Whether you're at a big or small firm for the summer, everyone from the secretaries to the managing partner is watching you. They are watching you all the time. Do not be fooled by that social gathering at a partner's house, those two-hour lunches or the after-work happy hours. You are being evaluated in every setting in which firm people are present. This doesn't mean, however, that you have to be so reserved that you stifle your own personality. Your personality is EXACTLY what everyone is trying to figure out! Both your fellow summer associates and the firm's attorneys are trying to answer one question: "Am I going to like working with this person?" Everyone already assumes you don't know anything! So as long as you work diligently and put your best effort into each of your projects, you will be fine. The firm would not have invested in you by giving you the summer position if they didn't think that you were smart enough to do the work. So relax and be yourself. Letting your personality shine through the fishbowl as you work hard and work smart is one of the best things you can do.
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BONUS CHAPTER: FOR SUMMER ASSOCIATES ONLY
Grow Gills -- It's a Fishbowl!
Whether you're at a big or small firm for the summer, everyone from the secretaries to the managing partner is watching you. They are watching you all the time. Do not be fooled by that social gathering at a partner's house, those two-hour lunches or the after-work happy hours. You are being evaluated in every setting in which firm people are present. This doesn't mean, however, that you have to be so reserved that you stifle your own personality. Your personality is EXACTLY what everyone is trying to figure out! Both your fellow summer associates and the firm's attorneys are trying to answer one question: "Am I going to like working with this person?" Everyone already assumes you don't know anything! So as long as you work diligently and put your best effort into each of your projects, you will be fine. The firm would not have invested in you by giving you the summer position if they didn't think that you were smart enough to do the work. So relax and be yourself. Letting your personality shine through the fishbowl as you work hard and work smart is one of the best things you can do.
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Whether you're at a big or small firm for the summer, everyone from the secretaries to the managing partner is watching you. They are watching you all the time. Do not be fooled by that social gathering at a partner's house, those two-hour lunches or the after-work happy hours. You are being evaluated in every setting in which firm people are present. This doesn't mean, however, that you have to be so reserved that you stifle your own personality. Your personality is EXACTLY what everyone is trying to figure out! Both your fellow summer associates and the firm's attorneys are trying to answer one question: "Am I going to like working with this person?" Everyone already assumes you don't know anything! So as long as you work diligently and put your best effort into each of your projects, you will be fine. The firm would not have invested in you by giving you the summer position if they didn't think that you were smart enough to do the work. So relax and be yourself. Letting your personality shine through the fishbowl as you work hard and work smart is one of the best things you can do.