Legal Career Advancement Strategies

Legal Career Advancement StrategiesLegal Career Advancement Strategies

What do executives say about you behind closed doors Learn to become a positively perceived leader

What do executives say about you behind closed doors Learn to become a positively perceived leaderWhat do executives say about you behind closed doors Learn to become a positively perceived leaderDo you have a good sense about what is said about you behind closed doors? When your boss, your bosss boss and other key executives in the organization are sitting down and discussing you, what is the consensus? Is it positive? Is it negative? Are you credible? Confident? Respected? Reliable? If you look around the table, how many are leer faces? Blank faces are people who dont know you and wouldnt know what to expect if you were given an opportunity.Its important to know how you are perceived by others in your organization. In my presentation, The Importance of Having Positively Perceived Leaders, I explain how to build and develop your perception, and how to cultivate and maintain a positive outlook on your skillset.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreBy activelyinfluencing how others perceive you, you can enhance your access to new opportunities. If youre looking to manage how you and your accomplishments are viewed, start by following my steps below, and plan how you will change what is being said when youre not in the room.1. Seek out advocatesThink about who in your organization already knows you and can speak to your work and your reputation. Will they speak up when you are being discussed? The most obvious candidate may be your boss, who has a more detailed knowledge of the work you have done and the success youve had in your current role. Be koranvers your advocates speak highly about your work, but also know your aspirations. When opportunities arise, they can put your anthroponym forward.Your boss is key, but dont forget others you have worked with, both within and outside your business group. Be sure to maintain those relationships on both a casual and pro fessional level, as those other players too may be your advocates.2. Get to know more peopleImagine there are 10 people sitting in a room at your organization. How many know you and your work? One? Three? Five? The more people know you, the more voices there are to speak up or weigh in on your behalf. Others who arent sure might not speak or could actively advocate for another candidate rather than back you and your unknown reputation. Make the effort to be seen and heard by more than just the small circle of your team or group stand up, speak up, be heardand be remembered.You do great work, so dont be afraid to make sure others know how well youve done and what youre capable of achieving.3. Dont forget the organization as a wholeWhen youre getting to know people, and making sure they know you and your accomplishments, dont only focus on senior managers and the executive. There are many people in your organization who those other leaders will look to for opinions - who will they co nsult with about you and your reputation? Make the effort tofoster and maintain that positive perceptionof your work with your colleagues, your employees and all the influencers and decision makers with whom you come in contact.How you are talked about outside those closed-door meetings is important, too if someone doesnt know you well, they may take the advice and opinion of someone they trust who does. Cast your net wide whenmanaging your perception, because it all may matter.When youre ready for that next step in your career, and youre looking for a new opportunity in leadership, dont forget thatperception is a critical part of managing your successalong the path. Dont become a hidden leader whose potential remains untapped and overlooked just because your talents werent known. Its up to you to make sure that when people sit down to discuss you, there are no blank faces at the table, and as many as possible will speak up on your behalf.This article originally appeared on SmartBr ief.

JOLTS Report Update

JOLTS Report Update JOLTS Report Update May job openings were little changed from April at 7.3 million. The number of workers who were hired fell, and there was little change in the number of people who quit or were laid off. Here is a summary of key data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ just-released Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS): Job openings: 7.3 million People hired: 5.7 million People who left their jobs (total): 5.5 million People who left their jobs (voluntarily quit): 3.4 million People who left their jobs (layoff or involuntary reason): 1.8 million People who left their jobs (retirement or other reason): 310,000   Hiring managers continue to face a highly competitive market for top job candidates, many of whom receive multiple offers. There are more vacant positions than unemployed people in the U.S., making hiring even more challenging.   In a survey of senior managers, 20 percent said their biggest hiring hurdle was asking the right interview questions. Here are some tips to help you get more out of the interview questions you ask: Prepare for a phone interview like a regular interview. Ask strong phone interview questions to determine which candidates are worth bringing in for a sit-down interview. You can’t afford to waste time with a candidate who doesn’t meet your qualifications. Ask interview questions that touch on technical and soft skills. At the in-person meeting, your interview questions should help you understand if the candidate has the skills to do the job and will be a good fit with your existing team.   Understand the different types of interview questions. If you don’t know the difference between closed- and open-ended questions, or when (and if) you should ask outside-the-box questions, you’re not ready to interview.   End the interview well. Make sure you end an interview on a positive note and let the candidate know what happens next in the process.   Finally, if you’re a first-time hiring manager, here is some job interview advice just for you.  

4 ways to make sure your next meeting doesnt go wildly off track

4 ways to make sure your next meeting doesn't go wildly off track 4 ways to make sure your next meeting doesn't go wildly off track In a world with so many meetings that it’s hard to keep up with your work, you’ll need to do everything in your power to make sure that the next one you facilitate doesn’t get derailed. With boredom levels raging and the need for some people to inevitably hear themselves talk, the potential for distraction from the gathering’s real purpose is high.Here’s how to run a meeting that won’t follow this pattern.Give participants an agendaParticipants should have a crystal clear picture of the meeting’s goal, and what it will take to achieve it.Run your meetings like the ones at Amazon, where CEO Jeff Bezos  reportedly has participants read through memos  at the beginning of some meetings.You should also follow Elon Musk’s lead by making sure that employees contribute instead of staying silent, and that there’a s clear reason for the gathering.Be upfront with the materials, like Mark ZuckerbergHint: it involves getting the technical stuff out of the way first.Sheryl Sandbe rg, COO at Facebook and founder of LeanIn.Org, spilled the beans on Quora in 2015 on how Mark Zuckerberg reportedly runs meetings at Facebook.“Mark has done a really good job improving the efficiency of meetings at Facebook this year. He asks people to send materials in advance so we can use the time for discussion and we try to be clear about our goal when we sit down for a meeting - are we in the room to make a decision or to have a discussion?” Sandberg wrote.Use this line when participants drone on, and on and on…Someone has to put an end to it.Bob Pozen, a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, senior fellow at Brookings Institute, and author of Extreme Productivity, tells the Harvard Business Review  about how to get people back on track if they talk for too long during a meeting.“If two or three people bring up things that are contiguous but not really related, the meeting can degenerate,” he tells the publication.Pozen also suggests that you try and find out what’s really going on instead of suggesting that they’re making the meeting get off track on purpose by saying something like, “you’ve diverted us several times. Is there something’s that bothering you?”Don’t break without recapping the main pointsYou’ll need to tie up all the loose ends.LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner writes on the platform about what to do before you go.“Don’t end the meeting without summarizing key conclusions, action items, and points of accountability for delivering on next steps. This summary is usually the first thing to suffer if the meeting has run long and people start running off to their next scheduled event. However, it’s arguably the single most important thing you’ll do at the meeting (and is ostensibly the reason for the meeting to begin with). Have the discipline to ensure attendees sit tight and remain focused while next steps are being discussed and agreed to,” he writes.Don’t let your meetings  fall by the wayside.

Tuition Assistance in the Military

Tuition Assistance in the Military Tuition Assistance in the Military Tuition assistance is given to military personnel who are on active duty, drilling or retired in the regular services or the Reserves. This benefit is for voluntary off-duty civilian education programs. It is separate from the GI Bill. What are the limitations of this benefit? You may receive 100 percent tuition assistance if it falls within the limits of the program, which are $4500 per year and $250 per semester hour. The tuition assistance benefit is standard for all of the armed forces, including Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. It has caps and restrictions, which are subject to modification. It is wise to consult your Education Service Specialist, visit an Education Center, or your services web portal to see what the current policy entails. Annual Ceiling for Tuition Assistance: $4500 for the fiscal year (October 1 through September 30)Semester Hour Cap: $250Cap on Number of Semester Hours Per Year: 16 semester hoursFees other than tuition might not be funded. Books and course materials are not funded.Services can impose specific eligibility criteriaOfficers will usually incur a service obligation that will run in parallel to an existing service obligationTop-up Program: This program allows you to use your GI Bill benefits to take more-expensive courses that are fully funded by tuition assistance Accredited Distance Learning or Classroom Learning Programs The tuition assistance benefits cover distance learning programs as well as classroom programs. The courses must be part of an approved academic degree or certificate program that is registered with the military. The courses must be accredited. You can find a  list of participating institutions through the Department of Defense. Army The Army funds 100 percent of the tuition costs up to the standard caps. The Army limits tuition assistance to 130 semester hours of undergraduate credit or baccalaureate degree and 39 semester hours of graduate credit for all post-baccalaureate degree education.  No school fees are eligible for funding by tuition assistance. You can apply for tuition assistance through GoArmyEd  before starting the courses. It is approved on a course-by-course basis, and the courses must be part of an approved degree program. In 2014, a restriction was made that a soldier must have ten years of service before they can use tuition assistance for a second, higher-level post-bachelor degree program, such as getting a masters degree if they used tuition assistance for any portion of their baccalaureate degree. You cant use tuition assistance to get a second equivalent degree. Air Force The Air Force funds both tuition and fees for active duty personnel up to the standard cap. There is a cap of 124 semester hours for undergraduate programs and 42 semester hours for graduate-level courses. Your supervisor must approve your tuition assistance request before you start classes. If you receive a grade of C or below in graduate courses or a D or below in undergraduate courses, you have to pay back your tuition assistance in a lump sum rather than making payments. Tuition assistance requests are made through the Air Force Portal at My.AF.mil. Navy Navy tuition assistance only covers tuition and does not pay for any fees, books, materials, exams, etc. It covers high school diploma and equivalency certificates in addition to college and post-graduate courses. The dollar limits are the same as the standard amount. The hour limits are 16 semester hours, 24 quarter hours or 240 clock hours per person. Failure to maintain grade levels or receiving an incomplete will result in being required to pay back the assistance. Full requirements are listed at NavyCollege.mil. Marine Corps The Marine Corps tuition assistance covers only tuition and does not cover fees, books, exams, and other costs. You can only participate in up to two tuition assistance funded classes at a time. You have to pay back tuition assistance if you dont maintain a satisfactory grade, and you wont get further tuition assistance until it is paid back. First-time applicants must have at least 24 months of active-duty service. Reserves and National Guard National Guard and Reservists may be eligible for tuition assistance. It is determined by service eligibility. Both the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard offer Tuition Assistance in line with the standard for active duty personnel. Additionally, many states offer additional education benefits for members of their National Guard. Benefits can vary widely from state-to-state). Army Reserves: 100 percent TA up to the standard limits for drilling reservists, 75 percent for officers pursuing a bachelors degree.Air Force Reserves:  100 percent Tuition Assistance for undergraduate degree programs and 75 percent TA for graduate studies, within the limits of the active duty tuition assistance program.Coast Guard Reserves:  TA for both undergraduate and graduate degrees. TA cannot exceed $4,000 annually.Navy Reserves: The Navy has restrictions on which reservists can get tuition assistance. They must be on continuous active duty or be an enlisted reservist ordered to active duty for 120 or more days or a reservist officer ordered to active duty for two years or more. Marine Reserves: There is no tuition assistance for the Marine Reserves unless you qualify for the active duty tuition assistance under Title 10.

Phone calls, saying no and staying ready

Phone calls, saying 'no' and staying ready Phone calls, saying 'no' and staying ready Be bold. Make the call.The Power of the phoneI know I’m all about email writing tips, but this time let’s switch gears and talk about the phone.Sometimes, the shortest distance between you and an opportunity is a phone call.Who can you call to open a new door in your career? Have your “pitch” ready to go, pick up the receiver and set something great in motion.Remember: you are always in control of your career!Be willing to say “no”Simple question: yes or no?When we decide what work to pursue, it’s always yes vs no.More and more, I say “no” to opportunities outside of my core area of expertise (business communication). Otherwise, I’m pulled in too many directions. Jack of all trades is a master of none.On the other hand, I say “yes” as much as possible to opportunities within business communication. Those experiences allow me to improve my skillset and define my brand.The goal: to be an inch wide and a mile deep.The only way to get there? Master “yes vs no.†Keep grinding at the work that makes you, you. Leave everything else to everyone else.On being readyDo you have a big career opportunity on the horizon? Then you need to remember the “p” word.Preparation.If you don’t have a firm plan before “the moment” arrives, then you could squander the chance at a major professional win.Because once “the moment” passes, it’s gone. And you may never have the exact same chance again.So make a checklist. Address every item. Don’t skimp on the preparation phase.Your future self will thank you.This  article  first appeared on  Dannyhrubin.com.

How To Find A Job Without Being On The Job Boards

How To Find A Job Without Being On The Job Boards How To Find A Job Without Being On The Job Boards In case you haven’t heard the rumor, the job boards don’t get you too far. Statistics say the likelihood of landing a job through a job board is only 1-2%. Yet, 95% of candidates use the job boards heavily, and unfortunately, exclusively. If clicking “apply” and “submit” a few dozen (or a few hundred) times is leaving you wondering why you’re not getting a response, one fix is to expand beyond the job boards. Here’s how to do it: Ask Your People â€" ALL Of Them! There’s a reason why people hate networking: most people only do it when they need to, and with that need comes a sense of desperation and begging â€" neither of which comes from a position of strength. Additionally, the concept of networking is so closely associated with the professional realm, that it’s easy to forget the natural network you already have, comprised of your family, friends, neighbors, religious community, service people you see regularly, and more. Post on social media your desire to advance your career, and start off in a way that’s fun and interesting. For example, “It’s time for me to step into Jane 2.0! That means a new job and career with an organization where I can contribute real value and use my full range of skills. I am targeting roles such as Senior Internal Communications Specialist or Global Communications Business Partner. My expertise spans market planning, competitive positioning, and marketing execution. I would like to get in from of Director-level marketing decision makers at companies in the San Francisco Bay area such as Bebe, Levi Strauss, and The North Face. Your helpful contacts and connections would be appreciated. Thank you in advance!” That type of posting got a Project Management Specialist hired in less than 30 days, because people commented directly on the post with specific information such as, “Speak to XYZ person, whose email is…” Additionally, people shared the post, so the candidate got help from people even beyond those he knew personally. Go The Direct Route Focus, then find. That’s the mantra to drive your job search forward. Be intentional about this. Where do you want to work? What industry interests you? What type of environment is it? Don’t resist answering these questions, even though they may seem hard, or even though you don’t really know. Here’s a way to kick-start your thinking: Google “best places to work” in your city, and explore the list. After you find something you like, Google their competitors. For example, you might like the company Method because they offer home cleaning solutions that come from natural ingredients â€" that’s a mission. But they’re not the only such company in the space. If you like what that mission, you could also look at Seventh Generation, The Honest Company, and California Baby. It may seem counterintuitive: focusing in on specific companies means you’re missing out on all these other opportunities, right? Not exactly. When you pursue a specific opportunity, if it doesn’t pan out, that opportunity is a dead end. However, elevate your “job search” into a “company search,” because if a specific opportunity there doesn’t pan out, you can still look at that same company â€" which you already like â€" for similar opportunities. Make Your Approach Landing a job doesn’t happen from your bedroom, where you’re hunched over the computer for half the day burning up the job boards. Getting the position you want happens from human-to-human contact. Advocate for yourself and your own best life by starting the conversation. Use LinkedIn to make your approach to the relevant decision maker. Don’t be basic. Don’t send the same message 100 times to 100 different HR people. Craft your messages on a case-by-case basis (yes, that means less than 100 per day!). Mention your interest in their organization, your expertise, and how you feel you can deliver immediate value. When you think about what you’re going to say to each person, it shows, and you’re more likely to warrant a response. There’s a specific 300-character email that jobseekers are using to get their message out. We walk through it word-for-word for you in our “new job” masterclass, “How To Get Hired In HALF The Time!” See exactly how people who used to be unemployed, but are now working, used this email message to get responses from relevant decision makers in 24-48 hours. Join us today.