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GHOSTING DURING HIRING: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

 

 

“Ghosting” is no longer strictly a dating term. The phenomenon has become so common in today’s digital age that it has entered the hiring process. Over the years, the legal and IT sectors have encountered their own brand of ghosting during the hiring process by both job seekers and employers. Ghosting during hiring refers to when a company or candidate stops communicating after a particular stage in the hiring process, leaving the other in the dark. Ghosting can be frustrating, demoralizing, and negatively impact a candidate and employer’s experience.

Why Ghosting Occurs

Ghosting is most commonly experienced after an initial interview but can also occur after a job offer. After completing a series of interviews, candidates may think they are the perfect fit for the role. However, they never hear back from the hiring authority, leaving them in limbo. This lack of communication can be particularly frustrating for all parties who have invested much time and effort into the process.

Sometimes, ghosting occurs because hiring managers or candidates may feel uncomfortable delivering bad news. For example, they may have decided to pursue other candidates or opportunities and take the path of least resistance by not communicating.

Remember The Golden Rule

Are you an employer trying to avoid being ghosted by a new hire? To prevent a ghosting experience, work to create hiring process efficiencies by setting realistic expectations. When rejecting a candidate, be professional, respectful, and kind, and focus on being positive.

Ghosting hurts reputations all the way around. Candidates who have been ghosted are likely to share their negative experiences with friends, family, and colleagues, which can damage the company’s brand. Additionally, companies that have been ghosted will be quite unlikely to consider the candidate for future opportunities.

Companies should prioritize communication with candidates to avoid being ghosted in the hiring process. This means setting clear expectations at the beginning of the process and following through with regular updates. Even if a candidate has been rejected, delivering this news promptly and respectfully is essential. Companies can also use technology, such as automated emails, to help streamline the communication process and ensure that all candidates receive updates on their application status.

Both in dating and in the hiring process, ghosting is a frustrating and demoralizing experience for both candidates and employers. Always remember the Golden Rule and treat others as you would want to be treated.

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EQUALITY VS. EQUITY: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

While equity and equality appear the same, they are quite different in the workplace. If you want your organization to champion an inclusive workplace culture, then distinctions must be drawn between the two ideas. Let’s look at equity and equality and why it’s vital that your organization make the shift to a more inclusive work environment.

Equality vs. Equity 

“Equality” in the workplace means treating all candidates and employees the same and offering them the same opportunities, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, and other identifying demographics. An example of workplace equality in the recruitment world would be all candidates receiving the same amount of time to complete a sample work assignment as a part of the hiring process.

Equity is a similar concept, but with a focus on the individual. “Equity” in the workplace offers all candidates and employees the same opportunities while taking into account their individual needs for specific support and resources that level the playing field. Promoting equity means ensuring that candidates are free from bias.

The difference between equality and equity can be demonstrated using employee benefits as an example. Equality in employee benefits would be all employees receiving the same benefits package (insurance, pension plan), and equity would allow employees to choose benefits that suit them best according to their situation. For example, someone with insurance through a partner might prefer more salary over the company plan, and equitable benefits include spousal health insurance available to same-sex couples and non-traditional families.  

What Employees Want 

Aside from contributing to a more inclusive culture, promoting equity in the workplace is important because it’s what employees want. CNBC reported that nearly 80% of the workforce wants to work for a company that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. It’s beneficial to your business, as well, because an inclusive work environment produces a wider variety of perspectives. A variety of ideas from people with different backgrounds drives innovation and improves the turnaround time for problem-solving. Organizations that promote equity and inclusion are far more likely to retain employees longer than those that don’t bother. 

Catering to the different needs of your employees encourages their full potential. Unsure where to begin assessing equality or equity in your workplace? Getting employee feedback is a great place to start. Evaluate your pay structures and see if employees are paid the same if they are doing work of equal value. When implementing the new policy, it’s crucial that you develop a way to track your progress. 

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CONTINUING EDUCATION WILL HELP YOU SECURE YOUR NEXT LEGAL OR IT JOB

 

Continuing Legal Education is a chess move in your favor.

To remain at the top of your field as a paralegal or IT team member, you must keep your skills current. In addition to keeping up with any changes in statutes and case law, paralegals should stay on top of changes that will affect their ability to do their jobs efficiently. Both paralegals and IT employees should remain tech-savvy and current with document management improvements, trial techniques, and court rules. 

As a paralegal or IT professional, taking continuing education courses is an excellent way to stay on top of changes in the law and advances in the legal field. 

Here are the top 3 benefits of continued education:

  •  Increased value to the firm. Increasing your knowledge, building additional skills, and strengthening your current skills will make you invaluable to your law firm. In the long run, staying on top of your game may also lead to a raise or promotion.
  • Better performance. As you gain confidence by learning how better to perform your job, you will be able to handle more tasks. Your new techniques and skills will make you more productive and efficient.
  • Advanced communication skills. Paralegals often are the “go-between” for all parties involved in a case (attorneys, clients, courts, experts, witnesses). IT personnel are usually solving multiple problems at once under highly stressful situations. Successful law firms are built on great communicators!

Paralegals and IT team members who regularly attend continuing education courses are more marketable and have more opportunities for career growth. Not only does learning more help you to be an asset to your law firm, but it will also open the door for your career growth. Remember to update your resumes annually with your completed continuing education credits. 

Top IT Skills

 In February of this year, Team BRYTER wrote that in-house legal technology budgets will grow 200% by 2025. As these departments become increasingly dependent on technology to keep up the pace, IT specialists and tech-savvy legal professionals will most likely skyrocket.

One specialty predicted to continue in high demand is e-discovery/litigation. As document formatting changes due to improvements in software, professionals who are well-acquainted with the latest in e-discovery and knowledgeable about file compatibility across different platforms will have a leg up against other candidates. A paralegal with a background in predictive coding and further analysis software might cut document review by hours and make for a highly valued prospect. 

What Recruiters are Looking For 

Workflow, in general, will continue to embrace both automation and digitization, and having tech-friendly skills at hand will only help your chances on the market. Updating your skill set in these areas will raise your chances of success in the face of future tech innovations and a changing work environment. 

Recruiters look for candidates with experience using legal research products such as Westlaw and LexisNexis. Potential employers may also expect proficiency in client software suites such as Google Workspace and Office 365. In addition, if you know law practice management software such as Clio and PracticePanther, you may gain an edge over your competition.

At Strategic Recruitment Solutions, we have matched top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region for over a decade. Our focus is on building long-term relationships with the companies we assist. Call us today at 888-366-6508. We can help you find the best candidate to join your legal or IT team or aid job seekers in finding the most appropriate position for their talents. 

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POSITIVE EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCES INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFIT

Strategic Recruitment Solutions - Employees
Employees who are engaged are happy employees!

Did you know that are not engaged or actively disengaged cost employers 7.8 trillion dollars in lost productivity last year? According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace: 2022 Report, only 21 percent of the world’s employees were engaged at work. Employers who make engagement the controlling factor in day-to-day operations stand out from their competitors. Employee engagement translates to:

  • 10% higher customer loyalty/engagement
  • 23% higher profitability
  • 18% higher productivity (sales)
  • 14% higher productivity (production records and evaluations)
  • 18% lower turnover for high-turnover organizations (those with more than 40% annualized turnover)
  • 43% lower turnover for low-turnover organizations (those with 40% or lower annualized turnover)

Employee Productivity Equals Profit 

Employees who associate positive feelings with the workplace are by far more productive. One reason is that workers who are enthusiastic and passionate about their work spend less time on distractions.

 Studies show that employers who create a positive work experience are more likely to see a profit. Companies with a high employee engagement have 41 percent less absenteeism and 17 percent more productivity.

Specific to Law firms 

COVID and the Great Resignation combined to create a scarcity of talent. As a result, many more law firms are finding it harder to hire and retain associates and paralegals in today’s highly competitive environment.

Law firms have been transitioning since 2018 when according to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the legal sector reported a loss of 1,400 in January and February alone. Legal staff cited time demands and a toxic culture as the main reasons they left their jobs, while associates wanted more respect, collegiality, and kindness.

If your firm is experiencing a higher-than-average turnover rate, it may be time to consider the following five factors for employee retention.

  1. Inclusion is Crucial

When an employer commits to diversity, this helps to improve the overall employee experience. However, an effective dedication to inclusion and diversity must be genuine.

Though employers may say they’re dedicated to inclusion, it’s easy to leave implicit biases unchecked that may be more obvious to the employee. After all, they are directly affected by decisions informed by possible bias. A genuine commitment to inclusion involves a philosophy in which all employees and their unique experiences inspire each other to go the extra mile for the firm. An employer must be willing to examine its cultural blind spots and address unconscious bias to implement these ideas.

  1. Value Employees 

Employees who feel valued are likely to go the extra mile. By showing interest in your employees and getting to know them, you will learn which projects they enjoy and their aspirations for their career growth. Another way to show you value an employee is to acknowledge their work publicly.

  1. Provide paths to progression

According to the NALP Foundation for Law Career Research and Education and its 2021 survey of 126 law firms, pre-COVID associate hiring decreased by nearly 50% between 2019 and 2020.

Engagement research outside the legal arena suggests that systems with clear paths for progression, measurable progress, benchmarks, etc., align with what people want right now. Lawyers are likelier to thrive when leaders set clear expectations and pathways to advance.

  1. Build Trust With Your Employees 

Trust builds over time. Employees want to work for people with integrity. Always maintain a professional and ethical environment and when you are wrong, admit it. Building trust allows you to have difficult conversations without damaging relationships.

  1. Support Mental Health

Did you know that, during the pandemic, more than one-third of Americans exhibited clinical anxiety and depression? This statistic is alarming for the legal profession, whose numbers were already high. Anxiety, depression, stress, and substance abuse are no strangers to the legal profession. When you create a psychologically safe space for employees to speak up and be themselves, you create a healthy work environment. Your firm can also encourage a balanced lifestyle, respectful behavior towards others, and valuing diversity.

The world has changed. Today’s associates have different wants and needs. If you want to win the talent war, you’ll want to take the right steps to help your firm be the law firm of choice.

At Strategic Recruitment Solutions, your success is our success. Our reputation for client satisfaction results from our commitment to clients’ objectives and beyond. We are the legal and tech recruiting firm for top employers in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Gulf Region. Our focus is on building long-term relationships with companies that employ the highest-quality professionals. Call us today at 888-366-6508. We can help you find the best fit to join a legal or IT team.

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HOT IT JOBS IN THE LEGAL INDUSTRY

Strategic Recruitment SolutionsAlthough the COVID-19 pandemic has caused some instability and uncertainty for the workforce, the legal tech professional’s market continues to grow.  According to legal tech news, companies and law firms are back to hiring legal technologists with the regularity and ferocity seen before the pandemic. It is anticipated that the demand for legal tech professionals will remain high due to the specific challenges of the pandemic.

Law firms are fully aware of how technology shapes law and the legal process. In response to the pandemic, law firms have had to become increasingly digital. In 2021, technology began  transforming the legal industry at lightning speed. Some experts believe technology will innovate the entire law practice before the decade’s end. Here are a few of the current law office technology trends:

  1. Seamless communication and document automation – Law firms want to ensure that they are reachable and that their clients can sign documents electronically.
  2. Cybersecurity – As more work transitions to an online or virtual format, law firms will have to take a more active role in the security of their firms’ and their clients’ confidential information.
  3. Capturing data – Law firm want to capture more data and to have it be in a format that will transfer into more profit.
  4. Integration of cloud-based platforms – Implementing systems that help facilitate efficiency such as client portals.
  5. Digital interfaces from courts and government agencies – virtual filing, virtual conferences with judges and virtual trials.

If you are in the legal technology industry or work in a law firm’s tech department, the following are some useful pointers to advance your career.

Stay Current

Due to the rapid advancements in technology, those in the legal industry need to stay current. You can do this by following tech news and looking at legal blogs for updates as well as attending relevant seminars, webinars, and workshops.

 Stay on Track

The legal tech industry is yet to have a clearly defined career path. However, by remaining aware of opportunities you can advance your career. Do not be afraid to ask your colleagues about the current trends in technology. Keep in contact with IT recruiters, and network in order to stay on track with your goals.

Be Passionate about Your Career.

You don’t have to know everything to be successful. For example, you don’t have to get a software degree to work in legal tech. What helps is if you are passionate about your career and willing to learn.

If you have the technological tools to solve the client’s issues while understanding the client’s legal needs, you will excel in this market.

At Strategic Recruitment Solutions, your success is our success. Our reputation for superior client satisfaction results from a tireless commitment to exceeding our clients’ objectives. We are the recruiting firm 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.