“How can I get my international law dream job?” Lawyers often ask me this question. The truth is, if you were not at the top of your class from a top tier school, your path may be bumpy. Your path may have twists and turns without a dream job clearly in sight.
However, as I am explaining in my upcoming chapter for the new edition of Careers in International Law, if you persevere, network relentlessly, exercise excellent people skills, perform great work, develop expertise, brand yourself effectively, and willingly “zigzag” throughout your career, you will eventually succeed. You may not end up with the job that you originally envisioned, but from my observation, really determined lawyers who aspire to international careers eventually get one. (In fact, nowadays it’s even easier to do so as the number of international law jobs increases. Thanks, Globalization!)
How do these lawyers do it? As mentioned, they position themselves for success. And, they are willing to take a job just to move another rung up the ladder. Perhaps they take a particular job to acquire a needed skill or break into an industry. Or, perhaps they take an otherwise unpalatable job for the resume boost that it offers, knowing that they will eventually zig-zag up to a better position.
This came to mind when I read yesterday’s Wall Street Journal Law Blog post interviewing Cameron Stracher, author of Dinner with Dad. The media lawyer and New York Law School professor dished about a variety of topics. When asked whether he advises his law students to take positions at grueling firms like Sullivan & Cromwell, the author stated, ”And honestly most of the time I tell them that they should because I know that as unhappy as I know they’re going to be, they need that on their resume to go somewhere where they might be happier.”
Bingo. As you zig-zag up the international law career ladder, you might need to accept–albeit temporarily–a job at a prestigious sweat shop because working there will give you instant credibility down the line. Keep your eye on the prize.
The International Law Section of the American Bar Association has invited me to write a chapter for their next edition of Careers in International Law. My chapter will share advice on creative career strategies for international lawyers–both experienced and aspiring. If you have thoughts to share, please email me: Janet@InternationalLawyerCoach.com. My chapter is due in early June, so email those suggestions asap please!
Lawyers wanting to work abroad should take a very quick look at this Guide to Working Overseas for attorneys published by international recruiting company Michael Page Legal. This quick guide shares some very basic facts–like common billable hour requirements–for attorneys working in select jurisdictions like the Cayman Islands and Dubai. Although cursory, it’s also filled with luring photos.
Here is my latest article on lawyers’ career change titled Proactively Reduce Your Stress: Adapt or Change Your Career. You can also access my article (along with others by other authors) through the State Bar of Texas website’s section on stress relief and prevention.
A few days ago I addressed a group of largely foreign lawyers, including many candidates for LLMs and JDs at US law schools. The panel discussion at the Inter-American Development Bank was sponsored by the International Law Section of the ABA, the American Society of International Law and American University’s Washington College of Law.
Many foreign lawyers requested tips on interviewing for US-based jobs. So, here goes:
TIPS FOR INTERVIEWING: USE AMERICAN STYLE LANGUAGE AND INFORMALITY
As international lawyers know, the Spanish spoken in Mexico City differs from that in Buenos Aires, and the German spoken in Vienna differs from that spoken in Frankfurt. Similarly, the English spoken in New York City is different from that spoken in Los Angeles.
Why is this important? Because when you are interviewing for a job, you want use some of the local parlance if you can: you want to speak in a way that the person interviewing you can imagine you as part of the team. In other words, you want the interviewer to think, “I’d really like to have this person as a co-worker. He/she would really fit in here.” You can enhance your chances of landing a job by helping the local employer envision you as part of the team. After all, studies show that most people, consciously or subconsciously, like to be around other people who are like them. Here are some tips to help you interview well, but follow them only as long as doing so feels comfortable and natural:
- Work on Fluidity: Foreigners interviewing for jobs in the US—even if they are native English speakers—often have accents of their country of origin. In some global companies, this is a particular plus; it may make such a candidate more appealing as the company tries to boost its image as an employer with a global workforce. However, it’s one thing to have a native accent, and it’s quite another to speak English in a way that is so stilted that your interviewer struggles to communicate with you. Maybe you read English expertly, but you speak it in a slow and stilted manner. If so, work with a tutor and practice, practice, practice. Keep your radio and television tuned to CNN and similar American news services to absorb the newscasters’ verbal pace, annunciation and the like.
- Integrate Local Expressions: If you learned English from a non-American, your slang is likely quite different from that used in the US. In addition, different parts of the US use very different slang. If at all possible, try to spend a few days before your interview integrating yourself into the local culture and becoming comfortable with its parlance. For example, you will hear New Yorkers talking about “catching the local”. During the interview try to throw in a few of the local expressions. If doing so seems awkward, either omit the expressions entirely, or use them with a self-deprecating laugh and flourish.
- Use Appropriate Formality: American business etiquette is often more informal than that of other cultures. Prior to an interview, you should try to evaluate the company’s formality. How do employees dress? How do they interact with each other? Sometimes current and former employees share details about their employer’s corporate culture on the internet. Or, if you have an acquaintance employed there, inquire about the level of formality. If all else fails, try to get a sense from articles about the company in newspapers and magazines. Even the company’s own promotional materials can give you clues.
- Integrate Industry Jargon: Let’s say you are interviewing for in-house legal positions with companies in a variety of industries. Make sure that you learn—and use—the jargon of the relevant industry when interviewing. Whether the potential employer’s industry is pharmaceuticals, energy or banking, each industry has it own professional terminology. If you don’t know some of the relevant terms, grab some trade publications and learn a few. Demonstrate your interest in the industry by mentioning how you have read some of these publications.
- Integrate Corporate Jargon: Even companies in the same industry use different expressions. These reflect a company’s unique culture. For example, one successful store chain makes its employees avoid the word “problems” and instead use the word “opportunities.” The employees of a now-defunct US-headquartered energy trading company coined—and often used—the term “optionality.” Try to discover some of these terms in advance by asking current or former employees, and integrate them into your interview.
- Dress Appropriately: In Silicon Valley, jeans rule. However, for a job interview you should never match the informality of the interviewer: instead, dress “one step up.” You want to show that you care enough about the interview to make an effort. On the other hand, you don’t want to appear so overdressed that you intimidate the interviewer—or subconsciously signal that you are far too formal of a person to fit into their culture. Do your research and dress a bit more formally than your interviewer will dress. For example, if you learn that men wear nice pants and jackets without ties to the office, dress the same but add a tie. Feel free to ask the assistant coordinating your interview for suggestions. If all else fails, go a day early and watch employees walking in and out of the office to assess their dress.
- Practice with the Concierge: Let’s say that your English is fluid, and you learned it in New York. You have just flown to Dallas for an interview, and you want to know how Texans speak. Grab the concierge at your hotel (assuming your hotel has one) and practice. A concierge usually has been chosen for his or her excellent people skills and so will be attuned to local customs. Again, don’t try to say “y’all” like a Texan might if it’s not natural for you, but do try to gauge the level of formality and pace at which locals talk. (Hint: Texans generally speak more slowly than New Yorkers.)
- Have Fun. You might be thinking, “How can I possible have fun at a job interview?” That’s precisely the point. If you try to relax and see it as a chance to make new business acquaintances (rather than a do or die job opportunity), you are more likely to come across well. Try to have confidence that another job will come along if this one doesn’t work out.
- Be Authentic: Regardless, the most important tip is to be authentic. Interviewers can spot inauthenticity a mile away—and forthright Americans may even mention this. Never do or say anything that makes you feel too uncomfortable in an attempt to “fit in”, because it will show.
