By: Olga Statz
Refinement of conversation is an essential element of networking. The good news is that conversation is an art, and like all arts, it can be learned. First, let’s determine what networking is not. It is not descending on your cocktail party convives, lips ablaze with boastings and blusterings about yourself followed by insincere and patently manipulative emails the next day. No one likes to be “talked at” or used, therefore such behavior will get you nowhere. So how then, should you do it? How do you lay the groundwork for the friendships and professional associations that will help you progress in your life and your career? How do you network? The initial ingredient to successful networking is congenial, intelligent, and respectful conversation. Notice that I did not say “dazzling, scintillating, and brilliant” conversation. I said instead “congenial, intelligent, and respectful conversation,” which is fully within the power of the average person to achieve.
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Monday, October 26, 2015
Conducting an Efficient Job Search
By: Kandice Thorn
In the U.S., when we apply to college, we are told to look at three kinds of schools: "Dream Schools," "Match Schools," and "Safety Schools." Dream Schools are, of course, the schools we really really want to go to, but have very little chance of getting into. Safety Schools are those that we can be reasonably certain to be admitted into with no problem. Match Schools are those that are a good match for our credentials, and thus we have a reasonable chance of admission. Students are told that they should apply to a small number of Dream Schools and at least one or two Safety Schools, but that the majority of their efforts should be focused on Match Schools.
While there are obvious differences between the college application process and the job search process, I do think there are some parallels to be drawn that may be helpful in formulating a successful job search.
In the U.S., when we apply to college, we are told to look at three kinds of schools: "Dream Schools," "Match Schools," and "Safety Schools." Dream Schools are, of course, the schools we really really want to go to, but have very little chance of getting into. Safety Schools are those that we can be reasonably certain to be admitted into with no problem. Match Schools are those that are a good match for our credentials, and thus we have a reasonable chance of admission. Students are told that they should apply to a small number of Dream Schools and at least one or two Safety Schools, but that the majority of their efforts should be focused on Match Schools.
While there are obvious differences between the college application process and the job search process, I do think there are some parallels to be drawn that may be helpful in formulating a successful job search.
Monday, October 19, 2015
The Importance of Following Recent Developments in Your Field
By: Kandice Thorn
Most LL.M. students join the program in order to gain expertise in something, to make strides forward career-wise. The LL.M. allows you to delve academically into your field of interest and to analyze many of the complexities and nuances involved in an area of study.
But in order to truly become an expert, you must go beyond what you learn in the classroom to keep up with the most exciting new developments in your field. In any field of study, there will be countless blogs, news feeds, twitter feeds, and more devoted to tracking new developments. Ask your professors or networking contacts which are the most important ones to follow and start following them daily.
At interviews or networking events, you'll have interesting topics to discuss, and you'll come across as someone who is engaged, proactive, and enthusiastic. Remember that experts are not born that way - expertise comes from immersing oneself in a field of study, and going beyond just classroom learning. The LL.M. provides an excellent platform for you to make strides, but you must take the initiative to move beyond classroom learning to become an expert.
Most LL.M. students join the program in order to gain expertise in something, to make strides forward career-wise. The LL.M. allows you to delve academically into your field of interest and to analyze many of the complexities and nuances involved in an area of study.
But in order to truly become an expert, you must go beyond what you learn in the classroom to keep up with the most exciting new developments in your field. In any field of study, there will be countless blogs, news feeds, twitter feeds, and more devoted to tracking new developments. Ask your professors or networking contacts which are the most important ones to follow and start following them daily.
At interviews or networking events, you'll have interesting topics to discuss, and you'll come across as someone who is engaged, proactive, and enthusiastic. Remember that experts are not born that way - expertise comes from immersing oneself in a field of study, and going beyond just classroom learning. The LL.M. provides an excellent platform for you to make strides, but you must take the initiative to move beyond classroom learning to become an expert.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
After the Interview: The Importance of Following Up
By: Kandice Thorn
Many students are starting to have interviews for spring externships, and I have found that while students are typically able to prepare well for the interview, they are often caught off guard by what happens next. But following up is crucial following an interview. It lets the employer know you are very interested in the position and shows that you are engaged and proactive, while also putting you at the front of their minds again.
Many students are starting to have interviews for spring externships, and I have found that while students are typically able to prepare well for the interview, they are often caught off guard by what happens next. But following up is crucial following an interview. It lets the employer know you are very interested in the position and shows that you are engaged and proactive, while also putting you at the front of their minds again.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Networking Events: Conquer Your Fears
By: Kandice Thorn
For this week, I am going to resurrect a post from about a year ago that I think will be useful for all of you who are just now starting the LL.M. program...
(originally published on September 8, 2014)
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.
For this week, I am going to resurrect a post from about a year ago that I think will be useful for all of you who are just now starting the LL.M. program...
**************
(originally published on September 8, 2014)
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.
Monday, September 21, 2015
How to Handle a Resume "Gap"
By: Kandice Thorn
One thing that you will hear time and time again about resumes is that you should not have any "gaps." A gap on your resume is a period of time when you were not in school pursuing a degree and were not employed. Basically, it's a period of unemployment. In this post, I will tell you how to address resume considerations if you are currently in a period of unemployment, and also how to address a past period of unemployment.
One thing that you will hear time and time again about resumes is that you should not have any "gaps." A gap on your resume is a period of time when you were not in school pursuing a degree and were not employed. Basically, it's a period of unemployment. In this post, I will tell you how to address resume considerations if you are currently in a period of unemployment, and also how to address a past period of unemployment.
Monday, September 14, 2015
What Should be Included in my Resume?
By: Kandice Thorn
One of the most frequent questions I get from international students regarding their resumes is whether it really needs to be limited to one page. European-style CVs typically span at least two pages, and the idea of shifting to a one-page resume can be daunting. But it is very important to limit yourself to one page, at least until you amass enough experience to warrant a second page. The difficult part is figuring out what to include in order to prune your accomplishments to fit onto one page.
One of the most frequent questions I get from international students regarding their resumes is whether it really needs to be limited to one page. European-style CVs typically span at least two pages, and the idea of shifting to a one-page resume can be daunting. But it is very important to limit yourself to one page, at least until you amass enough experience to warrant a second page. The difficult part is figuring out what to include in order to prune your accomplishments to fit onto one page.
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Maintain Relationships with Professors, Colleagues, and Supervisors After Graduation
By: Sindy Ding-Voorhees
This week we are pleased to present the third of three posts by guest blogger, Sindy Ding-Voorhees. Sindy graduated from Fordham's LL.M. program in Intellectual Property and Information Technology in 2013 and has since been working as an Intellectual Property attorney in New York and Washington D.C. She wrote this series of three articles to share her experiences and advice with our incoming LL.M. students. This week, she addresses the importance of building and maintaining relationships throughout your LL.M. year. We are grateful for her contribution!
After graduating, what stays with you from your LL.M. year is not just the knowledge you have gained, but also the relationships you have built with your professors, peers, colleagues and bosses, which is far more precious.
After graduating, what stays with you from your LL.M. year is not just the knowledge you have gained, but also the relationships you have built with your professors, peers, colleagues and bosses, which is far more precious.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Externship/Internship Performance: Be Curious and "Loud"
By: Sindy Ding-Voorhees
This week we are pleased to present the second of three posts by guest blogger, Sindy Ding-Voorhees. Sindy graduated from Fordham's LL.M. program in Intellectual Property and Information Technology in 2013 and has since been working as an Intellectual Property attorney in New York and Washington D.C. She wrote this series of three articles to share her experiences and advice with our incoming LL.M. students. This week, she addresses how to succeed in an internship/externship. We are grateful for her contribution!
A primary goal in any internship is to complete
your part of the job, diligently and actively. That doesn’t necessarily mean
that you do it all by yourself, sit quietly in front of your computer
throughout all your hours. You can be a hard worker as well as a great team
player who is able to optimize workload, think
outside the box and ASK QUESTIONS (don’t be afraid!). A smart intern will
not only complete what s/he is supposed to do, but will also be CURIOUS about
the other parts of the work.
Here is my real experience when I worked at Coach,
Inc. during the first semester of my LL.M. year. Each intern was assigned a
certain amount of work doing online intellectual property monitoring and
enforcement. It was actually a pretty sweet position because we worked closely
with the senior counsels and the General Counsel.
Monday, August 24, 2015
Speak Up During the Year of Your LL.M.
By: Sindy Ding-Voorhees
An LL.M. program for most non-U.S. candidates is something with multiple purposes. First and foremost, it is an intensive one-year long program of study covering various American substantive legal subjects. It also provides an almost exclusively English-speaking environment, which is a first for many people. Most importantly, an open, mingle-cultured (both legally and socially) society is right there, waiting to embrace you, whether or not you are prepared for it.
I am a foreign-trained lawyer who recently graduated from the LL.M. program at Fordham Law, which is located in midtown Manhattan near Columbus Circle—not a very quiet place! In this article, I will share my experience and give you some tips on what you, as an international student, need to do to make your year the most rewarding.
Monday, April 20, 2015
Passing the Bar Exam
By: Kandice Thorn
We have reached the end of the semester and finals are rapidly approaching. But for many students, beyond finals looms an even bigger challenge: the bar exam.
If you have done any research at all, you know that the pass rate for foreign-qualified bar takers in NY is quite low, hovering consistently around 40%. What can you do to improve your chances? Below are a few tips that can help you beat the odds.
We have reached the end of the semester and finals are rapidly approaching. But for many students, beyond finals looms an even bigger challenge: the bar exam.
If you have done any research at all, you know that the pass rate for foreign-qualified bar takers in NY is quite low, hovering consistently around 40%. What can you do to improve your chances? Below are a few tips that can help you beat the odds.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Procrastination and the Job Search
By: Kandice Thorn
The year has flown by and we are already fast approaching spring semester finals. Around this time of year, as many of our students prepare to graduate, I start getting queries from people who previously hadn't thought much about the job search but suddenly are realizing that the entire year has passed them by. The far off haze of post-graduation employment is suddenly coming sharply into focus.
"How do I start looking for a job?" they ask. "Should I start networking now?"
Obviously, you're much better off if you began preparing your resume, networking, etc. early on. But if you didn't do this, are you without hope? No! It's never too late to start. Here are some tips to help the procrastinators among us make up for lost time.
The year has flown by and we are already fast approaching spring semester finals. Around this time of year, as many of our students prepare to graduate, I start getting queries from people who previously hadn't thought much about the job search but suddenly are realizing that the entire year has passed them by. The far off haze of post-graduation employment is suddenly coming sharply into focus.
"How do I start looking for a job?" they ask. "Should I start networking now?"
Obviously, you're much better off if you began preparing your resume, networking, etc. early on. But if you didn't do this, are you without hope? No! It's never too late to start. Here are some tips to help the procrastinators among us make up for lost time.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
How Formal Should My Email Correspondence Be?
By: Kandice Thorn
Not so long ago, in my first office job working at a travel agency in Tigard, Oregon, I sat at a large desk with a very clunky computer. I used the computer primarily for searching for and booking flights and hotel reservations (Expedia did not yet exist). We also had a large printer that was only used for printing airline tickets, which we would deliver to our clients all over Portland (paperless tickets also did not yet exist). And before delivering those tickets, I would frequently turn to another machine on my desk to produce a cover letter: a typewriter.
Not so long ago, in my first office job working at a travel agency in Tigard, Oregon, I sat at a large desk with a very clunky computer. I used the computer primarily for searching for and booking flights and hotel reservations (Expedia did not yet exist). We also had a large printer that was only used for printing airline tickets, which we would deliver to our clients all over Portland (paperless tickets also did not yet exist). And before delivering those tickets, I would frequently turn to another machine on my desk to produce a cover letter: a typewriter.
Monday, March 9, 2015
Using Martindale.com For Networking
By: Kandice Thorn
In preparing for a small group meeting last week, I was reminded of a fantastic resource that everyone should be aware of for networking purposes. Martindale.com is a website with a powerful search function that allows you to conduct very specific searches for lawyers or law firms.
For foreign lawyers, Martindale.com can help you connect with lawyers from your home country who have managed to settle into positions in the U.S. Using the Advanced Search, simply enter the name of a law school from your home country in the "Law School" field (especially look for your own foreign law school!). Try a few different spellings or formulations if nothing comes up at first.
Start making a list of people who you are interested in meeting and try setting up some informational interviews!
In preparing for a small group meeting last week, I was reminded of a fantastic resource that everyone should be aware of for networking purposes. Martindale.com is a website with a powerful search function that allows you to conduct very specific searches for lawyers or law firms.
For foreign lawyers, Martindale.com can help you connect with lawyers from your home country who have managed to settle into positions in the U.S. Using the Advanced Search, simply enter the name of a law school from your home country in the "Law School" field (especially look for your own foreign law school!). Try a few different spellings or formulations if nothing comes up at first.
Start making a list of people who you are interested in meeting and try setting up some informational interviews!
Monday, March 2, 2015
The Importance of Building a Strong Reputation
By: Kandice Thorn
In the job search, we focus a great deal of attention on networking and making connections. In this context, we often mention the importance of making a good impression. But rarely do we take that a step further to talk about the importance of building your reputation.
In the job search, we focus a great deal of attention on networking and making connections. In this context, we often mention the importance of making a good impression. But rarely do we take that a step further to talk about the importance of building your reputation.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
...But I Don't Have Time!
By: Kandice Thorn
I know I have to draft my resume.
I know that networking is important.
I know that I should do some research into the job market.
I know all of this, but I don't have time!
Tackling the job search can seem like a tremendous project. This post is about helping you see that you can advance your job search with just little pockets of time here and there - that you DO have time if you take it little by little.
I know I have to draft my resume.
I know that networking is important.
I know that I should do some research into the job market.
I know all of this, but I don't have time!
Tackling the job search can seem like a tremendous project. This post is about helping you see that you can advance your job search with just little pockets of time here and there - that you DO have time if you take it little by little.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Seize the Day to Build Your Resume
By: Kandice Thorn
For full-time students especially, the LL.M. year provides a golden resume building opportunity.
For full-time students especially, the LL.M. year provides a golden resume building opportunity.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Drafting an Effective Cover Letter
By: Kandice Thorn
Drafting a cover letter can be an intimidating process. Most people aren't sure what to include so they opt for the "kitchen sink" approach - include everything ("everything but the kitchen sink," as the saying goes) so as not to leave out the one thing that an employer might find interesting.
Unfortunately this approach usually backfires, as the letter contains so much information that the reader doesn't know what to focus on and misses whatever important point you are trying to make. Worse, the reader comes away with the impression that you are long-winded and don't know how to edit yourself.
Drafting a cover letter can be an intimidating process. Most people aren't sure what to include so they opt for the "kitchen sink" approach - include everything ("everything but the kitchen sink," as the saying goes) so as not to leave out the one thing that an employer might find interesting.
Unfortunately this approach usually backfires, as the letter contains so much information that the reader doesn't know what to focus on and misses whatever important point you are trying to make. Worse, the reader comes away with the impression that you are long-winded and don't know how to edit yourself.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Preparing for an Interview? Practice Your Elevator Pitch!
By: Kandice Thorn
At the end of this month, dozens of Fordham LL.M. students will participate in the International Student Interview Program (ISIP), an annual job fair that brings together LL.M. students and employers from around the world. For students who will be participating in interviews, a little bit of advance preparation will be crucial. In this article, I will focus on what I consider to be the hardest interview question: "Tell me about yourself."
This question is the cue to launch into your "elevator pitch."
At the end of this month, dozens of Fordham LL.M. students will participate in the International Student Interview Program (ISIP), an annual job fair that brings together LL.M. students and employers from around the world. For students who will be participating in interviews, a little bit of advance preparation will be crucial. In this article, I will focus on what I consider to be the hardest interview question: "Tell me about yourself."
This question is the cue to launch into your "elevator pitch."
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