Lawyer Who Changed Her Own Career Now Coaches Others
Anna Rappaport figured out that she didn’t like lawyering about five years ago, halfway through a one-year clerkship.
Friends told Rappaport to stay the course, but she ignored their advice and quit, the Washington Post reports. Then she plotted her next move, networking with a law professor and the chief judge of the courthouse where she had been clerking. She obtained a contract job with the U.S. Department of Commerce, and moved on.
Rappaport told the Post she learned an important lesson. “Even when things go wrong, I can fix them,” she said. Now she is using what she learned to coach lawyers and small business owners on how to overcome career setbacks.
The Post summarizes some of Rappaport’s advice. After a job loss, it’s important to get past the anger and embarrassment. Try writing down feelings in a journal or (of course) hire a coach to help. Rebuild confidence by asking what you accomplished on the job.
And be honest when explaining a departure. She gives this example of an explanation that could resonate with interviewers: “I usually get along with people incredibly well. In this situation, we had a personality conflict. I’m embarrassed by that. This is the only time in my career that this has happened. And I’ve learned something.”
