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.

June 6, 2019 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

IT MARKET PREDICTED TO EXPAND WITH AI-RELATED JOBS

Artificial Intelligence will add jobs to IT — Law firms will need more IT personnel

Attention IT personnel. No need to worry that AI (artificial intelligence) jobs will replace you! Yes, it is true, AI-related jobs have doubled within the last 5 years and the growth is expected to continue. However, as the AI industry creates new demands, IT jobs will recycle back into the market.

THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM (WEF) REPORT

According to the WEF, by 2022, the “top 10 emerging” jobs, will include data analysts, AI/machine learning specialists, and applications developers. The “The Future of Jobs 2018″ report from the WEF predicts the growth of artificial intelligence will create 58 million new jobs in the next few years. Although nearly 50 percent of all companies are expecting their full-time workforce to shrink by 2022 due to automation, another 40 percent are expecting to extend their workforce. Furthermore, more than 25 percent are expecting automation to create new roles.

IT JOB SECURITY

There are two reasons that IT personnel will continue to have job security:

Many jobs are tested for automation, but not all pass the test; and
Finally, there are many regulations and economic factors that could deter or even prevent job automation.

At Strategic Recruitment Solutions we match top companies with top talent. We have over a decade of experience of serving the Gulf Region. As a result, we are your one-stop shop for information, guidance, and insight into the legal and IT markets.

Finally, our job seekers’ career success is always our top priority as we continue to meet the challenges of the IT and legal industries. If you are ready to more than double your advantage in advancing your career, call us today! Why not search our current job opportunities or submit your resume now?

April 10, 2019 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

EMPLOYERS WANT TO HIRE YOU IF YOU HAVE SOFT SKILLS

Interview, soft skills, job interview — Are you a team player?

Employers are looking for job candidates with “soft skills”. Yes, it’s true. Over the past decade, the way people work has drastically changed. Now employers are looking for candidates who have more than the necessary technical skills and experience for the job. Furthermore, they want employees to have the ability to adapt quickly and to work across multiple teams and projects. Having “soft skills” means you are flexible and versatile.

Employers want you to have soft skills

Soft skills are interpersonal ones that are vital to the success of employers because most jobs require employee interaction with co-workers and clients. Soft skills include abilities like communication, critical thinking, time management, problem-solving, and networking. Candidates with soft skills are very adaptable, and an asset to employers as those skills are transferable regardless of the type of job.

Soft skills, now considered as important as hard skills, can be hard to access. The main difference is that hard skills are job-specific and can be taught. Soft skills, based on the characteristics of the job candidate, are not easily taught.

Employers believe communication is key at the workplace — Employers love soft skills – these will help you land your next job

Tell a soft skill story to your employer

Highlighting your soft skills to potential employers is essential. Begin by identifying the soft skills you have that are relevant to the position you are applying for. Include those skills in your resume or include them in your cover letter. During your interview, mention how you have displayed soft skills in past jobs. Finally, you can even demonstrate your soft skills by the way you interact with the interviewer. Also, paying attention to the interviewer while he or she is talking, will showcase your listening skills. Overall, soft skills will lead you to opportunities and help you grow as a professional. Most importantly, soft skills will help you land the job.

If you are ready to take the next step to advance your career, call us today! For decades, Strategic Recruitment Solutions has been instrumental in helping job seekers find their dream jobs. We are your one-stop shop for information, guidance, and insight into the legal and IT markets. Furthermore, we have the keys to help you land your dream job. To get started, search our current opportunities or submit your resume today.

February 6, 2019 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

ASHLEE B. WATSO, SRS LEGAL RECRUITER

Strategic Recruitment Solutions (‘SRS”) is growing! In addition to celebrating their recent move to a new office space at 1555 Poydras Street, Suite 440, New Orleans, LA, they have a new team member. Ashlee B. Watso has now joined the team as a Legal Recruiter.

A New Orleans native with a legal background and business administrative expertise, Watso looks forward to her new role. Prior to joining SRS, Watso worked as a litigation paralegal and as a relocation manager. Her interest in job placement began in 2016 when she met Amy Shanks, director of the Louisiana Legal Division at SRS in New Orleans. “I was actually interviewing for a paralegal position.” Watso said, “After Amy and I discussed my legal background and my skills as an effective communicator, we agreed that I had the right tools to be a great recruiter”.

Solving Problems

Watso, who takes pride in her problem-solving abilities, will bring those skills to her role as legal recruiter. “For ten years I have been accessing what people need and finding the best way to achieve results. At SRS, the goal is to understand the needs of each employers and each job seeker,” Watso said. “Because the recruiters at SRS have formed relationships with their clients over decades, they understand how to help them reach their long-term goals. When you know what your clients’ value, it is easier to find them the right match.”

“Ashlee brings the right mix to our team at SRS team,” said Shanks, “I was impressed with her professionalism and her attentiveness. Because of her paralegal background and experience working for various types of law offices, she brings a unique understanding of our clients’ needs.”

SRS – A Leader in Legal and Information Technology Recruitment

For over a decade, SRS has specialized in recruitment for the Legal and Information Technology fields. When placing job seekers, SRS recruiters remain focused on matching the RIGHT person to the RIGHT position at the RIGHT company. SRS also offers unparalleled senior-level executive searches, management assessments and succession planning services.

For more than a decade, SRS has been matching top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region. With a focus on Legal and IT Recruiting, SRS’s recruiters are experts in their respective markets and can offer insight and guidance to help companies grow. Their second office is in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 6160 Perkins Road, Suite 132.

Contact Ashlee B. Watso, Legal Recruiter
1555 Poydras Street, Suite 440, New Orleans, LA, 70112
Direct Phone: 504-417-4578
Email: [email protected]

January 2, 2019 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

TIME TO CHANGE JOBS? LOOK FOR THESE SIGNS

Ready to make a career change? — Considering a change? Look for these signs

Looking to change jobs? Each year begins with thoughts of new years’ resolutions as we think about how we can improve our lives. Because everyone’s interests and goals change over time, it is only natural to question. But how do you know when is the right time to seek new job opportunities?

Here are six indicators that it is time make a job change:

1. You are watching the clock

If you find yourself counting down the hours before you can head home, it is time to change jobs. Remember when your job was fresh, and you did your best to impress your employer. Don’t you want that enthusiasm back?

2. You need a challenge

Some employers do not have the resources to offer opportunities for development or advancement. If you are no longer challenged by your current position, take time to explore other options. The longer you stay at the end of a dead end street, the harder it will be to turn around and take a different direction.

3. You are bored

If your daily tasks have become mundane, you are no longer growing. You were hired for your experience and skill set, however, over time you have improved. Now it is time to challenge yourself again. Staying in a position that you’ve grown out of, out of a sense of loyalty or hesitation to change, will not help your employer. Furthermore, it will not help you advance your career.

4. You feel invisible

Do you feel your voice is heard at team meetings? Are you recognized or given credit for your accomplishments? Do you feel valued? If you have done everything you can to improve the dynamic of your workplace and still feel invisible, its time to move on. Seek new employment where you can make a real difference.

5. You no longer share the company’s vision or values

Remember back when you accepted your offer of employment, and you believed your employers’ values aligned with your own. Has that feeling changed? Are you still proud to identify yourself as an employee? A lack of shared values can be a powerful motivator. Look for a job with company leaders that inspire you.

6. You are stressed

Various events cause work-related stress. Are the demands of your job greater than you can comfortably manage? Do you work in a toxic environment that includes conflicts with co-workers or bosses or threats to your job security? Fatigue, irritability, and insomnia are signs of rising stress levels. Your body may be trying to tell you something.

Finally, as Steve Jobs once said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” If you haven’t found a job you love, keep looking. These signs are indications that it is time for a change. Don’t be afraid to start exploring your options. At Strategic Recruitment Solutions, we work with most of the law firms and technology companies in the Louisiana Gulf Coast region helping top performing professionals forge new career paths.

Furthermore, we can provide access to positions in the Legal and IT fields that may not be advertised on job boards or a company’s website. What are you waiting for? Search our current opportunities or submit your resume now to find a job that is the right fit for you!

December 31, 2018 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

LISTENING TIPS FOR YOUR NEXT JOB INTERVIEW

4 Tips to Listening — Great listening skills may land you the job!

In today’s society, there is an emphasis on “finding one’s voice.” Social media, what used to be a platform for discussion, is now a vehicle for some individuals to express their strong opinions or beliefs through posts or video. Overall, with this cultural shift to express ourselves more, we have lost the art of listening. At Strategic Recruitment Solutions, we want you to succeed. That’s why we are here to remind you that listening is sometimes more powerful than speaking. Active listening during your next interview may not only help you land the job, but it may also help advance your career.

Each day we have more than a dozen conversations. Most these conversations will reveal much more than what is being discussed. That’s why during your interview, listening is crucial. An active listener will consider what the interviewers’ questions reveal. Listen well, and you can gain crucial information about the company. Furthermore, you will be able to show your interviewer your excellent communication skills.

As you are asked questions about your experience or skill set, you’re an experienced interviewer may be grading your listening skills. Here are some expert tips on how to actively listen during an interview:

1. Consider the Interviewer’s Purpose

The Human Resource Director or hiring manager is interviewing you to fulfill a need. Listen carefully to why the company is hiring now. Are they expanding or filling a position that was vacated by someone? If you are replacing someone, see if you can find out more about why your predecessor left.

2. Pay Attention

Your interviewer has experience spotting a good listener. Be sure to concentrate your eyes and ears on the person speaking. Also, answer the questions with a concise and practical response.

3. Express Curiosity

By asking for more details, you can show you are genuinely interested in the position. Thoughtful questions are always gain points in an interview.

4. Don’t Interrupt

Most importantly, a good listener is considerate and does not speak until the person that is finished speaking. Maintain a steady rhythm making sure you do not appear too anxious. Remember to breathe.

Implementing these four tips to improve your listening skills will separate you from other candidates. Learning to listen well will not only improve your communication skills overall, but it may also advance your career. Finally, every employer values a good communicator.

One of the most valuable, and underrated, interviewing skills is the ability to listen, pay attention to, understand and absorb what the other person is saying. Try to customize your answers based on what you learn from the interviewer so that you can emphasize the skills you have that are most applicable to the position.

For more than a decade, Strategic Recruitment Solutions has matched top companies with top talent. Therefore, we can provide access to positions in the Legal and IT fields that may not be advertised on job boards or a company’s website. Let us help you find your next job. Contact us today at (888) 366-6508.