the ULTIMATE biglaw (or any intense corporate job) survival guide

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✍️ ask me a question: cecexie.com/ask-cece
0:00 - intro
1:52 - leverage cognitive biases
6:16 - manage people, not time
11:09 - 150% your time estimate
13:11 - delay sending emails
15:13 - professional comparative advantage
18:34 - daily "me" time
20:47 - know why you're still there
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🎙️ listen to my podcast: podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh...
💕 f o l l o w m e 💞
@cecexie everywhere
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tiktok: / cecexie
twitter: / cecexie
website: www.cecexie.com
🎶 all music courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
🖲️ co-edited with / @aftonlin
❓ F A Q s ❓
how old are you? 32 ('91 baby)
which schools did you go to? yale (undergrad) and harvard (law school)
what did you major in? economics
what was your gpa and lsat score? 3.86/176
what sign/MBTI/enneagram are you? aries, ENFJ, 3w4
are you sure you're not a virgo? no part of my star chart is virgo or an earth sign, i swear

Пікірлер: 73

  • @OhNoNotAgain42
    @OhNoNotAgain428 ай бұрын

    30+ years in “big” engineering, construction, utilities & local government here: Most of this is REALLY good, well summarized and relevant to “big” anything. I would emphasize the “be an expert at something nobody else is”. You MUST constantly look to see what is coming in the future and develop expertise. Career has always been a long game of musical chairs. Don’t be the one without a chair when the music stops.

  • @vtorious9102
    @vtorious91027 ай бұрын

    "Make cognitive biases work for you" is the best advice. You truly are a master of psychology!

  • @trinhn.truong2609
    @trinhn.truong26099 ай бұрын

    Third year big law associate here and I'm JUST starting to implement inconsistent email responses! It's been a huge weight off my shoulders to finally understand what requests are truly urgent.

  • @sofiali9416
    @sofiali94169 ай бұрын

    I’m not in big law, I’m in my 2nd year in financial services, but I absolutely loved this video and have missed your advice so much! Looking forward to your book 😊

  • @CeceXie

    @CeceXie

    9 ай бұрын

    yay, that makes me happy to hear! it took me a while to figure out how to have a consistent youtube workflow, but there will be much more to come! thanks for watching and supporting 🩷

  • @donyconjux1
    @donyconjux19 ай бұрын

    Thanks for another banger of a video Cece! Appreciate you so much!

  • @simonealdredge
    @simonealdredge9 ай бұрын

    I’m in my third year in biglaw this is massively helpful!!! Thank you Cece!!!!

  • @court_16
    @court_168 ай бұрын

    I'm about to start a job in management consulting and this video made me feel sooo much less anxious! Thank you! There's so much value here.

  • @work-in-progress
    @work-in-progress9 ай бұрын

    Wow this info is so useful. I'm in final year of law school navigating the corporate route. I cherish you so much, this eased my anxiety too. Thank you!!

  • @bonnieforyou
    @bonnieforyou8 ай бұрын

    As an undergraduate applying to corporate internships in another field, I found this video so insightful and well articulated! Thanks for sharing!

  • @doggykins7777
    @doggykins77779 ай бұрын

    Loved this video! So organized, funny, clear, and informative

  • @hadleymenk6976
    @hadleymenk69768 ай бұрын

    This is so helpful for more than just law! I used to work in PR and all these things were applicable to that too, or really any client-focused role

  • @cire9836
    @cire98368 ай бұрын

    i've been working in consulting for the past year or so and almost all of these tips are things i use every day to survive! definitely applicable for professional services and happy to get some good extra advice too :)

  • @Sam_A_Sam
    @Sam_A_Sam9 ай бұрын

    Watched first 6 minutes and it was really interesting and surely useful, even though I'm not in Big Law. Thanks.

  • @karenalbarreto
    @karenalbarreto9 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the survival kit ! I swear strategic smart working is the only way ahead.

  • @gabatronOG
    @gabatronOG9 ай бұрын

    Great Video Cece, and thank you for all of these helpful tips! I also find these helpful in a general office work environment. Also your voice is very relaxing, I would definitely love to hear podcasts as well!

  • @CeceXie

    @CeceXie

    9 ай бұрын

    you're so welcome! i targeted the tips to biglaw but really felt that they had wider applicability, as well :) and i would loooove to do a podcast again one day with a network, so who knows--maybe that will be in the future!

  • @rhythmlueng
    @rhythmlueng9 ай бұрын

    Love your well structured videos! Informative and insightful! Most importantly, enjoyable!

  • @CeceXie

    @CeceXie

    9 ай бұрын

    thank you so much! 🩷

  • @meganmiller1213
    @meganmiller12139 ай бұрын

    Thanks Cece! Perfect timing as I'll be a new first-year in just 35 more days!!

  • @vidvoizze
    @vidvoizze7 ай бұрын

    Cece!!!! I’m an aspiring law student, currently in my senior year. Be it watching your law school 2012 commonapp essay video or this video about big law, I love how you’re so real, so articulate and how I like to say “well lawyered”! Thanks for the informative content!!

  • @PoSHEmediaglobal
    @PoSHEmediaglobal9 ай бұрын

    Love love your content Congrats again

  • @Ren2736
    @Ren27369 ай бұрын

    Love this! I am a first-gen high school grad (not even to mention first-gen law student) and just landed a BigLaw 2L summer associate gig,. I am absolutely terrified and feel totally out of my depth in terms of what to expect, so this could not have come at a better time. Thank you for all the helpful content you provide!

  • @CeceXie

    @CeceXie

    9 ай бұрын

    omgosh being a summer associate is the BEST!! don't stress too much about all of these tips for the summer--just enjoy yourself and get to know people/partners/the work. then come back to this video when you're a first-year :)

  • @a.sydney5036
    @a.sydney50368 ай бұрын

    Love this so much. I'll be sharing.

  • @swaggintime3334
    @swaggintime33349 ай бұрын

    I am so so appreciative for all this amazing advice! I am in the midst of law school applications right now. Thank you so much!

  • @swaggintime3334

    @swaggintime3334

    9 ай бұрын

    Also, it would be so amazing if you could post more about law school and how to get head while in law school! Thank you for everything you do!!

  • @CeceXie

    @CeceXie

    9 ай бұрын

    oh gosh--i'm not sure i'm the best source for law school advice (some profs loved me; some didn't care for me; i graduated with good but not latin honors grades) but i will think about doing a video where i just talk about my experience and the things i did which have paid off dividends even now!

  • @Katherine-vn9eg
    @Katherine-vn9eg8 ай бұрын

    I'm just starting my job as an investment banker, and though its not big law, there are so many similarities between the two. Thank you so much this is exactly what I needed to hear today, and probably will need to hear every day for the next few years lol

  • @gabrielalondon5088
    @gabrielalondon50889 ай бұрын

    This video is incredible. I had to stop folding laundry so that I could take notes.

  • @SchocoMacGirl
    @SchocoMacGirl9 ай бұрын

    loved the e-mail thing...I often did the "opposite". I love (occasionaly!) working through the night, but it was absolutely not accepted at my workplace at the time. So I went to bed at 4 and delayed the e-mail to 7:30; early riser lol...never ever. (it was not big law; but during my stations at my law traineeship in Germany).

  • @annisabenjamin5505
    @annisabenjamin5505Ай бұрын

    These are so good. Thanks for sharing

  • @tmThuy
    @tmThuy8 ай бұрын

    Omg I love these tips

  • @ngoctran1510
    @ngoctran15107 ай бұрын

    Wish this video was out when I first started my legal career! Agree with all the tips you shared!

  • @davineje8626
    @davineje86268 ай бұрын

    There was so much value in this video. Thank you very much for the quality advice, Cece!

  • @enlalucha1120
    @enlalucha11209 ай бұрын

    Great video!

  • @altyd493
    @altyd4932 ай бұрын

    What a great video!

  • @a.sydney5036
    @a.sydney50368 ай бұрын

    This is a really good video. Let me play it back one more time.

  • @bowenpaintertraillawyers
    @bowenpaintertraillawyersАй бұрын

    Great tips!

  • @rekt3651
    @rekt36519 ай бұрын

    You look so gorgeous ❤❤. Always love your info vids

  • @user-hl1ip7if9r
    @user-hl1ip7if9r9 ай бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @drjtyson
    @drjtyson9 ай бұрын

    Very, very helpful video

  • @PoSHEmediaglobal
    @PoSHEmediaglobal9 ай бұрын

    I just started a new job so this is helpful

  • @esthaaaaaa
    @esthaaaaaa4 ай бұрын

    Can I just say, that thumbnail game tho 💯👌🏼👏🏻

  • @jeremyhand4700
    @jeremyhand47004 ай бұрын

    you lead people, you manage resources

  • @ruthwaweru5986
    @ruthwaweru59869 ай бұрын

    Inconsistent rewards 🎉🔥

  • @cmfsobl
    @cmfsobl8 ай бұрын

    This is great for project managers working with cross functional teams! Haha

  • @TelzAll
    @TelzAll8 ай бұрын

    I'm unemployed but this is a good video I enjoyed it

  • @cfloster
    @cfloster8 ай бұрын

    6:05 ok are you working consistently across the globe or like who is doing law in the middle of the night - bc i am actually curious

  • @shehriyarkhan4798
    @shehriyarkhan479816 сағат бұрын

    I will go mudding in my 'me' time.

  • @DoubleAAnime
    @DoubleAAnime9 ай бұрын

    14:32 What emails? I can’t catch what you said Great advice!!! I worked in sales with companies that monitor your computer with their software to make sure you are using the laptop and staff also can see if you are green on Slack… It was so annoying and unnecessary. Since we are sales they also had a gps on the laptop and do indeed check where you use it 😬

  • @tomatofeind2019

    @tomatofeind2019

    9 ай бұрын

    substantive emails :)

  • @CeceXie

    @CeceXie

    9 ай бұрын

    like @tomatofeind2019 said, "substantive emails" and i'm so sorry they did that!! this type of employee tracking is so off-putting to me and really triggers my teenage rebellion, ugh

  • @CarysGM

    @CarysGM

    9 ай бұрын

    Two words- mouse jiggler. Great way to get around that green Slack button bs.

  • @xBERNiiCES2
    @xBERNiiCES29 ай бұрын

    Not in law, but love the content!!

  • @jeffallenwang
    @jeffallenwang9 ай бұрын

    Hey Cece! Would you (in hindsight) have not gone to Harvard (but still T14) with way less loan debt, knowing you wanted Big Law anyway which is really attainable at any T14?

  • @CeceXie

    @CeceXie

    9 ай бұрын

    not at all! i really enjoyed my time at HLS, and the grading system (basically no +'s or -'s) let me relax enough so that i took classes and learned for enjoyment rather than GPA (which was a lot of my undergrad experience). i think i was a much better, more engaged student as a result, was able to make some great lifelong connections with students and faculty, and was able to (this is dumb but is a reality) reap the signaling benefits of the yale/harvard resume. i wouldn't recommend that everyone do what i did, though--i had a lot of privileges (no undergrad debt, don't need to support my family) and value experience and decreased performance anxiety quite highly (and probably more than the average person)

  • @jeffallenwang

    @jeffallenwang

    9 ай бұрын

    ​@@CeceXie Makes sense! I have a similar outlook choosing my law school (Berkeley - also no grading system), and what you said really resonates with me. Thanks for the response!

  • @danielmoore9214
    @danielmoore92148 ай бұрын

    Which law firm did you work at ??

  • @SH-ly1uy
    @SH-ly1uy8 ай бұрын

    I remember Steven He: emotional damage

  • @keepingupwithlaw
    @keepingupwithlawАй бұрын

    Hi Cece, I'm a corporate lawyer in India. If I shift to US, will I get a job there in law firms or as an in-house counsel?

  • @CeceXie

    @CeceXie

    28 күн бұрын

    Both options are potentially available, although I think firms may be more willing to sponsor work visas for lawyers

  • @ingridyau3012
    @ingridyau30122 ай бұрын

    I can't do these and I feel like Corp culture is not for me

  • @dylanmoon6545
    @dylanmoon65455 ай бұрын

    This is giving me brain worms

  • @Nevereveronce91
    @Nevereveronce919 ай бұрын

    First❤

  • @CeceXie

    @CeceXie

    9 ай бұрын

    whoo!! 🥇

  • @JenPurple2022
    @JenPurple20228 ай бұрын

    Lawyers like and make money from talking and talking and talking to the extend wearing ppl out or changing their minds Business ppl engineers just like get the s* done.

  • @MrBUGS713
    @MrBUGS7138 ай бұрын

    Attractive people don’t get paid more because they’re attractive. There’s no relation between them.

  • @andrycrisiana
    @andrycrisiana9 ай бұрын

    This video is a bit disappointing because it is again all about strategizing, structuring, and playing the corporate game - it seems that Cece is out of Big Law but Big Law is still a bit in her.

  • @CeceXie

    @CeceXie

    9 ай бұрын

    i assure you--if i knew how to permanently and irrevocably change the nature of the corporate game so that playing the game wasn't necessary, i would! but in lieu of that, i thought that shedding light on the invisible rules of the corporate game was second-best. biglaw is definitely still in me, but that's because strategy and playing the game will always be in me, which i don't view as necessarily a bad thing. do what you have to do in order to do what you want to do, y'know?

  • @andrycrisiana

    @andrycrisiana

    9 ай бұрын

    @@CeceXie Hi Cece, I am always a bit hesitant in making a comment because somehow I feel it may be perceived negatively. This was not my intention, I actually find your journey fascinating. I guess as a viewer I would expect that perhaps you could go a step further and really let go of the corporate jargon and mindset. When you write "strategy and playing the game will always be in me, which i don't view as necessarily a bad thing. do what you have to do in order to do what you want to do, y'know?" I feel like you are not really outside of the "climbing the ladder" mindset. You don't have to, of course, but would be nice to see you really coming from the other side with a whole new perspective on life, career, and life that is not so "structured". Perhaps you want to but maybe it is just too comfortable to go back to the old ways to setting plans and goals and strategies to climb yet another ladder? Again, please do not take this in the wrong way, I really wish you success and I am looking forward to reading your book soon! :)

  • @troyflatland5299
    @troyflatland52999 ай бұрын

    That talking over bit of the intro threw me into a full blown panic attack wtf is wrong with you?!