I recently had the chance to speak with Alex Su. Alex is a lawyer who transitioned out of the private practice of law, into the world of technology sales! A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, and a former associate at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, Alex is currently the Head of Community Development at Ironclad. He also has his own column for Above the Law and is “TikTok famous” with his handle @Legaltechbro where he pokes fun at the legal industry. Alex also has an incredible LinkedIn presence and following. Needless to say, the "Legal Tech Bro" understands more than the law and technology, he is a master of marketing and branding.
On this episode of Hiring Insights, Alex shares with us his personal career pivot, insights and recommendations on how to utilize social media, and how to pursue a job you’re not only qualified for, but also passionate about. If you are thinking about what's next in your career, let's have a conversation. Leverage our network of recruiters, hiring managers, business leaders, and our personalized coaching to get noticed and carve your personalized path to success.
LEGAL TECH
Most people are familiar with "Fintech" as an industry, but Legal Tech is relatively new and has many people asking what it is and how they could potentially fit into the sector. Simply stated, Legal Tech is technology and software used by law firms and corporations to improve their processes and increase their efficiency and effectiveness.
Alex clarified further for us, “You can imagine in the legal sector, in the legal industry, you've got firms doing a lot of work that is archaic, that is relying on manual methods because perhaps firms make money from the billable hour. And so there's no incentive to streamline activities through technology…I think that we're very early, still, in the legal tech growth phase. I do think there's going to be a lot of different problems that technology can solve, but it really comes down to what challenges you think technology could solve best. For me, I think it's contracts.” Ironclad is a global leader in contract management software. From HR to procurement, contracts touch all companies across all sectors and Ironclad helps accelerate the business contracts cycle.
CAREER TRANSITIONS
Career transitions can happen in a variety of ways and for a multitude of reasons. For Alex, he found himself unemployed early in his legal career. He attempted to start his own venture, and when that didn’t work, he felt like he was failing. He ultimately freed himself of the preconceived notions of what having a “legal career” should be and found himself pivoting into a new arena that that he would ultimately excel at.
We repeatedly mention non-linear career paths because the percentage of linear paths that lead to success are small. We start every client with a strategic planning session to determine the most advantageous path for them to achieve their goals. The simplest questions can sometimes open up the best pathways:
What have you enjoyed thus far about your career and what is motivating to you... Compensation? Organizational Culture? The impact of your work? Something else?
What parts of your career have you found yourself least inspired by?
Have you considered venturing into x, y, z?
Too often we view our careers through a very narrow lens and struggle to broaden what industries or positions our skillsets could potentially transfer to.
If you are contemplating a career transition, but don't want to quit your day job, Alex recommends testing out a new venture in the evening or on the weekends. Push yourself to discover where your passion lies. Each step of your career is a discovery session to determine your strengths and passions!
PURSUIT OF OPPORTUNITIES & NETWORKING
It’s no secret that some of the best and most lucrative positions come from the unpublished job market. The unpublished job market is all about getting introduced to decision makers and positioning yourself for great opportunities. Just as Alex approaches sales, networking for the pursuit of a job is no different. You have to figure out who the decision makers are. It takes work. It takes time dedicated to research and sometimes you’re going to get a cold no, but the right conversations will come.
Dissect your connections. It goes beyond first connections... find out who you need to speak with and work backwards to determine what connections can get you there. Keep in mind that social media is social. There has to be a give and take, and not a constant presentation of what you want or need.
Engage authentically with others with the notion that any one of them could have an opportunity for you. You need to present yourself in way that you will be remembered and leave people feeling valued.
LINKEDIN & EXECUTIVE BRANDING
One of our favorite things that Alex said, and our hope is that everyone hears this, “When it comes to business purposes, LinkedIn is unparalleled. When it comes to career, to finding out what's happening in the business world, LinkedIn is the primary place.”
Why post content on LinkedIn? According to LinkedIn statistics, three people are recruited through LinkedIn every minute. 45% of content readers are in upper management. If you are actively utilizing the platform to establish yourself as a thought leader, remember that 45% of your audience is decision makers that could be viewing you and your content.
As Alex explains, being connected to the right people and presenting yourself in the right way not only assists in you finding opportunities, but it increases your visibility and likelihood of being recruited or referred into an opportunity. When your professional desires and marketing coalesce, we refer to that as executive branding.
Is your LinkedIn profile complete? Here are just a few of the essentials...
Professional Photo
Strong Headline
Comprehensive "About Me" Section
Experience Listed
Skills Selected
Do you understand, generally, how the LinkedIn algorithm works?
Are you engaging with the platform? This goes beyond simple "likes" on posts of friends.
Have you established yourself as a thought leader in your industry by creating and posting valuable content?
Do you have a strategic plan for networking?
We obviously cater to a professional clientele, but our approach works for all levels of job seeker, business leader, those selling a product direct to consumer or, business to business. The narrative just gets adjusted to focus on your value proposition and audience.
If you would like to have a conversation about your executive brand or social media management, please contact Lindsay Hofbauer or contact us directly here.
NEXT MONTH
Stay tuned for our conversation next month when we speak with Kristi Stepp, a leader in #HumanResources, #Strategy, #Recruitment, and #ExecutiveCoaching. Kristi has held leadership positions at General Motors, Kelly PepsiCo, and Volkswagen AG. Kristi holds a BA from University of Michigan, graduate degrees from Central Michigan University and Fielding Graduate University, and has studied at theUniversity of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business. Kristi is a Partner with Sigred Solutions and shares her insights into developing a career and job search strategy, successful onboarding and retention efforts for managers, and proper organizational succession planning.
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If you are thinking about a career move or want support on your executive branding and social media management, let's have a conversation. Leverage our network of recruiters, hiring managers, business leaders, and our personalized coaching to get noticed and carve your personalized path to success.