Setting Yourself up for Success for an Interview or Resume

Lawyers can be zealous advocates for others, but for themselves? Not so much. One common pitfall is simply laying out what they do in the order they do it. This is dead wrong. Below are the essential steps on self-presentation in a resume or interview:

1. Think from the perspective of the client or hiring manager. Identify their top three needs. Make sure in a brief review of your resume or a very short conversation that they come across in a crisp and poised way. Do not bury your main points, and do not overemphasize the non-relevant points.
2. What are three top traits or kinds of experience for a candidate an employer cares about? One certainly is subject matter expertise, whether it’s tech trans, IP, corporate/securities, etc. Another is good judgment. Other common skills employers look  for are: the ability to pick up new things, to work across teams, to speak truth to power, to have a track record of success, to have time management, client management, project management skills, etc. Think of what sets you apart from others in the same position.
3. After identifying the top three traits, give examples of them. Without concrete examples, you are only making claims, which are not as memorable as stories.

 
In summary, identify and then articulate what you want to be remembered for. Otherwise, how will the interviewer know these crucial things about you?