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How to Handle Yourself in a New Work Environment [Kevin Quinn] Finding a job is tough - keeping a job is tougher. The first impression you make on your firm will be hard to erase - so make sure it is a positive one.
So your resume and cover letter were written
Since you were hired to work at this firm,
lar practice area, make it clear that you are
up all nice, you managed to avoid embar-
there is a strong likelihood that they actually
willing to branch out. If you were brought on
rassing yourself during three separate
have something for you to do. Some firms
to handle corporate work and the real estate
interviews and you were granted an offer to
will not hesitate to sit you right down at a
group is swamped, make yourself useful
work at a new law firm. You may be thinking
desk and rope your legs to your office chair.
by offering to take on some of their work,
that the hard part is over, but having gotten
Others, however, may be more protective of
provided you know what you are doing. You
your foot in the door, you now have to push
their work. Yes, they brought you in because
will not have to do this forever, just until you
it open and walk through without tripping
they thought they could use you, but some
have established yourself as reliable - once
over the gag wire if you hope to have a long
partners will not be willing to give you any-
the work picks up in your practice area, you
and fruitful career at this new firm. Start-
thing until they are sure that you are capable
have already made a good name for yourself.
ing a new position can be just as taxing and
of doing the kind of work that they have come
If you do not prove immediately useful to
stressful as the job search that got you that
to expect from other associates. What this
the firm, the partners are not going to feel a
position, especially considering the politics
can mean is a much larger workload for
strong allegiance to you, and you may soon
and the bizarre cultures that are inherent in
other associates, who may begin to resent
find yourself in the midst of yet another
some firms. Figuring out how to get through
you if you don’t step up to the plate. If you are
lengthy job search.
the rocky first weeks will prove important in
a highly qualified attorney brought in during
making the kind of first impression that has
a slow period because you add prestige to
people thinking “partner potential” instead of
the firm (rather than during a time of need) -
“first to go.” Here are a few helpful hints to
partners with favorite associates are unlikely
In your first few weeks at a new office, you
help you come out on top:
to give you work just because you are there.
might be appalled at the inefficiency in how
You may be thinking that the hard part is
The best way to overcome a problem like this
way of doing things, just as every firm has
over, but having gotten your foot in the
is to make it clear from the beginning that
different methods. Making it clear that you
door, you now have to push it open and walk
you are there to work and that the work you
think something is being done incorrectly
through without tripping over the gag wire if
do is on par with (or better than) the work
on the first day of your job can be taken in
you hope to have a long and fruitful career at
that the firm expects from its associates. Go
the wrong way, and you do not want to ruffle
this new firm. Starting a new position can be
up to a partner who seems swamped and ca-
any feathers at the outset. In particular,
just as taxing and stressful as the job search
sually reference the fact that you have been
mentioning that a previous firm you worked
that got you that position, especially consid-
sitting in your office for the past half hour
for handled things much better than your
ering the politics and the bizarre cultures
watching the clock as precious billable min-
current firm makes it seem like you think
that are inherent in some firms. Figuring out
utes pass. It may seem nice and relaxing to
your old firm is better than your new firm.
how to get through the rocky first weeks will
be checking out what’s going on in the world
Whether or not this is true, many people are
prove important in making the kind of first
of sports or entertainment via the firm’s
very protective of their workplaces and will
impression that has people thinking “partner
superfast internet connection, but chances
not take kindly to you bashing their firm.
potential” instead of “first to go.” Here are a
are, the more you do that, even if you do not
few helpful hints to help you come out on top:
have any work to do, the less the partners
Never suggest changing something for the
are going to value you.
sole reason that it is how you are used to
Don’t Rock the Boat
things are conducted. Everyone has a certain
Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Work
doing things. You are at a new office and If there is no work to be done in your particu-
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therefore you must adhere to new rules.
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