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LOOKING FOR A JOB IN 2021? READ THIS!

Legal industry job search
Job searches have changed due to COVID-19

Job seekers and recruiters have had to make adjustments to the hiring process due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).

In April, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the legal industry lost 64,000 jobs.  However,  as job interviews and professional networking continue to evolve, the legal industry has begun to rebound.

COVID-19’s economic impacts continue to present a changing marketplace for recent law school graduates and those seeking legal staff positions. However, there is some good news. New jobs were added for a solid six months (June to November), including a 208,000 increase in October.

At Strategic Recruitment Solutions, we are here to help you navigate the new job-seeking landscape. Here are some job searching tips we would like to share with you:

Prepare for your virtual job interview 

The increase of virtual interviews resulting from social distancing guidelines also serves as an indication of how the hiring process is evolving.

A national Human Resource survey revealed that 86 percent of employers conducted virtual interviews to hire job candidates during the coronavirus pandemic. Considering that the virtual interview is here to stay, job seekers should approach communicating their professionalism, experience, and willingness to fit into the company culture into a remote interview format.

Our advice is to be sure you make a great first impression via video conference.  Develop anecdotal stories that represent your experience instead of a dry recitation of your qualifications.

Sharpen your job skills 

With the lack of in-person events, there has been an increase in virtual events.  Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn provide numerous opportunities to either attend upcoming virtual events at a discount or free of charge. Time in isolation doesn’t have to be isolated time.

Our advice is to use this time to take advantage of meeting new people and the opportunity to sharpen your skills.

 

Reconnect with colleagues

Facebook reported in March that messaging on Instagram, Facebook, and Whatsapp have increased 50 percent due to more people engaging on social media due to the pandemic.

 

Our advice is to use this opportunity to reconnect with other professionals in your field and keep up to date with the legal industry. As more people engage on social media due to the pandemic, now is a great time to ask for references.

 

Help from SRS

Before taking on a job hunt alone, contact SRS for a free resume review. You can also browse our Jobs and Career Listings to see a growing list of opportunities in your field.

 

Strategic Recruitment Solutions has been matching top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region for more than a decade. We specialize in Legal and IT recruiting. Also, our industry-expert recruiters can offer insight and guidance. Call us today at 888-366-6508 to learn how easy partnering with SRS can help you reach your career goals.

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COUNTEROFFERS AND COVID

Counter offers are not as good as they seem.

Counteroffers – good or bad? The rate of revenue collected in the IT and Legal sectors have taken a nosedive this year. This is another economic effect of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID). Many law school graduates still remain in a state of limbo as top law firms have seen pay cuts, layoffs, and furloughs. 

With the promise of a vaccine near, there are some bright spots that point to economic recovery. One boost has come from law firms with strong labor and employment practices as their clients navigate cutting jobs and addressing workplace safety issues. There is a trend towards growth as the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the legal industry added 1,900 jobs in July.

During these uncertain times, employees attempting to move on to new jobs may be subject to “generous” counteroffers from their current employers. However, as the adage goes, appearances can be deceiving.

Especially in light of the pandemic, most employers with any interest in pulling themselves out of the current downturn in revenue will try to retain you with a moderately attractive counteroffer. This tactic may be to buy themselves time.

The counteroffer is more so for the employer’s interests than it is for you. If your employer valued you and you were satisfied with your wage and the work environment, you would not have looked elsewhere for employment. Remember, a counteroffer is not a solid promise.

Consider these five reasons why you should reject a counteroffer:

1. Your increase may have been a future raise.

If a raise is offered as part of your counteroffer, take into consideration that all firms have budgets with wage guidelines. The increase included in your counteroffer may represent your future raise granted early. Translated this means you will have to wait longer to see another increase.

2. Counteroffers may create a toll on your work relationships.

If you accept your employer’s counteroffer and remain at your current position you may face alienation from the company’s culture. On a ground level, your coworkers may see you as disloyal and no longer a part of the team. In their eyes, you tried to leave them.

3. The same issues may resurface.

If the reason you decided to move on from your employment was any issue other than money, then your dissatisfaction may return after the glow of your pay raise fades. Also, if the corporate culture changes promised in your counteroffer do not last, you will soon be back to job hunting.

4. You may have stunted your ability to be promoted.

No matter what, if you accept a counteroffer, your credibility and reputation within the organization will fundamentally change. Your manager will always question your loyalty as you will be seen as a dissatisfied employee or “the one who wanted to leave.” This may cause you to be passed over for future promotions or important projects.

5. Counteroffers may narrow your job options in the future.

If you make it through a company’s hiring process only to turn around and accept your current employer’s counteroffer, you should not expect the prospective employer to ever consider you for a position again. Also, realize that the legal community is smaller than you think.

When evaluating an employer’s counteroffer it’s important to remove your ego from the equation. Be clear on the issues are that caused you to seek a new job in the first place and evaluate the counteroffer from that perspective. Unless the counteroffer addresses all of the reasons why you considered leaving in the first place, it’s best to move on. Even if the counteroffer does address all your issues, there are always drawbacks to consider.

Strategic Recruitment Solutions has been matching top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region for more than a decade. We specialize in Legal and IT recruiting. Also, our industry-expert recruiters can offer insight and guidance. Call us today at 888-366-6508 to learn how easy partnering with SRS can help you reach your business goals. Best of all, we offer a free resume review. Find out more information here.

 

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YOUR WORKPLACE SATISFACTION HEAVILY DEPENDS ON YOUR AGE

 

 

 

Workplace satisfaction varies by age.

Due to a variety of cultural and historical factors, the level of employee satisfaction in their jobs depends on age, new data shows. Workplace satisfaction is an integral part of retaining and recruiting new employees and growing a business or firm. Employers face some challenges in that the motivating factors for workplace satisfaction seem to differ radically between younger and older generations, but now they have the data to follow through with addressing these needs.

Positive Words

Statistics suggest that employees between the ages of 21 to 30 partially depend on managerial praise and recognition to be fully satisfied. Of this demographic,  30 percent would “strongly” recommend their workplace as a satisfactory environment.  Of this younger age group, 39 percent agree that their manager/supervisor puts forward the maximum effort to recognize their achievements.

Workplace Performance

While younger workers want positive words, older workers want their performance measured. Parallel to this, data suggests that the older the worker, the more satisfied. There is a correlation between an increase in age and in incremental satisfaction. Senior citizens are the most satisfied workers, reporting a 95 percent satisfaction rate. Of employees between the age of 61-70, 47 percent would “strongly” recommend their workplace to others.

Two Perspectives

There are two different perspectives on satisfaction due to age in the workplace. For a business to be successful, there is a need to address both age groups. Not only will this have the effect of creating a more productive working environment, but it will also help retain workers.

Strategic Recruitment Solutions has been matching top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region for more than a decade. We specialize in Legal and IT recruiting. Also, our industry-expert recruiters can offer insight and guidance. Call us today at 888-366-6508 to learn how easy partnering with SRS can help you reach your business goals. Best of all, we offer a free resume review. Find out more information here.

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HOW TO ANSWER ILLEGAL OR INAPPROPRIATE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Interview questions
Some interview questions may be illegal or inappropriate.

Interview questions can be tricky. You certainly want to be pleasant and congenial, but what should you do if you are asked a question that you believe is inappropriate or one that makes you feel uncomfortable?  

IT’S THE LAW

The US Labor Department division of Labor/Employee Relations website reminds employers that “it is illegal not to hire candidates because of their race, color, sex, religion, national origin, birthplace, age, disability or marital/family status.”  Interviewers should not ask you questions that would elicit such information. However, even though most employers are aware of the law, prepare your answers to these questions:

Do you have a disability?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides protections for disabled employees and job applicants. You do not have to answer a question regarding your disability unless you choose to disclose it.  If you have an obvious disability (for example, you require a wheelchair) or if you choose to disclose your disability, your interviewer is allowed to ask what, if any, special requirements you need to fulfill the job requirements.

What’s your age? 

If you are 40 years or older, you are protected against age discrimination by the Employment Act (ADEA). It is against the law for the interviewer to ask your age. Interviewers have the right to ask if a job candidate is 18 or older (verifying legal adult status) if this is an important factor in the candidate’s ability to do the job.

Marital status

While it’s irrelevant and illegal to ask this during the interview, employers can ask this question for insurance purposes.

Do you have children? 

Your interviewer should not ask you whether or not you have children. However, your employer has the right to ask questions about your dependents for insurance purposes.

What’s your race? 

Any questions that inquire about your ethnic or racial identity are not allowed during the interview.  You may be required to answer questions about your race or ethnic identity on your employer’s insurance forms.

Can you tell us about your nearest relative or next of kin? This is a question your interviewer should avoid asking. It is appropriate for your employer to ask once you are hired because this information is needed to provide you with employee benefits.

Are you a U.S. citizen? 

Your interviewer is allowed to ask whether you are legally eligible to work in the United States (i.e., do you have a temporary visa, a green card, or citizenship). However, it is prohibited to ask direct questions about your national origin or immigration status.

Have you ever filed for bankruptcy? 

Your interviewer cannot ask you whether you ever filed for bankruptcy or any questions about your financial status.  Your employer may ask for financial information as it relates to your employee benefits.

HOW TO RESPOND TO ILLEGAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

What are your options in this situation? Here are a few suggestions:

  1. Briefly answer the question, or if you are uncomfortable in doing so, respond to the intent of the question;
  2. Ignore the question and change the subject; or
  3. Refuse to answer the question.

It is best to be tactful but firm.  Prepare your answers to these questions in advance by focusing on how to reply without disclosing any personal information.

DISCLOSING PERSONAL INFORMATION IS YOUR CHOICE

When the interviewer asks if you have any questions, this is your opportunity to decide what to self-disclose. For example, if you needed a specific accommodation for your disability or want to know about maternity leave.

If you choose NOT to disclose any personal information, you may come across as secretive. Disclosing too much information may make you appear “needy and high maintenance.”  A recruiter can help prepare you for the interview, especially how much to disclose and how.

INAPPROPRIATE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Bizarre, inappropriate interview questions are another topic altogether.  These are the questions that are not illegal. However, they make you think about the interviewer’s intentions. Questions that relate to your sexual orientation, personal relationships, political affiliation, or beliefs are off-limits.

Strategic Recruitment Solutions has been matching top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region for more than a decade. We specialize in Legal and IT recruiting. Also, our industry-expert recruiters can offer insight and guidance. Call us today at 888-366-6508 to learn how easy partnering with SRS can help you reach your business goals. Best of all, we offer a free resume review. Find out more information here.

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BODY LANGUAGE IS IMPORTANT – EVEN DURING YOUR ZOOM INTERVIEW

 

body language
Your smile is key to landing your next job!

 

Body language – how important is it? After you practice your responses to a list of the most common legal competency-based questions, you must make sure you don’t miss this critical component to your next interview. Whether your interview is virtual or in-person, your body language could be the key to helping you get the job.

Professor Albert Mehrabian did extensive research into the impact of our verbal and nonverbal communication. In his communication model, he identified three key points regarding body language: 

  • 55 percent of the message you communicate relates to your body language and facial expression; 
  • 38 percent of the message you communicate relates to the tone of your voice and your manner of speech; and
  • Only 7 percent of your message relates to the words we communicate.

From unconscious fidgeting to awkward facial expressions, our nervousness in an interview can easily lead to a host of body language mistakes.

So here some suggestions on how to improve your body language:

MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT

One of the biggest mistakes you can make during your job interview is to avoid eye contact with your interviewer. Hiring managers want to see the confidence in their prospective candidates, and keeping your vision cast down towards the floor makes you look nervous and lack confidence. Though this can be a part of your personality, it’s something you need to consider and address.

Make sure you look at your interviewer as you answer their questions and show you are actively listening and engaged in the conversation.

THE BODY LANGUAGE OF A SMILE 

Not only can smiling make you appear warm and friendly, but it may also help you with your interview-based nerves. Employers want to hire someone who has a pleasant manner and fits into a legal firm’s culture.

LIMIT YOUR HAND GESTURES

Although you may gesture with your hands with your friends and family, it is best to keep hand gestures to a minimum during your job interview.

Moving your hands around can be distracting, especially on a zoom job interview.

UNCROSS YOUR ARMS

Though you might think this doesn’t happen anymore in an interview situation, however, surprisingly it still does. Remember, especially in an interview situation, crossed arms may be seen as a sign that you are disengaged, bored, or even worse – defensive.

By keeping the frame of your body open and angled towards the interviewer, you can portray interest and engagement with your body language, 

KEEP YOUR BODY POSTURE STRAIGHT 

Sitting with a bad posture will not help you appear confident. Make sure you sit up straight, with spine straight against the back of your chair, and square off your shoulders. A strong posture helps you look more like a leader. 

Strategic Recruitment Solutions has been matching top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region for more than a decade. We specialize in Legal and IT recruiting. Also, our industry-expert recruiters can offer insight and guidance. Call us today at 888-366-6508 to learn how easy partnering with SRS can help you reach your business goals. Best of all, we offer a free resume review. Find out more information here.