Page 36 - NYLS Magazine • 2014 • Vol. 33, No. 2

Meet eLizaBeth damBriuNas ’85, aSSociate director for
aLumNi adVisiNg
QMs. Dambriunas answered a short Q&a on her work with alumni: what range of career services do you provide to alumni?
Qwhat are some of the most frequently asked questions you get from alumni?
elizabeth dambriunas ’85 Q is the new associate Director for
alumni advising in the Office of
career planning at NYLS. She
provides counseling, programming, and resources to NYLS’s recent graduates, assisting them in making the transition from law school to practice. Ms. Dambriunas has an extensive background in intellectual property and entertainment law
and spent many years as in-house
counsel for Warner Bros., paramount Q pictures, Nickelodeon, and Viacom
before opening her own transactional
practice. prior to joining the NYLS
Office of career planning, she served
as an alumni mentor, Ip mentor,
faculty externship supervisor, and
adjunct professor. She is also a
member of the career advancement
and Management committee of the
New York city Bar association.
do you have any general words of advice for recent graduates in the job market?
is there anything more you’d like alumni to know about what the office of career Planning can offer them?
34 New York Law schooL magaziNe • 2014 • VOL. 33, NO. 2
I provide a wide range of career counseling services, from résumé review and cover letter assistance to help with exploring and clarifying a practice area or career path, developing an effective job search strategy, establishing and expanding a professional network (including connecting with other alumni), and preparing and practicing for interviews.
One of the most frequently asked questions is how to request an informational interview: an alum has the name of a fellow alum or an attorney he or she wants to meet, either for career advice or for a potential job opportunity, and doesn’t know how to initiate that contact. I can help the alum craft the right message to put him or her in the best position for a positive response. another question that comes up a lot is how to answer those unexpected or awkward interview questions, such as “What would you say is your biggest weakness?” We can help our alumni avoid the pitfalls of such a question, and show their strength and self-awareness by identifying a professional challenge and how they conquered it.
First, make sure your documents are in top shape—your résumé, cover letter, even your e-mail—to request an informational interview. that way you’re ready to move quickly when an opportunity arises. Second, make a list of all of your contacts and plan out how you will approach them for help with your job search. third, don’t spend all day on your laptop job searching— remember to get out there and talk with other lawyers. Fourth, identify professional associations through which you can gain even more contacts and experience. Finally and most importantly, make an appointment to see me, so that I can add my efforts to yours!
We offer career counseling to all alumni, not just recent graduates. We have a great team of counselors here with a wealth of expertise and experience in many different practice areas. We also have a great network of alumni to turn to, and it’s especially rewarding when we can connect graduates who are job searching with experienced alumni in their desired practice areas for any advice and help the alumni can provide. •