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.

November 30, 2018 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

ENOUGH POINTS TO SCORE ON YOUR SECOND INTERVIEW

Utilize your second interview to stand out from the pack

The key to landing your dream job is to score high in points on your second interview. There are those who play the game and those who win. Which one are you? Competition remains high for great jobs so be prepared to impress on your second interview. These five statements will set you apart and help you score:

1. “Please” and “Thank You” – Automatic points.

Showing respect and gratitude are similar to adding the Point After Touchdown in a football game. They should be automatic and are easy ways to score points.

2. Show you prepared for the game.

Let your interviewer know that you took the time to research the company before your interview. This will reveal your ability to plan ahead. Be sure to mention a specific way in which you see yourself as a good fit for the organization.

3. Go for the 2 point conversion to score.

Everyone’s a sucker for a genuine compliment. If there’s something you particularly liked (the people, the corporate mission, the interviewer’s punctuality), say so. Way to add a point conversion instead of an extra point.

4. Show them you came to play and ask, “When can I start?”.

Sometimes you have to try for the field goal from the 50-yard line Eto check the win. Chances are you will not see the immediate results of asking this question, but it still could translate to points on the board. Asking this type of bold question, merely lets your interviewer know you are very interested in the job. That puts you ahead of other candidates who will take the “wait and see” approach.

5. Sealing the win.

Finally, when your interviewer instructs you to do something such as send in references or work samples, make sure you follow up with the task immediately.

If you are a top performing professional looking to forge a new career path, consider partnering with Strategic Recruitment Solutions. We work with most of the law firms and technology companies in the Louisiana Gulf Coast region, as well as top companies throughout the nation. 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. Search our current opportunities or submit your resume to get started!

November 27, 2018 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

7 RED FLAGS TO WATCH DURING YOUR NEXT TECH INTERVIEW

Watch For These 7 Red Flags In Your Tech Interview — When interviewing, watch for these 7 red flags

Your IT interview will be very different from a standard job interview. During a tech interview, you may be asked to complete a skills-based task. While you are completing this task, the interviewer will access your ability to complete it in a timely and efficient manner. Your interviewer will also consider your behavior during the process.

Tigran Sloyan, CEO of CodeSignal, a skills-based assessment platform for the IT industry, identified seven red flags for employers to be aware of during a tech interview. He cautioned that if the job candidate exhibits these seven things, employers should pass:

1. Being unaware of the company’s mission during your interview.

A candidate who is passionate about the job opportunity will take time to prepare for the interview which includes researching the company’s mission.

2. Showing a lack of attention to detail.

If a candidate does not fully pay attention to the task description given in the interview, this could lead to a failure of following future directions or sloppy work.

3. Moving past an impasse.

Real-life engineering problems are not straightforward. Innovative engineers come up with new ways of addressing technical issues when they hit a wall.

4. Ignoring help from the interviewer.

The purpose of a skills-based interview is to assess specific skills, not a candidate’s individuality. If you fail to acknowledge help from the interviewer, this reflects that you are a mediocre team player.

5. Exhibiting an inadequate and inconsistent coding style.

If a candidate is inconsistent in coding style, it could potentially be a disaster in a team setting, especially if other engineers need to understand this person’s code to debug.

6. Not taking edge cases or inputs into consideration.

An essential part of writing professional codes is knowing how to write edge cases and inputs. These two things have the potential to cause breaks in coding if not entered correctly.

7. Being unable to share and learn from past mistakes.

A great candidate will be able to recognize when they make a mistake and be able to learn from it.

So if you are a top performing professional looking to forge a new career path, consider partnering with Strategic Recruitment Solutions. We work with most of the law firms and technology companies in the Louisiana Gulf Coast region, as well as top companies throughout the nation. 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. Search our current opportunities or submit your resume to get started!

November 1, 2018 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

3 THINGS JOB SEEKERS WANT YOUR COMPANY TO OFFER

Jobseekers - which company would you choose and why? — Why would job seekers choose your company over others?

Your company’s competition to attract and retain employees is at an all-time high. What do job seekers look for in an employer? LinkedIn surveyed 3,000 professionals to find out.

When selecting where to work, employees named these three things:

1. Company Culture

According to the LinkedIn survey, a majority of working professionals put company culture at the top of their list. 70 percent said they would not work for a company with “bad workplace culture.”

How is your company culture? Is the work environment challenging? Is there a chance for individual advancement? Do you foster a team-oriented environment? These are things that job seekers are looking for when deciding where they want to work.

When asked why they remained at their current job for 5 or more years, employees overwhelmingly said they liked working with their co-workers. This reiterates what we already know – what makes a company culture great is its people.

Job seekers want to “fit in” and as recruiters, we are here to help you add to your existing culture. Working with the right recruiter can help you find an employee that compliments your workforce. Give Strategic Recruitment Solutions a call today at 888-366-6508.

2. Benefits vs. Perks

When asked questions about whether they appreciated perks or benefits, 44 percent of respondents said they preferred increased health and wellness benefits over perks (food, gyms and game rooms). Of the many benefits offered (i.e., personal time off, insurance and retirement plans), 47 percent of employees favored having more time off around the holidays.

Furthermore, these new findings are consistent with a study by the Harvard Business Review showing that employees value health insurance the most, followed by flexible hours, more paid vacation time, and work-from-home options.

At Strategic Recruitment Solutions, we work with many of the law firms and technology companies in the Gulf Coast region and have a deep understanding of what type of benefits and perks are attractive to new employees. We can help you recruit and retain employees now and in the future. Give us a call today at, 888-366-6508.

3. Balance and Flexibility

Nearly everyone surveyed (87 percent), said it was important to them to be proud of their company for them to want to stay. When asked what makes them proud, 51 percent said they were proud of their company’s good work-life balance and flexibility. Employees also valued when their work had a positive impact on society. 71 percent of professionals said they would consider taking less pay to work for a company that shares their values and has a mission they believe in.

Finally, companies who share information on their culture, mission, and benefits upfront attract more candidates. What does your company stand for? What is its main goal(s) and how does the company work towards achieving those goals? Present your company’s mission statement along with your available job openings. This can help give candidates a sense of what your company values. Job seekers who can envision themselves working for your company, are more apt to send in their resume.

For more than a decade, Strategic Recruitment Solutions has been connecting top-tier Legal & IT talent with leading companies in the Gulf Region. Call us today at (888)366-6508 and let us help your company attract and connect to high-quality candidates.

October 29, 2018 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

PERSONALITY TRAITS THAT WILL GET YOU HIRED

Employers look for a personality that fits their company culture — Does your personality fit the company culture?

Yes, personality does matter! Hiring decisions today are based on more than having a specific skill set or an abundance of experience. Employers are also looking for employees who fit their company culture. So why does personality matter? By assessing a candidate’s personality traits, a hiring manager will assess whether a candidate fits into their company’s culture. Although each employer may value different traits based on the core values of their business, the following traits are the most attractive to future employers:

1. Be trustworthy, respectful of others, and team-oriented.

Part of fitting into a company’s culture is fitting in with the people who make up the culture.

2. Make sure your personality is enthusiastic, passionate, tenacious, and confident.

Employers know that when employees thrive in their work environment, the company thrives as well.

3. Show dedication, flexibility, and professionalism.

Employers aim for employees who are professional in their work commitment and to the company’s core values. Everyone knows that projects, tasks, and interactions do not always go as planned. Above all, show you are flexible and can adapt to multiple situations.

4. Be intellectually curious and show your emotional intelligence.

Intellectual curiosity and emotional intelligence complement one another. Employers appreciate candidates who have a desire to learn and who want to discover new things. As a result, employers will look at an employee’s ability to balance themselves and their interpersonal relationships.

Finally, personality matters more today in the hiring process than ever before. Furthermore, by paying attention to these traits you will gain the hiring manager’s attention and give yourself a better chance to land your dream 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.

September 20, 2018 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

IS A COVER LETTER STILL NECESSARY IN 2018?

Are cover letters still needed in 2018? — Make sure your cover letter is readable on a mobile device

Most people dread writing cover letters. Sometimes they require more effort and customization than your resume. Are you wondering if your cover letter is worth the extra effort? The answer is “Yes.”

Regardless of whether you think cover letters are “optional,” you should still include one with your resume. Just ask human resource or hiring managers.

In a 2009 survey, cover letters were preferred by 56% of hiring managers. Fast forward to today’s market where applicants can submit their résumé delivery by email or online, and the percentage drops to between 30% and 49%. So how do you tell whether the hiring manager that you are trying to impress reads cover letters? The answer is, there is no way of knowing.

What we do know is that the concept of introducing yourself and setting yourself apart will always be paramount in your job search. Therefore, submitting a cover letter gives you another opportunity to shine.

We also know that because the candidate screening processes has become increasingly digital and mobile, it is important that your cover letter is impactful and short enough to fit on a mobile screen.

Here are three essential guidelines for writing a cover letter:

1. Make sure your cover letter goes beyond your resume.

Your cover letter is more than an opportunity to re-state your education history and experience. When reading your cover letter, your potential employer can hear your voice through your writing style. When writing your cover letter, make sure to include insights into your work ethic and values. Finally, make sure you write in an engaging style showing that you are motivated and eager to be a part of the team.

2. What do you know about the company and position you are applying to?

Before beginning to write, research the employer and job position thoroughly. Research can go a long way in the application process; it will show that you have an attention to detail. Make sure to customize your cover letter each time you apply for a new position. Finally, always research the hiring manager’s name before addressing your letter.

3. Use your cover letter to show how your skills go beyond the criteria of the position you are applying for.

Your cover letter should expand on your resume, not re-state it. Expand on a specific section of your previous work experience or on the unique skills you bring to the position. Directly address how you will be an asset to the company beyond the required job responsibilities. Furthermore, as you expand on these different aspects, make sure to limit your cover letter to one page. This will save the hiring managers’ time and be much appreciated.

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