Promoting yourself to senior lawyers during job interviews and networking events can be a daunting task.
But building your brand is an essential process if you want to grow your career and get ahead. And it’s much easier when you put in the time to prepare and practise perfecting your pitch.
Here are 6 tips to help you leave a lasting impression and showcase your worth.
1. Switch your mindset
Promoting your personal brand is your chance to make interviewers go: I want to learn more about you. I want you on my team.
Yet for some, the idea of ‘branding’ may feel inauthentic or carry negative connotations.
If so, reframing the process as ‘communicating your worth’ will be a much more constructive approach.
Think of personal branding as your opportunity to share your capabilities, aspirations and achievements. It’s your chance to position yourself in the best light – in a way that still feels authentic to you.
2. Prepare for common questions
Most employers will want to know a few basic facts about you and your aspirations. To introduce yourself in an engaging and natural way, rehearse how you’d answer common questions like:
- Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
- What are your interest areas and strengths?
- Do you have any career goals?
- What are you looking for in a legal role?
Even if you don’t have fully-formed answers, it’s worthwhile to start putting your thoughts together before the interview. It’s much easier to speak eloquently when you have a good idea of what you want to say.
3. Keep your pitch sharp and relevant
Your pitch should capture the person’s attention and leave them wanting to find out more about you.
So stay away from formulaic and robotic responses which are too often forgettable. More personal, unexpected responses are more likely to make a positive, lasting impression.
Think about your audience – always. A recruiter or HR manager will want to know different things about you than a partner would.
Keep it succinct. Attention spans are brief, so limit your responses to around 20 to 30 seconds.
4. Draw inspiration from individuals you admire
Who – in your eyes – has a stand-out personal brand? What are they known for? What qualities and traits do they present to the world?
For example, they might advocate for a sustainable future. They could be an innovator or someone who represents those without a voice.
As you draw inspiration, reflect on the traits you see, or want to build, in yourself. Start bringing these up in conversation – but crucially: keep it natural, sincere and jargon-free.
5. End with a call to action
If you’ve built rapport and the person has shown interest in you, end the conversation with a next step.
This could be something like:
- I’d like to discuss these ideas further – let’s catch up again over coffee. How’s next week?
- You mentioned you knew Julie who works in family law. I’d like to know more about that area. Can you please provide a referral?
You should do this straight after you’ve met. Not only does it keep you on their radar, but it also shows you’re confident and enthusiastic.
6. Practise and refine your approach
Building your personal brand is a process. Don’t expect your pitch to come out perfectly straight away.
It will take time to refine your approach, so set aside room in your schedule to practise. Over time, you’ll become more comfortable talking about yourself.
You might prepare by recording your responses at home and watching it back. Assess your enthusiasm, brevity and whether you appeal to someone else’s needs – not just your own.
Have fun experimenting, and most of all, be yourself.
Regardless of the outcome, most people are happy to have a conversation. So push yourself out of your comfort zone, be courageous and back yourself.
