Career Advice

Had 2 separate coffee sessions with 2 colleagues who wanted to talk about how to advance in their careers and in the firm. Not sure why both happened on the same day.

I know one colleague from the time he joined us as a pupil some 14 years ago. The other colleague joined us some 4 years ago.

Sought to give both of them the best advice I could muster. Talking to them made me realize how different and difficult the world now is compared to when I started working.

When I joined the firm, I remember my boss telling me that all I needed to do was to work hard and put in my best effort. I was told not to worry about finding work because we were flooded with work.

Now the firm is so much bigger and it has become important to market oneself both within the firm and outside the firm to find work for yourself and for your younger colleagues. There is so much competition out there and it’s harder to find good quality and good paying work. Specialisation, which I never had to do, is now critical. Billing targets are also high because costs have shot up so much.

Hope my pointers were useful. ..

Later had lunch with a former colleague who is now an in house counsel. Talked about the difficulties faced by career mothers and school choices. She needs her 2 boys to speak English and French!!