Career

November 13, 2019 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

JOB SEEKER ALERT – MAKE SURE YOUR LEGAL OR IT RECRUITER HAS THESE SKILLS

SRS specializes in Legal and IT recruiting — Finding the right job starts with finding the right recruiter!

Recruiters are not all created equal. That’s why you need to make sure you choose the right one. After all, you want the best chance of helping you land your dream job.

At Strategic Recruitment Solutions (“SRS”), our recruiters are unmatched in skill and reputation! Whether it’s assisting top-tier Legal and IT professionals find the right opportunity, or working with progressive companies to help identify and recruit the highest quality talent, we seek to thoroughly understand the needs of both employers and job seekers and become a reliable partner in the process.

Because your time and energy are precious, and doing some background research before choosing a recruiter is crucial. Knowing a little about your recruiter’s background, experience, and success rate will help you make the right choice. Finally, to ensure career success look for these skills in your recruiter:

1) Confidence is key

Working as a recruiter requires a lot of networking and great people skills. Confidence is key when it comes to your recruiter’s ability to articulate why you are the best candidate for the job.

2) Effective communication skills

Recruitment relies heavily on effective communication, so the recruiter needs to be good at communicating both face-to-face, as well as via phone/email. It is also essential that your recruiter has a reputation for returning phone calls or emails promptly.

3) Likeable demeanor

Your recruiter needs to be likeable. You want someone who will make you and your future employer feel comfortable. Good recruiters know how to build a good rapport and build up trust. A good recruiter knows that being approachable translates into future business.

4) Great listener

Recruiters must be great listeners! It’s essential that they know how to listen to your needs as well as the client’s.

5) Strong sales skills

Your recruiter should be good at selling. Think about it. First, he must “sell” why you are the best candidate for the job to the client. Next, your recruiter must “sell” you on why you should accept the opportunity.

6) Motivated

Recruitment is an incredibly competitive industry. You want a recruiter that is motivated and can work well under pressure.

7) Good at multi-tasking

Recruiters must be good at multi-tasking because they are working for several clients simultaneously and for each client, there will be multiple applicants vying for the position. You will want a recruiter that knows how to prioritize and manage their time effectively.

8) Patience

Because things don’t often go as planned, you want a recruiter who has patience and who is in it for the long haul. Sometimes interviews need to be rescheduled or there may be several interviews with key decision makers. You will want some one who can be patient yet firm on your behalf.

Remember before you choose, make sure you spend some time interviewing the recruiter. Find out how much experience he or she has in the legal or IT industry. Inquire about the process. How will your resume be marketed and how will it be presented it to potential employers.

Finally, ask your recruiter for references and check them. If you were referred by a colleague or association, ask about your recruiter’s reputation. Would the person who referred you use the recruiter again?

At Strategic Recruitment Solutions (“SRS”), we specialize in Legal and IT Recruiting. Our professional recruiters provide candidates with knowledge and insight based on our years of experience in the Legal and IT fields. At SRS, our ultimate goal is to match top companies with top talent. We are focused on matching you to the RIGHT position at the RIGHT company. Call us today to see for yourself how easy finding your dream job can be!

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?

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!

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.