Your Career as a Battlefield: Career Advancement and Development
APABA-DC’s Practicing Attorney Resource committee held an event on career advancement and development, titled “Your Career as a Battlefield,” on February 27, 2007, at the law firm of Covington & Burling LLP. Our speaker, Eileen Levitt, the founder and President of The HR Team, a human resources outsourcing and consulting firm, gave an informative talk and provided useful tips and suggestions for advancing our careers. Over 35 APABA-DC members and friends attended the event.
To motivate us to take action with respect to our careers, Ms. Levitt stressed the difference between “how” and “want.” Specifically, she noted that we may know how to advance our careers but we need to want to take action. The action we take should be sustained and continued. In that regard, Ms. Levitt recommended that we take slow and gradual changes and that we be comfortable with the changes.
Ms. Levitt then gave some specific tips for advancing our career. First, Ms. Levitt discussed the importance of presentation. She stressed that we should look confident. Much of what is “confidence” is in our head. If we think we are confident, we will believe it and become confident. She recommended that we stand confidently and smile. In addition, Ms. Levitt noted that, when delegating people often seek too much approval by saying, for example, “Will you do this, is that okay?” Ms. Levitt recommended instead saying, for example, “Our department was given this responsibility; I think you would be good at it, please do it.”
Second, Ms. Levitt recommended keeping track of our accomplishments in a “brag book.” Our brag books should contain specific examples that we can use to tell stories about what we accomplished. Ms. Levitt also mentioned that we should be comfortable asking for thank you notes and that we should keep those thank you notes. In return, we should write thank you notes, as people will appreciate them and be more likely to remember us.
Third, Ms. Levitt challenged us to think about five people within our organizations with influence and five people outside our organizations with influence. She suggested that we consider contacting those people and inviting them to lunch. She also stressed the importance of getting involved with committees. We may meet people at networking events or at work, but, in order to be memorable, we must do something on a regular basis.
Fourth, Mr. Levitt suggested that we should give specific examples of our accomplishments during our reviews. She noted that people often speak generally during reviews. It is much better to be more concrete. She said that our “brag books” will help us prepare and to remember the specifics.
Special thanks goes to Hrishi Karthikeyan and Kathy Ng for hosting the event at their firm, and to Covington & Burling LLP’s Diversity Committee for providing food and drinks. Thank you also to the PAR Committee volunteers for organizing and managing the event.
To motivate us to take action with respect to our careers, Ms. Levitt stressed the difference between “how” and “want.” Specifically, she noted that we may know how to advance our careers but we need to want to take action. The action we take should be sustained and continued. In that regard, Ms. Levitt recommended that we take slow and gradual changes and that we be comfortable with the changes.
Ms. Levitt then gave some specific tips for advancing our career. First, Ms. Levitt discussed the importance of presentation. She stressed that we should look confident. Much of what is “confidence” is in our head. If we think we are confident, we will believe it and become confident. She recommended that we stand confidently and smile. In addition, Ms. Levitt noted that, when delegating people often seek too much approval by saying, for example, “Will you do this, is that okay?” Ms. Levitt recommended instead saying, for example, “Our department was given this responsibility; I think you would be good at it, please do it.”
Second, Ms. Levitt recommended keeping track of our accomplishments in a “brag book.” Our brag books should contain specific examples that we can use to tell stories about what we accomplished. Ms. Levitt also mentioned that we should be comfortable asking for thank you notes and that we should keep those thank you notes. In return, we should write thank you notes, as people will appreciate them and be more likely to remember us.
Third, Ms. Levitt challenged us to think about five people within our organizations with influence and five people outside our organizations with influence. She suggested that we consider contacting those people and inviting them to lunch. She also stressed the importance of getting involved with committees. We may meet people at networking events or at work, but, in order to be memorable, we must do something on a regular basis.
Fourth, Mr. Levitt suggested that we should give specific examples of our accomplishments during our reviews. She noted that people often speak generally during reviews. It is much better to be more concrete. She said that our “brag books” will help us prepare and to remember the specifics.
Special thanks goes to Hrishi Karthikeyan and Kathy Ng for hosting the event at their firm, and to Covington & Burling LLP’s Diversity Committee for providing food and drinks. Thank you also to the PAR Committee volunteers for organizing and managing the event.
posted by David Hsu at 11:16 AM
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