I'm spreading my wings, kids. I've begun blogging for Ms. JD as a 2010 Writer in Residence! Ms. JD is a site for women in the legal field, created to give such women a forum to discuss gender as it relates to the law and the legal profession. My column is called Lawyering and Living for Less (catchy, right?) and it is a column for the law student and young lawyer in the new economy, and for anyone seeking to live more frugally in difficult economic times. It focuses on how to navigate the beginning of your career without spending beyond your means and how to maintain a lifestyle on a lower income (something I've become quite good at, if I say so myself). I'm going to cross post my monthly entries here, and although they will have a legal focus, I'm hoping the information will be relevant to young professionals in any field.
This month's entry is "Networking on a Budget". Enjoy!
As a graduating 3L in a dreary economy, finding that first job is more than ever about who you know and not (only) what you know. Networking is essential to job success, especially when you're just entering the legal field and don't have the contacts of a more established professional. Yet when you're living off student loans and work-study, it's difficult to rationalize spending your precious extra cash on drinks at a fancy event or posh business cards. Here are a few tips on getting your name - and yourself - out there without breaking the bank.Card yourself
- It is debated whether law students need business cards. Regardless of your opinion on the matter, a prepared card with your contact information is an invaluable tool at a networking event. But until you have something more substantial to put on your business cards than "J.D. expected, May 2010", you shouldn't spend a lot. Vistaprint regularly sends out email offers for free business cards and similar products, so get on their email list and all you'll pay is shipping!
Make your web presence known
- There are seemingly endless opportunities for online networking these days, and websites such as LinkedIn can be a great resource. It is usually free to set up a basic profile on any of these sites, but, as a result, a lot of people do it. The challenge is making yourself stand out: add a picture, get recommendations, and make sure your profile stays updated. You can also control what shows up when you're googled: set up a profile on Google Profiles to make sure your web presence is what you want it to be.
Meet up
- Happy hour is ingrained in our professional culture as a place where employees of all rank can go after work to relax and mingle with their peers. Yet it goes without saying that, when you're not working, there aren't many opportunities for an after work happy hour. Therefore, when you're invited, either through a volunteer position, clerkship, or student/young professional organization, you need to take advantage, regardless of the status of your checking account. However, the very nature of happy hour means a high likelihood of food and drink specials. To avoid asking your server about those specials in front of the people you're trying to impress, do your homework before you go, using sites such as Thrifty Hipster. And don't try to impress your cohorts with your extensive knowledge of top shelf gin: order a rail drink or the house wine, drink it slow, and then switch to water. Not only will this keep it cheap, it'll also save you from the potential embarassment of a few too many drinks.
- If you've made a few connections, a great way to keep in touch is to periodically meet for coffee. The perks (pun intended) are many: relatively short meeting, in a convenient location (especially if they work in a downtown location with a Starbucks on every corner), and over coffee (appreciated by both law student and lawyer). However, a morning at the coffee shop can easily run you $10. So, again, make sure you know the deals. Caribou Coffee offers Monday specials: medium coffee for $1, a medium mocha for $2, and a small latte and bakery item for $3. If your local coffee shop doesn't have any specials, keep it simple: order black coffee or tea. And don't forget to tip your barista!
Take advantage of your student status
- Attend CLEs and on-campus presentations. Many are free to students, and it's a great way to meet attorneys that work in your future practice area. According to Bridgid Dowdal, Assistant Dean for Career and Professional Development at William Mitchell College of Law, don't be afraid to strike up a conversation. "It is completely appropriate for a student to go up to the panelist after the program and introduce themselves, maybe ask a couple of questions and inquire if they could get a card to follow up with additional questions," Dowdal says.
- Be a joiner. Most state and local bar associations offer a discounted membership for students, and some even have student and young professional sections with their own events and networking opportunities.
Volunteer
- Aside from gaining valuable experience and helping those in need, legal volunteering is a great opportunity to meet attorneys who are also volunteering their time. Now that's a win-win situation!
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7 comments:
On business cards: check with your Career Services office. My school offers "official" business cards with the school logo, at the same quality as those printed for employees and faculty, at discounted rates for students. The only trick is that they only order for students on a quarterly basis, so you have to watch your career services newsletter for the opportunity. I got 150 high-quality cards for $15.
Friend, this is a GREAT post!! And I love Ms. JD, congrats!
Love this! Very relevant to all young professionals! Nice job!
congrats on the Ms. JD gig! Talk about "making your web presence known"!
Congrats on your column!
And thanks for the great read --- networking with others is something I've been trying hard to do since I started the business, so these are some great tips!
Awesome!
Caribou is now offering "pairings" everyday of the week. On Mondays, they are still running a medium coffee for $1 or a large for $1.25. Besides this deal they are offering different pairings, such as coffee and a bakery item, a Northern Lite Latte and Hand Crafted Oatmeal, ask your barista what specials they are running, and they'll be happy to help. And please don't forget to tip!
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