Connecting to Supervisors

As your summer position, whether paid or volunteer, comes to a close, make some time to take your supervising attorney out for lunch or a cup of coffee. This will give you the opportunity to gain additional feedback on your performance and make sure that this important ally knows your future goals and create a lasting impression of your professionalism. The legal profession is a small place, and with most jobs being gained from referrals, you need to take the time to grow and continually cultivate your networking contacts. If you haven't already, create a LinkedIn account and a networking plan (can simply be a contact sheet you create in Excel). Then not only plan, but execute, on your follow-up!

LinkedIn Job Search Tips

I do a lot of reading, writing, and presenting on LinkedIn, which ties to networking, personal branding, and professional development. From my perusal of twitterverse/blogosphere I wanted to share two great articles on LinkedIn. The first, Top 10 LinkedIn Job Search Tips, gives all the conventional advice, but the one I think many job seekers miss is to follow the LinkedIn blog. This is so important so that you can show employers that you know how to use the latest tools not only to benefit your own professional image, but also those with whom you associate (employers, bar associations, professional groups, alumni or other affinity groups). The second, while coming from a negative angle, really gets at my mantra of how to use my 3 Ps (professional, proactive, and positive) of online behavior. LinkedIn Strategies That Keep You Unemployed also helps you focus on when a message or discussion might be proactive and even professional, but is it really positive?

JD Supra & LinkedIn

JDSupra is one of the latest applications to be added to LinkedIn to provide you with updates in the legal field directly in your profile. With over 20 practice areas, this provides another source of information for you in areas of interest. You can also contribute articles and documents of interest or forward along articles of interest to others in your connections, groups, or as a status update. Having a presence isn't the same thing as being active -- so get involved today!

Leading with Confidence, Not a Sense of Omnipotence

Many employers say they are looking to hire leaders. So how do you define your leadership? How do you learn about becoming a leader? Is it by leading? Is it by following? Reading about and thinking about your own leadership style? Probably a little of all of it, which is why a little humilty goes a long way as a leader, which this HBR article highlights. Really, we don't know it all, we all make mistakes in leading and deciding, but how do you still convey confidence? Some things to contemplate as you are marketing yourself as an independent, yet capable, future/new/experienced lawyer.

Federal Honors Programs

Are you interested in a career in the federal government? You should be considering Federal Honors and Internship Programs. The Government Honors & Internship Handbook provides information on all of the large programs, generally out of headquarters and larger regional offices (the login/password is available to you in Symplicity). You can also seek out similar opportunities locally through externships in the Field Placement Office and on a volunteer basis by using the Government Job Search Guide in the Symplicity Document Library. You may also make a career advising appointment with Alisa to discuss how to network and seek jobs in the government sector. Some great blogs to help you keep a pulse on the federal government include:

• The Federal Coach
• OhMyGov!
• NextGov

And don't forget the Making the Difference resources for job seekers as well.