Throughout my career, I’ve worked with thousands of lawyers seeking to make career moves. I’ve carefully studied their actions in the process and have witnessed a plethora of behaviors that run the gamut from very effective to outright career killing. I have also worked closely with clients who have provided valuable feedback on candidates they’ve liked and those they haven’t. After taking inventory, a clear picture emerges: Good candidates get more opportunities. Good candidates get more breaks. Good candidates get more promotions. Good candidates get more interviews. Good candidates get more offers. And here’s the best news of all: Being a good candidate is something a lawyer has complete control over.
In the career management process…like everything else in life, there are things you can control and things you cannot control. With the things you cannot control, you need to let them go and manage your expectations accordingly. But with the things you can control, you need to control them as perfectly as possible. I cannot stress this enough. If you put the effort into educating yourself, crossing your T’s and dotting your I’s and executing to achieve your personal and professional goals, you will never have any regrets. That’s not to say that everything will go your way. It won’t. But you will have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve done everything in your power to maximize your opportunities and control your destiny.
