The Need for Innovation and a Personal Brand Strategy (And free “Lunch and Learn” program on building your Competitive Edge)

In today’s competitive job market, especially for higher-level positions, relying on classified ads, LinkedIn or recruiters is a strategy that will prolong a job search and that may ultimately fail. Most people don’t realize that these traditional methods account for only about 20% of job opportunities, leaving 80% of the market untouched by many job seekers. The best jobs are seldom advertised, and recruiters put square pegs in square holes.

To secure a coveted senior-level role, it is imperative to employ creative strategies that go beyond the conventional. This is the focus of my work at Career Strategies Group – getting clients smart on innovative approaches to the job search and re-careering process.

The first step toward success is to do research. Understanding the specific needs and challenges of your targeted industries or companies is crucial. This knowledge allows you to tailor your approach and demonstrate how your unique skills and experiences can provide solutions. For instance, if a company is expanding into new markets, showcasing your expertise in international business development can make you an attractive candidate.

Keeping track of industry trends and emerging technologies can position you as a forward-thinking leader, ready to drive innovation and growth. The latest surveys of employers show that while expertise in your specialty or practice area matters, what is really important is evidence of innovative thinking, comfort with technology, and the ability to contribute to corporate growth in ways outside of your practice area. I have talked with literally more than 20,000 lawyers, and 19,640 described themselves as “creative problem-solvers.” Your resume needs to prove that and not just talk about your duties are responsibilities!

Networking remains a powerful tool in the job search arsenal, but it requires a different approach than what I call “old- fashioned” networking — calling on people you know in hopes they know of job openings for you. Old-fashioned networking still has its place, but as Al Dold, one of my great career counselors at Career Strategies, so often said: “It’s not who you know, it’s who you get to know.”

Establishing genuine connections with industry influencers is a form of networking that can set you apart. Engaging with thought leaders on social media platforms, participating in relevant online forums, and contributing to industry publications are excellent ways to build a robust professional presence. These activities not only increase your visibility but also demonstrate your commitment and expertise in your field.

Another innovative approach is to create a targeted value proposition for each potential employer. I call it your Personal Brand Strategy. I have helped thousands of clients develop one so that they can differentiate themselves from other candidates with similar experience.

We are planning a free Zoom “lunch and learn” on how to create a Persona Brand Strategy and gain a Competitive Edge over other candidates. If you are interested in attending, send an email to info@careerstrategiesgroup.com or message me on LinkedIn and I will send you information as the program is developed.

An approach that I often work successfully with my clients is not relying on a resume-based campaign. Instead of a generic resume and cover letter, I recommend developing a customized pitch that outlines how they can address the company’s specific needs. We call this our “create-a-job” strategy. This might include a strategic plan or a portfolio of past successes that align with the company’s goals. Such tailored applications show a deep understanding of the company’s challenges and your readiness to tackle them head-on. This approach has produced some incredible results and is a hallmark of our work!

Leveraging digital tools and platforms can – and must – be used today, since they significantly enhance your job search efforts. Building a strong LinkedIn profile, maintaining a professional blog, or creating a personal website can showcase your expertise and attract the attention of hiring managers. Many of my clients are senior-level and in mid-life or beyond; they are very smart people, but often not when it comes to social media. This is one of the ways we help them. You may be an old dog like me, but you will need to learn some new tricks!

The bottom line is the securing a high-level job today demands more than traditional methods. It requires a blend of innovative thinking, thorough research, and creative engagement strategies.

By going beyond the conventional and tapping into the hidden job market, you can significantly decrease your job search time and significantly increase your likelihood of landing a role that aligns with your career aspirations.

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Bruce Blackwell has been called a Dean of Career Counselors by the New York State Bar Association. His specialties are Job Search Coaching and Alternative Careers for Lawyers and Executives.

If you are an attorney or senior executive and you have been thinking about “what else is out there?” get in touch with him for a virtual cup of coffee. In a confidential, no-cost call, you can discuss your situation and get expert career advice. To schedule a call with Mr. Blackwell, click here: https://live.vcita.com/site/bruce.blackwell

If you enjoy our Beyond the Bar newsletter, please click “like” and provide a “comment.” If you have any questions about your career, click here

Young Professional Job Market

My practice has traditionally focused on the career of middle-aged and older professionals, but the fastest growing segment of my business is from younger professionals, age 25-34. This segment faces daunting challenges, unlike any that we’ve experienced before.

In this column, I will provide a Young Professional market overview, then give some specific action steps that those in their early careers can take. By the way, this advice also holds for mid- and late- career professionals, so pay attention, Boomers and GenX’s!

What the Market Wants. 

The 2026 job market for young professionals has been characterized by some as “low hire, low fire.” Economists report that employers are making fewer “growth” hires and focusing instead on mission-critical roles. This is quite different from the more senior market, where mental agility, leadership, and an understanding of business strategies are important, whether you are the company lawyer, operations executive or accountant.

For those who are now saddled with college loan debt, I hate to report that employers are lessening their requirements for college degrees; instead, their focus is on specific skills. Even non-tekkies need to have computer skills, most especially with AI. I think that corporate America is being short-sighted here (so, new?) because for a business to be successful, it needs to have managers who know how to think critically and not just know SQL. But I digress.

What You Need to Do.

1) Do a Skill Set Audit of Your Resume. Where you worked is less important than listing your skills and how you used them to produce results.  Be specific. Give numbers when you can. Instead of saying, “Managed a project that was completed ahead of schedule and under budget,” say “Using automated workflow tools, led a cross-functional team of five engineers, researchers and marketers on a new consumer product evaluation that resulted in a 17% increase in throughput.” (It’s even better to lead with the results, as we discuss in section 3 of this article). It is also important in your resume to show your soft skills, like the ability to communicate across various departments, your skills in working with a team, and your EQ, or emotional intelligence. Lastly, there are tools like Jobscan and Teal that you should use to match your resume against specific job listings.

2) The new Speed Dating: Micro Networking. As a job search coach, I have long been a believer that “it’s not who you know, it’s who you get to know” that is a key to success. LinkedIn has made this much easier than in the past. Low volume coffee talks are being replaced by high volume digital interactions. But when reaching out to someone on LinkedIn, make your request for a 10–15-minute chat, not a 30-45 minute one. Be sure to engage with your network target before you ask for a call; follow your targeted decision-makers and comment on their posts for a few weeks before even making a connection request. You are pre-selling this way! Finally, reach out to alumni from your university and/or grad school, especially those 2-3 years your senior. I have been giving this advice to my mid-career and older clients since people were buying DVDs, but without the 2-3 years senior provision.

3) Build a Digital Work Portfolio. Include 2 or 3 case studies as a 1-page addendum to your resume highlighting problems you solved, contributions you made, and so on. Provide details. Most career coaches suggest using PAR stories – Problem, Action, Result. I think they are wrong. I recommend RAP stories: Result, Action, Problem. Grab them with the Result first, since they may not get to the good part in your PAR story. Example: “Brought a new $200k client to the firm by applying my marketing and client service experience, thereby turning around a practice group that was losing money” is a much stronger statement than “When a practice group was losing money, used my marketing and client service experience to bring a new $200,000 client to the firm.” Don’t save the good stuff to the end.

4) Practice AI Interview Skills. I believe that if you land an interview, the job is yours to lose. In other words, they already know all about you from your resume and LinkedIn information, and they want to talk with you about joining their firm. If you present well, you win. If you don’t, you lose. Practice makes perfect. I have prepped clients for about 6,000 interviews. While the basics remain the same, prepping for a video interview with a person is different from an in-person interview. Preparing for an AI interview is even more different, because you can’t get visceral cues from an avatar. Preparing for an interview with a coach is extremely important, but you can (and should) practice AI interviews on your own with tools like Teal, Verve AI and Google Interview Warmup. In addition to all the other questions you need to prepare for, be sure to have an answer to “how do you use AI?”

These are challenging times for young professionals looking to build their careers. But there are opportunities if you know how to play the game in 2026. The rules have changed, but with a properly prepared and mounted campaign strategy, you can win.   ______________________________

Bruce Blackwell has been called a Dean of Career Counselors by the New York State Bar Association. His specialties are Job Search Coaching and Alternative Careers.

If you are an attorney, senior executive or young professional and you have been thinking about “what else is out there?” get in touch with Bruce for a virtual cup of coffee. In a confidential, no-cost call, you can discuss your situation and get expert career advice. To schedule a call with him, click here: https://live.vcita.com/site/bruce.blackwell

If you enjoy our Beyond the Bar newsletter, please click “like” and provide a “comment.” If you have any questions about your career, click here.

Our Last 2025 Success Story!

Every client that I signed up through November of this year for career coaching has landed a new position! One of my favorite aspects of being a career coach for lawyers is advising them on how to exit their law firms.

The question of how to resign from a law firm is one that some lawyers only face a few times in their careers, but is an issue I’ve dealt with … hmm, let’s see…. ah yes, several thousand times!

We have seen many different types of exit agreements, including one or two where the lawyer agreed to return to his old firm several months down the road to handle a federal case already on the docket, and on which he had several years of preparation. In other cases, lawyers seeking to resign from their firms have sometimes been told to leave immediately.

For rules of thumb, for very junior lawyers two weeks can be adequate. I don’t deal with very junior attorneys on job search, so I have no particular insight to share.  For more experienced attorneys, two to four weeks is common. As a career coach, I personally don’t like the “two week” option because it creates difficulties for the firm and for the clients. My general preference is to give three weeks notice. For partners, I tend to recommend one month, but sometimes up to three months, depending on how complex the cases and how many there are to transfer.

While there is no single perfect answer, in many situations I think 3-4 weeks notice is fine. I also suggest the following:

1) Make sure you have a solid, written offer from your new employer before giving notice!

2) Check your employment contract, as the notice provision may be covered therein

3) Before telling the firm, download any personal files from your office PC to a thumb drive. Don’t take any files that belong to the firm! If you have a transaction summary or information on business you brought in, improvements you made in the firm, and so on – things that could go into your resume — download those.

4) After you have given notice (but you can do it before, too), prepare a detailed transfer memo on all of your active cases, so the attorney(s) taking over those cases are prepared properly to do so. Be as detailed as necessary; consider what you would want to know if you were the lawyer taking over a case.

5) Prepare a statement about your pending billable hours, commissions due, and remaining vacation time and PTO.

6) Resign in person with your boss, then give them your formal letter of resignation. Don’t let others in the firm know until you have told your direct superior. Once that is done, you should talk to each person in the firm with whom you have worked.

7) Be positive in your conversations with your boss and your colleagues. Don’t be negative about the firm or your exit package. You want to leave on good terms – you never know when you will need a reference from a former boss or colleague.

In dealing with the new firm, they typically want someone to start right away. My counsel is to explain that you want to be fair to your old firm and you want to make sure your clients will not be adversely affected by your departure – this means giving the old firm adequate time to prepare your transfer memos and to give it time to start seeking a replacement. The new firm should understand and accept this thinking – it shows that you would never leave them in the lurch, either!

Quite often, my client will want to take a break between leaving the old job and starting the new one. Getting a little R&R can be very helpful and is advisable!

This is not to say that you can’t start familiarizing yourself with the new firm’s cases, start studying files at night and doing some work for them on weekends so you can hit the ground running.

The bottom line is to get your ducks in a row before you give notice, and be prepared for anything when it comes to their reaction. In my experience, there’s often nothing to worry about and the transition out seems to run smoothly most of the time.

This is our last newsletter for 2025. We wish all of our readers and friends a very merry holiday season and a happy, healthy, and fulfilling New Year. —  Bruce

Bruce Blackwell has been named the Dean of Career Counselors for Lawyers by the New York State Bar Association. His specialties are Job Search Coaching and Alternative Careers for Lawyers and Executives.

If you are an attorney or senior executive and you have been thinking about “what else is out there?” get in touch with him for a virtual cup of coffee. In a confidential, no-cost call, you can discuss your situation and get expert career advice. To schedule a call, click here: https://live.vcita.com/site/bruce.blackwell

If you enjoy our Beyond the Bar newsletter, please click “like” and provide a “comment.” If you have any questions about your career, click here.

Freedom to Fail: Courtship and Career Development

It’s not the things you do that you regret, it’s the things you don’t do.

While in college I decided I did not want to end up in my 70s regretting that I didn’t do certain things — so I made a list of what I wanted to do professionally, and went out and did them: Journalism, politics, TV, movies, big league consulting. Well … I did most of them.

I failed at a few attempts.

I was never offered a top programming job at a Big 3 TV network. I never became a successful scriptwriter. But I didn’t regard these as failures — I was in there pitching, giving it all I had. And I came close.

My meeting with the President of the TV network was cancelled because he was invited to meet with the Pope. The Pope! I finessed an invitation to write a script for a TV sitcom and was toiling away when the show was cancelled. Poof!

These careers didn’t work out, but I kept pursuing other jobs that I wanted, and am better off for it. Every position I have ever had — except for the one I wrote about in my last newsletter – has been challenging, rewarding, lucrative and enjoyable.

It is OK to take a risk, to try, and to fail. No one gets what they truly want by playing it safe.

It’s like dating. In fact, I have long maintained that career development is a courtship.

Consider this: there’s someone you want to know sitting three offices away from you. If you take the risk of asking her out and she says “yes,” you may change your life forever! If she says “no,” you took the risk and failed, and your life remains the same as it was. No harm, no foul.

The worst outcome, though, is if you don’t risk asking her out, nothing gets changed — but for the rest of your life you may regret not asking and grow old wondering “what if…”

It’s not failing that damages people’s lives, it is the fear of failing.

The parallels between courtship and job search are stunning. You are attracted to someone (a career). You plan your approach strategy so they notice you (your resume). You persuade them to go out for coffee or lunch (the initial interview). Next, if they are interested, you do a casual dinner and a movie (the second-round interview). If there’s still interest, it’s onto dinner at an expensive restaurant (interview round 3). Then it’s “meet the parents” time (final interview). At that point, it’s either you are a couple (hired) or you are past tense (not).

I am not advocating taking stupid risks, just calculated ones. For example, you do not have to risk your job to look for a new career that you love. An effective job campaign can be done without interfering with your current job. The majority of my clients have been employed professionals who were fully attentive to their jobs while attending to their job searches. While often skeptical at the start, they took the risk of going after something better, and most succeeded.

When it comes to careers, as in dating, there’s no harm in “going for it.” The worst that can happen is that you are no better off than you were before. The best that can happen is that your life can become so very much better!

We can live with failure. It is much harder to love with regret. Your choice.

(For a musical illustration of the parallels between dating and career regret, click here and cursor to about 1 minute in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogwDQEyj7aA

If you are an attorney or senior executive and you have been thinking about “what else is out there,” or if you are not sure how to start a career transition process, get in touch with me for a virtual cup of coffee. You will receive a confidential, no-cost consultation to discuss your situation and goals, and will also get expert advice on how to launch your job campaign. To schedule a strategy call with me, click here: https://live.vcita.com/site/bruce.blackwell

If you would like to receive Beyond the Bar Newsletter every 2 weeks, just click on the “subscribe” button. If you have any questions about your career, click here.

Science Proves Boomers Deliver Strong Thinking in Tough Jobs

If you follow the news about the job market, you’ve read that the market stinks for Boomers, those 61 and older. Bullsh*t.

There are plenty of good jobs out there for professionals in their 60s and 70s. The market is a bit complex, but winnable if you stress the right skills and contributory value.

Being a Boomer doesn’t mean you are a decrepit old geezer. All Boomers do not go around in walkers. In the summer, I play a senior softball league for men age 55+. The league is competitive. The players can still make the peg from deep short to 1^st in the air and still hit home runs over the fence.

A 60-something player recently landed a Big Data analytics job in a med tech company. He is working with very complex analytics software, and was far from an expert in the program when he was hired. There were plenty of people more qualified than he, but he’s a very smart guy. The med tech company’s boss realized he could bring a great deal of value and perspective beyond just knowing the software. 

“Smart” is what counts. According to The Week magazine, university researchers in Australia analyzed decades of data to chart how intellect, judgment and personality evolve over a lifetime. They concluded that overall cognitive functioning reaches its high point between ages 55 and 60. The study found that middle-aged minds tend to be wiser, steadier and more capable overall than younger minds. “While some people may find this obvious,” says lead author Gilles Gignac, “it had never been quantified and established scientifically.”    

I specialize in mid-life (and older) career change for attorneys and professionals. They are able to make career and/or industry changes because of their overall capabilities, not their specific specialties. I have a 60-year-old current client whose entire career has been spent in healthcare middle-management roles. She is very close to landing a new position as the Chief Operating Officer for a company in an entirely different industry, one far removed from healthcare, with a $30,000 salary increase.

I would rather write about the experiences of others than about my own, but I am representative of what older professionals can do, so here’s another story. Since Career Strategies has been good to me, a few years ago I decided to cut back on my practice so I could enjoy the fruits of my labors. I have done that. I now take on a few clients each month, but had thought I’d spend a few days each week doing fun, part-time, $15 per hour jobs at a nearby resort renting out kayaks in summer and skis in the winter.

Instead, I ended up being hired as the part-time Executive Director of a  moribund County Bar Association. I’d never worked for a professional association or a non-profit, but I had the transferable business skills to do it. It was, I must admit, odd working for lawyers when until then, lawyers worked for me! Revitalizing that organization was a big challenge involving everything from technology to grant writing to event planning to helping callers in legal distress, all things in which I had very little to no experience.

I accomplished what I needed to accomplish there and was getting ready to start renting out kayaks at the beach. But that was not to be. I was hired to be the paid, part-time Executive Director of a regional consumer affairs agency for the state Attorney General. Once again I have lawyers working for me – the natural order of things! – but it is mostly a volunteer workforce, which has presented a new type of managerial challenge. It’s been great and I intend to stick with it for many more years.

As it turns out, as a senior citizen (albeit is a fairly young one) I have been hired for top-level positions in two organizations, both in areas in which I had no prior experience.

But that’s not the end of it!

I made new contacts in these positions, and was invited to sit on three different Boards of Directors, two of which involve some heavy responsibilities. Between the three Boards, the work for the Attorney General, and my ongoing coaching at Career Strategies, I am living a completely different life than I had planned. I am having some wonderful adventures, doing things I never thought possible, and still making a good living.

I am relating this story only to show you that Boomers can make career changes, be hired for positions they had never done before, make good money, and continue growing personally and professionally. If I can do it, you can do it. I can show you how, and how to do it while minimizing career and financial risks.

In my next newsletter, I will talk with you about career and life risks. Stay tuned!

If you are an attorney or senior executive and you have been thinking about “what else is out there,” or if you are not sure how to start a career transition process, get in touch with me for a virtual cup of coffee. You will receive a confidential, no-cost consultation to discuss your situation and goals, and will also get expert advice on how to launch your job campaign. To schedule a strategy call, click here: https://live.vcita.com/site/bruce.blackwell

If you would like to receive Beyond the Bar Newsletter every 2 weeks, just click on the “subscribe” button. If you have any questions about your career, click here.

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Sundays, as Dusk Turns to Dark and that Empty Feeling Grabs Hold

I know what it’s like to hate your job. I know what it’s like to hate your job even though it’s something other people would kill to be able to do. I know what it’s like to hate your job even though you are making an ungodly amount of money.

I know what it’s like to get that pit-in-the stomach feeling on autumn Sundays when the dusk was descending into darkness and it’s time to stop raking the leaves. There’s no more delay, no more diversions … the weekend is over. I know the dread of realizing that soon, I’d have to go to “that place” again.

I remember Mondays, as the train would be pulling into Grand Central Station, hoping – praying – that I would suddenly be stricken ill and have to stay aboard and ride the train back to Westchester.

I know what it’s like to be very good at what you do, but to hate doing it. I know what it’s like to have a really good job, with nice people in handsome offices, with a company-supplied BMW, and yet be miserable. It wasn’t the company or the people, it was the work itself. It wasn’t a good fit. Going to another firm for even more money wasn’t the answer. The work didn’t have meaning to me and wasn’t fulfilling.

I know what it’s like to try to convince yourself that maybe it’s not so bad after all – but not believing it for a minute.

If you are unhappy in your career, I know what it’s like to be you.

I also know what it’s like to have a non-working wife, two young children, and a big house with a bigger mortgage. I know what it’s like to be afraid to leave a great job, but to be more afraid of staying. Finally one morning I walked into my boss’ office and quit. I took a part-time consulting job with one of my clients at half of what I had been making.  My wife (now ex-) wasn’t happy about it. But I was.

I am very grateful to have held a job I hated. It was the first and only time in my career that this happened. This experience, though, enabled me to understand what my clients, lawyers and senior executives, are going through. Thanks to this experience, I can understand what it’s like to want to leave a high-paying, prestigious job that other people envy you for having. It made Career Strategies possible.

The part-time consulting gig I took for a start-up TV network became a full-time job with Vice President’s stripes. I had never worked for a TV network before. I had never done what they asked me to do. I must have done well at it though, since I was brought into the network’s parent company, a first-tier consulting firm that handled Fortune 100 clients. I’d never been a consultant before at that level, or worked cases in such a diverse range of industries, from healthcare to fast food. It was an amazing learning experience, and I contributed meaningfully to the firm’s clients. That job led to big marketing positions with two motion picture companies. I had never done anything in the movie business, but I parlayed what I learned and helped set box office records and snare some Oscar awards for our movies. Then it was onto a post with a world leading technology company. When they hired me, I didn’t know a file server from a process server, but I ended up on their Executive Committee. When we sold the company, I knew it was finally time for me to start Career Strategies.

I have had a career that has been a blast! Different industries, different functions, but always challenging, rewarding, lucrative and fun!

The point of all of this is not that I am so wonderful – my clients often have more going for them than I ever did.  My point is that you are not trapped. Not by money. Not by training. Not by your practice knowledge. Not by age. Not by industry experience.

If you have half a brain, a little courage, and a modicum of faith in yourself – and perhaps a little guidance — you can find a career and a life that you love.  I am proof of it.

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If you are an attorney or senior executive and you have been thinking about “what else is out there,” or if you are not sure how to start a career transition process, get in touch with me for a virtual cup of coffee. You will receive a confidential, no-cost consultation to discuss your situation and goals, and will also get expert advice on how to launch your job campaign. To schedule a strategy call with me, click here: https://live.vcita.com/site/bruce.blackwell

If you would like to receive Beyond the Bar Newsletter every 2 weeks, just click on the “subscribe” button. If you have any questions about your career, click here

Do You Still Love Your Career?

This month marks the 33^rd birthday of Career Strategies. In a way, I am not surprised that I am still here because I had great faith in my business concept and thought it through thoroughly … but in another way, “wow, this is amazing!”

The odds are very much against any start-up making it even 5 years, let alone 33. The odds that someone will still love their work after 33 years are, I suppose, very small. But I do love helping people enjoy their careers as much as I enjoy mine, which is why I am still doing this work.

If anything, I guess I am an object lesson for my clients. Unlike most people I have counseled, I set career goals and developed a plan to achieve those goals. Then I followed it.

While still in college, I sat down one evening and made a list of the things I wanted to do professionally: be a press secretary and speechwriter for a Congressman; be a reporter and columnist on a daily newspaper; be involved in television programming and production for a TV network; help market movies for a major motion picture studio; work for a top-tier consulting firm solving difficult problems for Fortune 100 companies; get on the Board of Directors for a profitable corporation. I achieved each of these objectives.  Why? Because I had a plan, and the courage to try.

This is what I try to impart to my clients: Determine what you want, put a well-considered careful plan together on how to achieve your goals, swallow hard, then execute your plan.

I am nothing special. I didn’t come from privilege. I am not what I call a Harvard-Harvard, and don’t have college and graduate degrees from an elite Ivy. I didn’t have a network of powerful contacts who could open doors for me.

I am actually like most of my clients: I was good, even very good, at what I did in my jobs. I can hold my own intellectually with just about anyone, but there are a lot of people out there who are smarter than I.

No doubt, I am much like you. But the difference is that I have had a very diverse career covering different job functions in many different industries and have loved each job. (Except for one. I will talk about this experience in an upcoming column.

I remember the night when I put my career bucket list together, and thinking I did not want to be one of those old guys in his 70s walking along the beach saying to himself, “I wish I had done this professionally,“  or “I wish I had done that.” I did not want to live a life that, at the end, I regretted for not taking chances to do the things that mattered to me.

You don’t have to live that life either. If you are not fulfilled in your career, or if you are ready for a new challenge but not sure exactly what you want to do or how to get there, I can be your guide. It’s not too late, even if you are in your 70s!  If I can do it, you can certainly do it. I will be happy to help you.

If you are an attorney or senior executive and you have been thinking about “what else is out there” for you, or if you are not sure how to start a career transition process, get in touch with me for a virtual cup of coffee. You will receive a confidential, no-cost consultation to discuss your situation and goals, and will also get expert advice on how to launch your job campaign. To schedule a strategy call with me, click here: https://live.vcita.com/site/bruce.blackwell

If you would like to receive Beyond the Bar Newsletter every 2 weeks, just click on the “subscribe” button. If you have any questions about your career, click here.

“What’s your greatest weakness?” Can be Your Greatest Strength in Interviews

A reporter from the Chicago Tribune wanted to know the best way to
answer an interviewer who asks you to describe your greatest weakness.
It’s a great question.
As an employer, and later as a career coach, I have asked this question
several thousand times. I usually get the same predictable answers: “I am a
perfectionist” or “I am too detail-oriented.” I also get the “I don’t delegate
well” and its variation, the “superman complex” answer, meaning they think
they can do it on their own better and faster than trying to explain what to
do to their staff.
These stock answers won’t cut it today. I advise clients to cite an actual
negative, but one they have worked to correct. Also, of great import, they
should say why it was important for them to correct the deficiency and be
able to help an employer.
For example, “I used to be uncomfortable doing public speaking, but I went
to Toastmasters. Now I am fine making presentations to client prospects
and helping to bring in business.” Another one that I have used is “I wasn’t
great at doing spreadsheets but I took an Excel course; now I am really
good at them and see their importance in doing budgets.”
By acknowledging a real deficit and then taking steps to improve on it, the
candidate demonstrates a sense of accountability and a desire to face
uncomfortable challenges. That’s the type of person we want to hire!
Giving one of the standard answers can hurt a candidate. Giving a stock
answer tells the interviewer that the candidate is satisfied with a mediocre
response and doesn’t go the extra mile to present something more honest,
thoughtful and less predictable.
It’s tough out there, people. All the reports indicate that this is a very difficult
job market for young professionals in their 20s and those age 40+. Recent
research suggests that Gen X’ers are facing particulary difficult challenges.

Winning an interview opportunity is hard enough; blowing an interview by
not preparing properly is shameful, inexcusable and can be very damaging
to a career.
For more information on how to prepare for a successful interview, click
here: https://www.careerstrategiesgroup.com/job-search-services/interview-
prep/
If you are an attorney or senior executive and you have been thinking about discovering “what
else is out there” for you, or if you are not sure how to even start a career transition process, get
in touch with me for a virtual cup of coffee. You will receive a confidential, no-cost consultation
to discuss your situation and goals, and will also get expert advice on how to launch your job
campaign. To schedule a strategy call with me, click here:
https://live.vcita.com/site/bruce.blackwell
If you would like to continue receiving Beyond the Bar Newsletter every 2 weeks, make sure to
hit subscribe to stay up to date. If you have any questions about your career, click here.

Can Middle-Aged Professionals Really Change Careers, Make More Money and Actually Love Their New Jobs?

As a mentor for middle-aged attorneys and professionals exploring career changes, I
have often been asked if it can be done, and if so, how. Yes, it can be done. After
spending 25+ years guiding thousands through transitions, I have learned a few things
worth sharing.
Many clients are unhappily employed lawyers and executives in their 40s, 50s and 60s
seeking to change careers and find senior or C-level roles with intriguing challenges,
lucrative compensation, and good work/life balance. This is not an easy task, which is
why there are so few consultants specializing in this niche.
It is worth noting that while the steps I describe below may seem complicated and take
forever to accomplish, they can be done pretty quickly and not even interfere with your
job. Many of our campaigns wrap in 3 to 7 months.
To explore your options, start with an honest personal skills and interest inventory. What
are you good at, and what do you enjoy doing? Many clients are skilled in areas they
dislike, like litigation or drafting. Identify challenges you relish and those you would you
rather avoid.
Next, consider industries that interest you. One attorney client who had wanted to be a
doctor but did miserably in inorganic chemistry, became an employee relations council
for a hospital group. Another, a corporate attorney passionate about design, transitioned
to a finance and administration role for an international architecture firm.
Once you have pinpointed your skills and interests, research jobs that align. Research
classified ads and visit O*Net, an online encyclopedia of job information.
(https://onetonline.org). Look for employer-desired skills. You will not match all of
them, but a partial alignment can work.
One IP attorney beat a seasoned real estate attorney for a GC role with a start up
commercial real estate company. Why? Because of his outgoing personality and
networking skills. The company needed someone who could build relationships from
scratch. He didn’t need to know real estate – he needed to know people!
After doing your research, make a short list of your realistic career options based on
your transferable skills. This is the hardest part. It gets easier from here.
Prepare a career change resume and cover letter focused on what you can do, rather
than on what you have done. Sell your future, not your past! Feature the skills that are
relevant to the job you want. If you trained junior lawyers or educated clients on legal

issues and want to move into professional development, highlight those stories, not
your litigation wins. Make sure your resume is selling the right product!
Get smart about job search. There are books galore and lots of coaches (like yours
truly) who can help you crack the hidden job market.
Before launching your campaign, create a marketing plan. Include target industries, a
30-second intro, outreach goals, and well-considered answers to the questions you
don’t want them to ask, like about your age or why you want to leave a successful
career and try something new.
Once the plan is ready, start sending out resumes, building a contacts base and finding
companies that can benefit from your unique value. With solid research and execution,
you can land a job you love in just a matter of months.
If you are an attorney or senior executive and you have been thinking about discovering “what
else is out there” for you, or if you are not sure how to even start a career transition process, get
in touch with me for a virtual cup of coffee. You will receive a confidential, no-cost consultation
to discuss your situation and goals, and will also get expert advice on how to launch your job
campaign. To schedule a strategy call with me, click here:
https://live.vcita.com/site/bruce.blackwell
If you would like to continue receiving Beyond the Bar Newsletter every 2 weeks, make sure to
hit subscribe to stay up to date. If you have any questions about your career, click here.