I am constantly emphasizing the importance of a *PERFECT* resume and cover letter, and today I'm going to give you a powerful tool to help you get there: using your senses.
Obviously, I am not suggesting that tasting or smelling your resume will bring it to the next level - that would be gross and creepy and ultimately useless. But here is how engaging your senses of touch, sight, and hearing can help you make your document perfect.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
What to Wear to an Interview?
By: Kandice Thorn
I could do an entire month's worth of blog posts about interview attire, but why do that when others have already done it so well? This week, I'm going to highlight a couple of posts by others who have done a great job explaining proper interview attire.
I could do an entire month's worth of blog posts about interview attire, but why do that when others have already done it so well? This week, I'm going to highlight a couple of posts by others who have done a great job explaining proper interview attire.
Monday, October 6, 2014
What's the Deal with Cover Letters??
By: Kandice Thorn
Career advisors give widely diverse advice when it comes to cover letters. Some assert that a good cover letter is key to getting a good job. Others tell you that cover letters are obsolete and nobody reads them anyway. The truth is probably a mix - some recruiters read cover letters and care very much about what they say; many others (perhaps most) toss them in the trash immediately; some might read them only after the resume has passed muster.
Career advisors give widely diverse advice when it comes to cover letters. Some assert that a good cover letter is key to getting a good job. Others tell you that cover letters are obsolete and nobody reads them anyway. The truth is probably a mix - some recruiters read cover letters and care very much about what they say; many others (perhaps most) toss them in the trash immediately; some might read them only after the resume has passed muster.
Monday, September 29, 2014
The Most Important Six Seconds for your Resume
By: Kandice Thorn
I learned something incredible last week--a recruiter spends on average just six seconds looking at a resume. Yes, you heard me right. That meticulous document that you spent hours upon hours to perfect will get just a six second glance to determine whether you will move into the "yes (interview)" or "no" pile.
I learned something incredible last week--a recruiter spends on average just six seconds looking at a resume. Yes, you heard me right. That meticulous document that you spent hours upon hours to perfect will get just a six second glance to determine whether you will move into the "yes (interview)" or "no" pile.
Monday, September 22, 2014
What Are You Waiting For? Join a Bar Association!
By: Kandice Thorn
I've said it before, and I'll say it again (emphatically): law students should join bar associations. If you haven't joined a bar association yet, I urge you to consider joining one. Student membership is typically steeply discounted and bar associations are an incredibly rich source of opportunities for networking, volunteering opportunities, and just learning more about a particular area of practice.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again (emphatically): law students should join bar associations. If you haven't joined a bar association yet, I urge you to consider joining one. Student membership is typically steeply discounted and bar associations are an incredibly rich source of opportunities for networking, volunteering opportunities, and just learning more about a particular area of practice.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Resume Real Estate
By: Kandice Thorn
If I told you that you have 500 square feet with which to design an apartment that you will live in, how would you design it? How much space would you allocate to the bedroom versus the living room or the bathroom or the closet? I imagine you would devote more space to the "more important" rooms and less space to "less important" rooms. If you have a large shoe collection but don't cook, you might have a big closet and a small kitchen; but a gourmet chef who has little interest in clothing might do the opposite.
If I told you that you have 500 square feet with which to design an apartment that you will live in, how would you design it? How much space would you allocate to the bedroom versus the living room or the bathroom or the closet? I imagine you would devote more space to the "more important" rooms and less space to "less important" rooms. If you have a large shoe collection but don't cook, you might have a big closet and a small kitchen; but a gourmet chef who has little interest in clothing might do the opposite.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Your First Networking Event
By: Kandice Thorn
I have been approached by several students recently who were preparing to attend their first networking events. I'm using the term "networking events" to broadly refer to conferences, panel discussions, "meet and greet" events, or anything else that will attract professionals with whom you may want to build a professional relationship.
I have been approached by several students recently who were preparing to attend their first networking events. I'm using the term "networking events" to broadly refer to conferences, panel discussions, "meet and greet" events, or anything else that will attract professionals with whom you may want to build a professional relationship.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
¿Como se dice? Language and the Job Search
By: Kandice Thorn
Doctors have instruments; engineers have numbers and stuff (or so I'm told); lawyers have language. For a practicing lawyer, facility with language is not just a plus, it is a requirement. For non-native-English-speaking LL.M. students who will be searching for jobs in the U.S., this means that getting up to speed on the language is of the utmost importance.
Fortunately, the LL.M. program provides tremendous opportunities for you to improve both your oral and written communication skills in English. Here are five things you can do to improve your English quickly:
Doctors have instruments; engineers have numbers and stuff (or so I'm told); lawyers have language. For a practicing lawyer, facility with language is not just a plus, it is a requirement. For non-native-English-speaking LL.M. students who will be searching for jobs in the U.S., this means that getting up to speed on the language is of the utmost importance.
Fortunately, the LL.M. program provides tremendous opportunities for you to improve both your oral and written communication skills in English. Here are five things you can do to improve your English quickly:
Monday, August 25, 2014
A New School Year
By: Kandice Thorn
I love the start of a new school year. In my school days, each new semester represented a clean slate and a chance to do everything better - to study more, to make more friends, to stay more organized, to participate more in school events. Today, as I watch our students returning for the new semester, the energy saturates the air and I am filled with optimism once again.
I love the start of a new school year. In my school days, each new semester represented a clean slate and a chance to do everything better - to study more, to make more friends, to stay more organized, to participate more in school events. Today, as I watch our students returning for the new semester, the energy saturates the air and I am filled with optimism once again.
Monday, April 28, 2014
End of Semester Advice
By: Kandice Thorn
It has been a few weeks since I've posted - apologies for the absence - and I cannot believe the end of the semester is already here. We survived the extra long (and extra chilly) winter and it looks like our much-needed spring might actually make an appearance after all. But before you all disperse to the ends of the earth for the summer or for the foreseeable future, I'd like to take this opportunity to offer a few words of wisdom to close out the semester.
It has been a few weeks since I've posted - apologies for the absence - and I cannot believe the end of the semester is already here. We survived the extra long (and extra chilly) winter and it looks like our much-needed spring might actually make an appearance after all. But before you all disperse to the ends of the earth for the summer or for the foreseeable future, I'd like to take this opportunity to offer a few words of wisdom to close out the semester.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Acquiring the Skills for Your Dream Job
By: Kandice Thorn
It's the classic job seeker's paradox: you can't get a job without experience; you can't get experience without a job. This is not just a problem for students or recent graduates who are looking for their first "real" jobs; it can also be an issue for anyone seeking to change practice area or jurisdiction. It can seem like the cards are stacked against you right from the start, so what is a job seeker to do?
It's the classic job seeker's paradox: you can't get a job without experience; you can't get experience without a job. This is not just a problem for students or recent graduates who are looking for their first "real" jobs; it can also be an issue for anyone seeking to change practice area or jurisdiction. It can seem like the cards are stacked against you right from the start, so what is a job seeker to do?
Monday, March 31, 2014
CLEs as a Networking Venue
By: Kandice Thorn
I frequently mention that one of the best ways to network is to go where the lawyers go. Since all practicing lawyers are required to complete a certain number of CLE credits every two years, lawyers can always be found congregating at Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses.
You do not need to feel like you have to "work the room" in order to make CLE attendance worth your while. If you get only 2-3 contacts to follow up on (including, even, the names of presenters), you will be in a good position. You can then follow up with requests for informational interviews or other questions relating to the presentation.
While many CLE courses are expensive, you should not hesitate to reach out to the organizers to ask if they award scholarships or fee waivers for students. Many organizations will happily do this. Check bar association websites for their CLE offerings, as well as private companies such as PLI (Practising Law Institute).
Don't forget to dress professionally when you attend a CLE. Also be sure to show up on time and look engaged with the presentation in order to put your best foot forward.
I frequently mention that one of the best ways to network is to go where the lawyers go. Since all practicing lawyers are required to complete a certain number of CLE credits every two years, lawyers can always be found congregating at Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses.
You do not need to feel like you have to "work the room" in order to make CLE attendance worth your while. If you get only 2-3 contacts to follow up on (including, even, the names of presenters), you will be in a good position. You can then follow up with requests for informational interviews or other questions relating to the presentation.
While many CLE courses are expensive, you should not hesitate to reach out to the organizers to ask if they award scholarships or fee waivers for students. Many organizations will happily do this. Check bar association websites for their CLE offerings, as well as private companies such as PLI (Practising Law Institute).
Don't forget to dress professionally when you attend a CLE. Also be sure to show up on time and look engaged with the presentation in order to put your best foot forward.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Bookmark This (LLM-UNITED)
By: Kandice Thorn
My Monday schedule has just been completely thrown off. Why? Because I just spent the past hour immersed in the wonderful articles on the LLM-UNITED website. I hadn't been on there for a while, so I wasn't aware of the latest updates, and I must say, if you are not checking this website regularly, you should be. LLM-UNITED is a network of LL.M. students and alumni, and features straightforward advice from someone who has walked in your shoes.
To get you started, here are links to three of my favorite articles on the website:
Your To Do List for Finding a Job in the U.S. With Your LL.M. Degree
Networking Advice: The Power of Names
Networking: How to Write a Forceful Email
My Monday schedule has just been completely thrown off. Why? Because I just spent the past hour immersed in the wonderful articles on the LLM-UNITED website. I hadn't been on there for a while, so I wasn't aware of the latest updates, and I must say, if you are not checking this website regularly, you should be. LLM-UNITED is a network of LL.M. students and alumni, and features straightforward advice from someone who has walked in your shoes.
To get you started, here are links to three of my favorite articles on the website:
Your To Do List for Finding a Job in the U.S. With Your LL.M. Degree
Networking Advice: The Power of Names
Networking: How to Write a Forceful Email
Monday, March 10, 2014
Preparation is Key for Interviewing (So Start Now!)
By: Kandice Thorn
Imagine the following scenario: You are sitting at home one day studying, when your phone rings. You don't recognize the number, but you pick it up and on the other end is a recruiter from a law firm to whom you had sent your resume. "We liked your resume and we would like to bring you in for an interview. How about Thursday?" the voice on the other end asks. "Of course, Thursday is great!" you reply enthusiastically. You work out the details and you hang up. At first you are elated, but after a moment the panic sets in. You realize you only have two days to prepare for the interview and you have no clue what you're doing.
Over the next two days, you scramble to pull together the right outfit, figure out how to respond to common interview questions, research the firm, etc. You go into the interview a bit frazzled, and the interview goes okay, but you know you could have done much better if you had more time to prepare. Still, they only gave you two days notice for the interview - there's nothing you could have done, right? Wrong! Below are a few concrete steps you can take now so you will be prepared when you get that call.
Imagine the following scenario: You are sitting at home one day studying, when your phone rings. You don't recognize the number, but you pick it up and on the other end is a recruiter from a law firm to whom you had sent your resume. "We liked your resume and we would like to bring you in for an interview. How about Thursday?" the voice on the other end asks. "Of course, Thursday is great!" you reply enthusiastically. You work out the details and you hang up. At first you are elated, but after a moment the panic sets in. You realize you only have two days to prepare for the interview and you have no clue what you're doing.
Over the next two days, you scramble to pull together the right outfit, figure out how to respond to common interview questions, research the firm, etc. You go into the interview a bit frazzled, and the interview goes okay, but you know you could have done much better if you had more time to prepare. Still, they only gave you two days notice for the interview - there's nothing you could have done, right? Wrong! Below are a few concrete steps you can take now so you will be prepared when you get that call.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Practical Tips for a Successful Skype Interview
By: Kandice Thorn
When I was a kid, my dad had a car phone. Not a cell phone, a car phone with the handset attached to the fixed base with a long spiral cord. To eight-year-old me, it was incredible. This was before even cordless phones had become commonplace, and now I could call my best friend from my dad's truck. The only catch was that it frequently took 3-4 tries for the call to be connected, and once connected, I couldn't actually hear the person on the other end (or they could not hear me). Never mind that - to me it was the coolest thing ever.
Fast forward a few decades. The iPhone is a vast improvement over my dad's old car phone, and the latest technology today is video calling with programs like Facetime and Skype. Yet frequently when I use these programs I feel like I am back in my dad's truck in 1987. The call quality can be atrocious, calls are often dropped, and I sometimes find myself shouting "Can you hear me?" at my computer monitor.
Nevertheless, employers have embraced this new technology as a way of screening potential candidates without paying for costly plane tickets. This means that job seekers, particularly those who are looking for jobs remotely, must embrace this technology in the job-search realm too. The following tips will help make your Skype interviews as successful and glitch-free as possible and will make your interview feel less like 1987 and more like 2025.
 |
| "Can you hear me now?" |
Fast forward a few decades. The iPhone is a vast improvement over my dad's old car phone, and the latest technology today is video calling with programs like Facetime and Skype. Yet frequently when I use these programs I feel like I am back in my dad's truck in 1987. The call quality can be atrocious, calls are often dropped, and I sometimes find myself shouting "Can you hear me?" at my computer monitor.
Nevertheless, employers have embraced this new technology as a way of screening potential candidates without paying for costly plane tickets. This means that job seekers, particularly those who are looking for jobs remotely, must embrace this technology in the job-search realm too. The following tips will help make your Skype interviews as successful and glitch-free as possible and will make your interview feel less like 1987 and more like 2025.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
The Best Way to Jump Start Your Networking
By: Kandice Thorn
If you are looking for a good way to jump start your networking, in my opinion there is no better place to start than with membership in a local bar association. Most bar associations offer student memberships at a steeply discounted rate. Some of the benefits of bar association membership include:
If you are looking for a good way to jump start your networking, in my opinion there is no better place to start than with membership in a local bar association. Most bar associations offer student memberships at a steeply discounted rate. Some of the benefits of bar association membership include:
- Opportunities to work alongside prominent practitioners in a variety of areas through committee membership
- Career-related programming
- Programs and conferences in substantive areas
- Social events
- Pro bono opportunities
Bar memberships simply give you a lot of bang for your networking buck, giving you access to tons of practitioners with whom you can interact in a variety of settings. Joining is easy and can be done online. There are many bar associations out there, but we recommend two that are local and are particularly active: the New York City Bar Association and the New York County Lawyers' Association. Make it a goal to join one of these organizations by the end of the month and you'll be surprised by the number of opportunities that come your way.
Monday, February 10, 2014
One Question You Should Always Ask in a Job Interview
By: Kandice Thorn
Students frequently ask me when is the appropriate time to follow up after a job interview. This is a very good question - follow up is important. It is always good to put yourself back in their minds and reiterate your interest in the position. But you need not wonder when to do this - you just need to ask the right question in the interview!
Students frequently ask me when is the appropriate time to follow up after a job interview. This is a very good question - follow up is important. It is always good to put yourself back in their minds and reiterate your interest in the position. But you need not wonder when to do this - you just need to ask the right question in the interview!
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Fun with Networking: Meetup.com
By: Kandice Thorn
If you are looking for a fun way to explore the city and meet new people (yes, network), I encourage you to check out Meetup.com. If you have an interest in something (anything!), Meetup.com is the place to find others who share your interest.
If you are looking for a fun way to explore the city and meet new people (yes, network), I encourage you to check out Meetup.com. If you have an interest in something (anything!), Meetup.com is the place to find others who share your interest.
- Do you live near Columbus Circle and love soccer? There's a Meetup for that.
- Is knitting your thing? Join the "Knitting Around New York" Meetup group.
- Have a passion for the wines of Israel? Believe it or not, there's a Meetup group for that.
You don't have to call this networking. Call it taking a break, having fun, exploring the city. And if some professional contacts come out of it, all the better!
Monday, January 27, 2014
Wanna, Gonna
By: Kandice Thorn
Over the years that I have worked with international students and non-native English speakers, I have noticed over and over again people using the words like "wanna" and "gonna" in their email correspondence. This phenomenon has confounded me for a while, so I decided recently to do some digging to see why so many international students use these words.
Over the years that I have worked with international students and non-native English speakers, I have noticed over and over again people using the words like "wanna" and "gonna" in their email correspondence. This phenomenon has confounded me for a while, so I decided recently to do some digging to see why so many international students use these words.
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