Mentoring and networking are all the rage, and with good reason. AsianLife spoke with Yvette Y. Chang-Rampertab,* Company Counsel at Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (“Mercedes") in New York City, about how to achieve a positive work-life balance. Chang has been a role model and mentor for graduates of New York Law School and has been actively involved with the Asian American legal community for over 8 years. Before joining Mercedes, she had worked several years as a senior corporate and transactional attorney with New Jersey, New York and international law firms.

Be confident

If you are knowledgeable about a particular topic, then feel confident in your knowledge and don't be afraid of expressing yourself. Don't censor yourself. Very often, a client or colleague is looking to you for guidance and you may know more about the topic than they do. Don’t be hesitant to share your knowledge with confidence.

Think Global

Develop a timeline and career path and be specific in the type of organization and industry you would like to approach. In terms of finding jobs overseas and interviewing, it helps if you have familiarity with the target country, its culture and customs. I would recommend spending some time in the country during your undergraduate or graduate education and learn to write and speak the language. Early in my career, I had worked abroad in Taipei, Taiwan and knowing the language definitely worked to my advantage.

Find work that is fulfilling to you

It is important to find something that you believe in or can get excited about. However, to find such a job or a career can take time and be the result of trial and error, because sometimes you don't know what you like until you try it. It helps to do a self-assessment about your professional skills and strengths to discover which type of jobs, companies or organizations are right for you. What I find most rewarding is working every day with a diverse group of people and business units within Mercedes. Working for a company that supports diversity is great because you know that the company supports people from diverse backgrounds and values different perspectives. Support of diversity within an organization is very important because employees know that their views and opinions are valued.

Form a network

Networking can help in creating an opening for a person. It is important to also develop lasting relationships and connections and that requires time and commitment. When job-hunting or considering a job change, you need to let people know you are actively searching for a job. Don’t let it be a secret. Timing and a bit of luck (being in the right place at the right time) can also play a role in creating opportunities. Networking helped me find my current position. During the time I was considering different career opportunities, I happened to mention to a legal bar association colleague that I was considering a career change. This colleague happened to know another person who was also making a career move and mentioned me. I got a call a couple of days later from this person asking if I would be interested in interviewing for a position at Mercedes. As it turns out, we had met for the first time several years ago at a bar association conference and had mutual acquaintances in the bar association. While networking created this opportunity for me, it was up to me to demonstrate how I could use my skills and experience to contribute to the organization. I got the job. 

Get involved and take on leadership roles

It is important to network and build relationships on many different levels. I am involved in non-profit organizations that support the Asian American legal community. As co-chair of the Women's Committee of the Asian American Bar of Association of New York (AABANY), I am a strong advocate in supporting other Asians in the legal profession. Although Asians as a demographic group have been growing in numbers and percentages, the number of Asian American attorneys and judges is disproportionately small.

I also sit on the Board of the New York Law School Alumni Association and serve as Chair for the Recent Graduates Committee. I have found that alumni who have gone to the same undergraduate or graduate institution are always willing to spend time with a student or fellow graduate, whether it's to take a call in the middle of a busy day, give feedback and career advice, an informational interview or share a job posting. I would definitely recommend utilizing an alumni network, because other alumni have been in the same position as a job seeker and can offer useful advice. People have always been willing to spend time to talk with another alum or student. Take advantage of such networks.

Give back

Mentoring gives me the opportunity to share some of the legal, business and developmental challenges I encountered when moving up the ranks as a law firm associate. I view mentoring as my opportunity to give back. Mentoring is an opportunity to work with a group of people outside of my typical work environment and who may have different professional or educational goals. Having mentors from diverse fields of work is helpful because they can share different insights and perspectives. People may also react differently in a given situation based on their personal experiences and background. By soliciting feedback from different people on a given situation, mentees can obtain a wide range of views that may give them insight into possible ways of responding to a given situation.

Have fun

Balance work and life. Someone once said we work to live, not live to work. It is important to take time out from our professions and jobs to appreciate what life has to offer and to enjoy life with significant others, family and friends outside of the office. I spend time with my husband and my cat and also try to see my friends regularly. I also make time for participation in legal bar associations, community and other organizations.  Otherwise, it's too easy to get caught up in work and never leave the office. It's also important to take care of your personal well-being. A workout session at the gym or a run in Central Park keeps me energized throughout the day!

The views expressed in this article are the personal views of Yvette Y. Chang-Rampertab and not to be attributed to Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.