Career Development Talk at Facebook

I just moderated ACC’s sold-out career development panel Building Your In-House Career: What People Didn’t Tell You. For those who couldn’t make it, panelists who are senior attorneys at Facebook, Ariosa, Broadcom, and Cisco, shared some great insights: 

1. Know what you want, and set goals for yourself – in writing! Research these goals by talking to those in the space.
2. One effective short-term goal should be to work with cross-functional departments (HR, Finance, R&D) so you understand the business.
3. To speak effectively with senior managers, know your audience and their goals. Focus on the information they need (they often don’t need to see the exact language you are drafting). Speak simply and concisely.
4. To impress your manager, show curiosity/passion, ownership (don’t just execute), business judgment, and flexibility (can you adjust as the facts change?).