Articles by Amy Shanks

Experienced recruiter with a passion for the business - always striving to improve the level of service and innovation for our clients. I believe in acquiring talent beyond expectations resulting in a strong client partnership that allows us both to focus on what we do best.

July 14, 2021 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

Time to change jobs? Look for these signs!

You have been in your job a few years and noticed your motivation is dwindling. Maybe you no longer feel challenged to learn. Or perhaps you feel like you are going in the opposite direction of where you envisioned your career going.

Everyone’s interests and goals naturally change over time. So how do you know if you’re ready for a job change?

Here are seven indicators that it may be time for you to make your move:

You feel stressed and tired

Are you overly tired on the way to work, sleeping less, or more irritable? These could be symptoms of rising stress levels – an early warning system that something is off. Stress can affect your mood and immune system, making you more susceptible to colds and lows and impairing performance.

So if your body is trying to tell you something, take a moment to understand the message.

You don’t believe in the company like you used to

When you began working in your current job, it seemed full of possibilities, and you felt proud to identify yourself as an employee of your organization. But recently, you’ve noticed a change in the office atmosphere, and your belief or confidence in the organization isn’t what it was.

Perhaps the company has taken some commercial or strategic decisions that don’t sit well with you. Maybe a management reshuffle has not been a change for the better. Or perhaps it’s just that your thinking has evolved, and you feel your values no longer align with yours.

You can’t wait for the day to end

When you first started this job, you woke up excited about going to work. On the job, you often asked about taking on extra projects and offered to stay late to complete your work. Now, you find yourself counting down the hours until you can log off and head home. You look for the minimum workload rather than look for opportunities to go the extra mile.

It may be that your position doesn’t stretch you any more, or your current employer doesn’t have an adequate development path for you. Either way, it could be time to move on to something that ignites your passion again.

Your job skills don’t match up with your interests

Sometimes people get hired for things they’re good at but don’t necessarily like doing. You may be skilled in software sales but would really prefer to be in marketing. Maybe you’re great at creating spreadsheets but would rather meet with clients instead of sitting at a desk all day. Perhaps you’ve found yourself practicing in one area of law, but you’d prefer another.

It is natural to want to align your interests with your career activity – and the longer you leave it, the harder it can be to switch as you become more and more specialized in a field where you feel you do not belong.

As Steve Jobs once said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.” So now could be the time to take the opportunity while you can and see what you can achieve if you try.

You feel invisible

Do you get the impression that your opinions and contributions go unacknowledged? Have you been overlooked for a promotion or an important project, and you’re finding others get the credit for things you suggested months ago. Perhaps relationships within your team aren’t as cordial or collaborative as they used to be, and team members aren’t socializing together anymore.

Because you spend a significant portion of your time at work, it is important that you feel that you are valued. It also helps if your work atmosphere is friendly, productive, and encouraging. If you’ve done everything you can to improve the dynamic, but still feel that things are not right, it may be time to move on. Find something new to challenge you and where you think you can make a real difference.

Your job is boring

Sometimes it can be hard to accept that your role is just not substantial enough for you anymore. Unhappily staying in a position because of your sense of loyalty or hesitation to make a change could hurt your career in the long run.

Over time you have developed skills and experience, and it may be time for new challenges. Sometimes an employer may not have the resources to help you reach your potential. What your career may need is the sort of change that only a job switch can provide.

If you see similarities with your job experience after reading these seven signs, don’t be afraid to start exploring your options.

At Strategic Recruitment Solutions, your success is our success. Our reputation for superior client satisfaction is the result of a tireless commitment to exceeding our clients’ objectives. We are the recruiting firm of choice for top employers in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Gulf Region. Our recruiters will partner with you in your search for highly talented legal, management and technology hires. They will lend their industry knowledge, experience, tools, and technology to enhance your recruiting strategy. We have been matching top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region for more than a decade. Our focus is on building a long-term relationship with your company. Call us today at 888-366-6508. We can help you find the best candidate to join your legal or IT team.

May 15, 2021 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

3 Key Advantages of Using A Recruitment Agency to Hire

At SRS, we help you fill jobs with specific requirements.

If you’re an employer seeking new hires, you may be curious about the overall benefits of using a recruitment service. Here are a few stand-out advantages that you’ll experience when you work with SRS:

We Have “The Reach” for Recruitment

Great candidates are difficult to find. Some potential candidates may not respond to job postings or advertisements because they may not believe that they are a good enough fit for your talent pool. At SRS, we know how to reach both active and passive job seekers. Our network will help us connect you to job seekers holding various skills and experiences, some of which may have otherwise flown under the radar.

We Provide Time-Saving Services

We verify job references, conduct preliminary interviews, and vet candidates to ensure that each job candidates’ capabilities are consistent with their resumes. Furthermore, by using an agency, you can rest assured that all candidates presented to you for an interview are the best choices available in the market.

We Know the Market

Since we specialize in the legal and technology industries, we can locate candidates who fulfill specific requirements that may be otherwise difficult to find. Suppose you are hiring for a position that requires an expert awareness of trial preparation. Because we are so familiar with the legal and IT industries, we are able to ask the right questions to determine if the job candidate has remained current with specific software, electronic discovery rules, or has excellent organization skills. Our expertise in the industry and knowledge of the market saves our clients time and money. We can provide market insight to help you negotiate job offers.

April 20, 2021 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

7 Jobs Skills Essential to Your Legal Career

Do you have the seven key skills to help you stand out from the competition?

Searching for a legal job in 2021? Employers today are pursuing applicants that possess specific skills. When describing their ideal job candidate, law firm hiring managers said that these seven skills were essential. Whether you are a recent law school graduate or a seasoned paralegal, these seven skills can help you stand out from the competition.

1. Organization:

The ability to prioritize and remain focused when faced with competing priorities is essential. Researching points of law, drafting legal documents, and managing case files can sometimes be a juggling act. That’s why organizational skills are so critical.

2. Research and analysis skills:

Reading large amounts of information, absorbing facts and figures, analyzing the content, and summarizing it into a manageable memorandum, is vital. You can practice honing this skill by summarizing lengthy news articles into five-point bulleted lists of the most important themes.

3. Project Management:

As of 2020, 15.7 million project-management positions have been created globally across different industries. By the end of 2020, there should be over 6.2 million project management jobs in the United States alone. Some competencies you need to possess are strong leadership, organizational expertise, budget and schedule management, and business management skills.

4. Ability to Communicate:

Strong oral and written communication skills are crucial. Grammar mistakes can quickly deter potential employers from even considering you for a position. Although you proofread your resume and cover letter, make sure you give it another check before you submit it with your application.

5. Problem-Solving Skills:

Skills like problem-solving show potential employers that you know how to approach real-life situations and develop practical solutions. Most importantly, be sure to include specific examples of your experience with problem-solving during your interview.

6. Technical proficiency:

A successful legal professional is comfortable with the Microsoft Office Suite as well as Google Workplace. You should be familiar with electronic filing software, eDiscovery, practice management, document automation, electronic billing, and client communications.

7. Team Player:

Finally, being a team player is key to furthering your legal career. The primary traits for a team player are patience, being a good listener, and articulating your clear and honest opinion. Moreover, employers want employees that can get along with different personalities and be an effective team participant.

Call us today at 888-366-6508 to learn how easy partnering with SRS can help you reach your career goals. For more than a decade, we have been matching top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region. Furthermore, we specialize in Legal and IT recruiting. Finally, feel free to browse our Jobs and Career Listings to see a growing list of job opportunities.

March 20, 2021 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

Five Tips for Successful Hiring in 2021 and Beyond

Hiring advice — Find and retain the right employees with these 5 Tips

In 2020, the killing of George Floyd came a global outcry for systemic change. This movement allowed company leaders to rethink their hiring practices while seeking to advance racial equity. In 2021, the call is to create a diverse and equitable workforce where each person can bring their best self to work regardless of age, gender, race, background, ability, or religion.

You can increase your chances of hiring the right candidates by following these 5 Tips:

Enhance your DE&I for better hiring

In the future, more candidates will make job choices based on their assessment of a company’s visible diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). According to Dan Schawbel, a bestselling author and managing partner at Workplace Intelligence, a New York City-based HR research and advisory firm, “70 percent of job seekers said they want to work for a company that demonstrates a commitment to diversity and inclusion.”

Create a virtual onboarding experience

As hiring freezes begin to lift and your company seeks to add to your existing teams, find a way to streamline your onboarding. Preparing a virtual onboarding experience will help you deliver a welcoming message as well as an insight into your company’s culture.

Prioritize talent development for future hiring

The skills-gap crisis isn’t new to hiring managers. However, it has intensified from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learning and development programs should be more than a “perk” to offer employees for their personal growth. Providing training and advancement opportunities within your company is an effective strategy for growing your business. This strategy will help you attract and retain top talent.

Protect your employees from burnout

If your work hours include evenings and weekends, employee burnout is a possibility. You should train managers to identify the signs and encourage employees to prioritize their mental health. Overworked employees are stressed, depressed and are likely to make more mistakes.

Connect your employees’ work to your company’s mission

Rather than chasing a higher salary, job seekers are becoming more attracted to mission-driven companies. People want to work for companies that align with their values. Furthermore, when training managers have meaningful conversations with employees, they break down the traditional hierarchies that prevent people from feeling like they’re making an impact.

Although 2020 brought many challenges, it also created space for a new and improved way of working. At Strategic Recruitment Solutions, we have been matching top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region for more than a decade. Our industry-expert recruiters can offer insight and guidance in all aspects of Legal and IT recruiting. Call us today at 888-366-6508 to learn how easy partnering with SRS can help you reach your business goals.

February 15, 2021 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

Five Specific Questions to Ask During Your Law Firm Interview

Virtually all advice related to job interviews involves helping the job seeker prepare answers to the interviewer’s questions. However, much of your potential employer’s impression of you will be based on the questions you ask in addition to the questions you answer. Besides asking the standard questions about job requirements, job benefits, or the next steps after the interview, you should ask questions that will help you determine whether this is your dream job.

Be prepared to show that you have done your research and have taken the time to prepare questions that will reveal something about the firm. Show your desire to know more about the company’s culture to ensure you are the right fit.

Here are some suggested questions to ask your interviewer:

1.What is it about your firm that differentiates you from other firms practicing similar types of law?

Depending on how your interview answers this question, you will understand how the firm’s culture and priorities line up with yours. Give your interviewer the opportunity to tell you what makes them special and think about what their answer means to you in terms of the company being a match to your goals.

2.How would you describe the firm’s culture and philosophy?

If your interviewer describes a positive work culture with advancement opportunities, this is great news for you. The more details provided, the better. You may even keep the conversation going by asking for an example that defines the company’s culture.

3.What does a successful member of this firm look like, and what do they do to be considered successful?

This question will show your genuine interest in being a team asset. The implication is that you are asking because you want to know because you want to emulate that success. After the interview, you can do additional research to gain more knowledge about this individual and prepare for your second interview.

4.What does your firm use as the common markers of success?

This question will help you determine how the firm handles performance reviews. This is something you will want to know before you agree to accept the job.

5.What’s something that you learned later about the company you wished you would have known when you first joined?

By asking to hear about the interviewer’s experience, you are showing a true interest in wanting to know more. The information your interviewer provides will give you an idea of what it is like to hit the ground running in your new environment.

At Strategic Recruitment Solutions, our industry-expert recruiters are here to offer you insight and guidance. We will help you land your dream job and be there for you every step of the way. We help you improve your resume, prepare for your interview, and help you decide which job is best for you.

For more than a decade, we have been matching top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region. We specialize in Legal and IT recruiting. Call us today at 888-366-6508 to learn how easy partnering with SRS can help you reach your career goals. Feel free to browse our Jobs and Career Listings to see a growing list of opportunities in your field.