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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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TELL YOUR RECRUITER THE TRUTH – Transparency is Key to Finding the Right Job at the Right Pay

 

Recruiters are like good therapists, they should know the truth. If you are thinking of changing jobs, you need to share your full job history with your legal or IT recruiter.  The more they know, the more they will be able to help you find your dream job.

Recruiters should know:


1. Recruiters should know about all your prior jobs, even the ones not listed on your resume 

 

Did you know that 78 percent of job seekers lie on their resume! For the most part, this applies to positions post-college.  You should reveal every position you’ve held, even if for a short time. At best, you will appear to be a well-rounded candidate who has the ability to work in a variety of roles. At worst, it avoids the possibility of leaving something in your work history that may come back later to haunt you.

2. Tell your Recruiter the truth about why you are leaving your current job

 

Employers will always want the answer to this question. Tell your recruiter the truth about the circumstances that led you to consider changing jobs. If you choose not to share the “real” reason at your interview, your recruiter can help you answer the question in a way that puts you in your best light. It may help to make a list of pros and cons regarding your current job: what are the positives and what are the negatives? This information is invaluable in your recruiter’s hands for assisting you in finding the best job for you. He or she will help you avoid toxic environments that pushed you to move on from your current job in the first place.

 

3. Recruiters need to know what salary you have in mind

 

Advocate for yourself in terms of salary. If you have a minimum salary requirement, tell your recruiter! Not only will this help you find a job with the right compensation it will also save everyone time. Once you let your recruiter know what you want, the prospective positions can be narrowed down to find the best fit for you.

 

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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JOB SEARCHING DURING COVID-19? HERE ARE 5 TIPS TO SUCCEED

 

Job searching was already difficult. But with the added economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, you may be feeling a bit discouraged. At Strategic Recruitment Solutions (SRS) we are here to help you navigate the changing job market and find employment during these unprecedented times. At SRS, we work with Legal and IT Professionals and their prospective employers; however, these five tips on how to succeed, apply to everyone:

 

1. Job Searching through Networking and Establishing Your Brand

 

It is a great time to spruce up your LinkedIn profile and build your brand using social media. Ask yourself, “How do I want potential employers to perceive me? If an employer only looked at your social media pages, what would they think of you? Consider these questions, and adjust your brand accordingly. Not only should your online profile be professional, but it should also be without controversy.  Once you have established a professional brand, work your contacts to see if you can determine who is hiring.

 

 

2. Take Time to Develop Your Skills

 

Not everyone gained additional time due to the pandemic and its layoffs, but for those that now have some surplus of time, utilize that time for professional development. Take an online course regarding a new software you’re unfamiliar with, or take time to develop a new skill or complete a certification. Every hour of knowledge you gain will sharpen your edges as a job candidate. Here is a list of free online learning that is updated continuously.

There has also been an increase in webinars and podcasts due to the coronavirus pandemic; even if you already have all the knowledge and skills you need, you should stay abreast of new developments and innovations in your field.

 

3. Job Searching Past Your Horizon 

 

The pandemic has oddly helped job searching in some aspects. During various stages of the application and hiring process, because in-person interviews were required,  you may have excluded out-of-state employers from your search. Now, however, with virtual interviews being the norm, there will be new opportunities. According to MoneyWise, due to job opportunities and a lower cost of living, there has been a surge in moving to five states in particular (Idaho, Oregon, Arizona, South Carolina, Washington). For those we want to continue to call Louisiana home, we are here for you.

SRS works with top corporations, legal firms, and tech companies throughout the Louisiana Gulf Region as well as nationally.  If you are ready to discover new job opportunities in the Legal or IT field, our executive recruiters will assist in your job search and career path. Learn more about how we help top-tier talent achieve success.

 

4. Check and Polish Your Resume

 

Chances are, you might not have set eyes on it in a while. Now is the perfect time to both update and polish it, so your most important sets of experience, accomplishments, and skills stand out. Since most resumes are digital or coming out of an online portfolio, take this time to make sure that all items you refer to have hyperlinks attached.

 

5. Prepare for the Virtual Interview

 

The increasing necessity for distance has made the virtual interview all the more standard. Virtual interviews do have their own set of inconveniences, as it’s difficult to convey the type of person you are, your work ethic, and your outright ability to work at home. The pandemic has produced several new considerations your potential employer will want to explore.

Get ready to talk about how you handled the pandemic. Employers want to evaluate a candidate’s ability to manage stress and pressure. Be open and honest about your strengths and weaknesses during the quarantine. This not only shows that you’re human and honest about your limits, but that you’re functional enough for the workload. If it’s a remote job, you will need solid answers on how you were able to stay motivated working from home, as well as demonstrate hat you are compfortable switching back and forth to work from home as needed.

There are so many unknowns in the current climate, and demonstrating this type of adaptability shows a potential employer that the uncertainty of things moving forward will not affect you to the point where they’re at a loss if they hire you.

 

5. Prepare for Behavioral Questions

 

Behavioral questions measure how competent you are with specific abilities, and the real answer to these questions is in the answering. There is no right way or wrong way to answer. These types of questions aim to characterize a person and sketch their personality type. Often these questions are situational, involving past work performance. Here is an example of a behavioral question,  “When was the last time you messed up on a project and didn’t take responsibility for it?” The interviewer is more interested in how you answer the question than the actual event. Your answer should reveal character. What you’re capable of doing and that you have the functionality to act. Learn more about behavioral questions here.

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. We offer a free resume review, which you can find more information here.

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YOUR TELEPHONE INTERVIEW WILL BE A SUCCESS WITH THESE 7 TIPS!

7 Tips to your successful telephone interview

Telephone interviews are better if you are standing and smiling!

Telephone interviews are becoming more frequent due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the job market. Most companies now employ the telephone interview as the initial interview. Your ability to excel will likely determine whether you will be asked for a second interview or offered the job. The candidates that treat the telephone interview like an “informal chat” rarely make it to the next stage of the hiring process.

Below are some useful tips and tricks to ace your telephone interview:

Do your research

Make sure, you prepare for your telephone interview like any other interview. Check the company website and write out at least three questions to ask the interviewer.

Be prepared 

If you are taking the call on your cell phone, make sure you have an excellent telephone signal and a full battery. Save the hiring manager and recruiters’ name and number on your phone so that you will answer the phone professionally. Make sure you are settled and waiting for the phone call at least 15 minutes in advance and that you are in quiet space to talk. Keep your CV, bullet points of your top skills and achievements, plus any headline information about the company in front of you in case you get stuck.

Pay attention to your surroundings

Find a place to take the call without any distractions. You will want to make sure you are entirely focused on the interview. If you don’t need your cellphone during the discussion, turn it off or put it on silent. Better yet, put it out of reach so that you will not be tempted to check it.

Get physically and mentally ready for the telephone call

Do some breathing exercises before the interview. To calm your nerves, try visualizing a positive outcome.

Prepare to speak

Make sure you drink a glass of water before the interview, especially if your phone interview is first thing in the morning. Remember, the interviewer will be unable to read your body language or see your facial expressions. Avoid speaking too quickly, interrupting, mumbling, covering your mouth or using filler words such as “um,” or “like”.

Stand up

If you have an interview via webcam, make sure you stand to make sure that your posture is upright. Standing will help you project your voice which eludes confidence. It is important to remember to smile as it helps to inflect a positive intonation in your tone of voice.

Remember your manners

Avoid eating, chewing gum or checking your cell phone. It is disrespectful to your interviewer and will show that you don’t take the process seriously. Avoid multi-tasking. Finally, avoid interrupting. Unfortunately, this is more likely to happen during a telephone interview, because you can’t see the interviewer’s visual cues to judge whether they have finished speaking. By pausing for a few seconds before you talk, you can easily avoid interrupting.

Bonus Telephone Interview Tip

Conclude the interview just as you would a face-to-face meeting. Remember, to thank the interviewer for his or her time, reiterate your interest in the role, and ask the interview to clarify the next steps. Remember, you can still leave a lasting impression with the interviewer, even with a telephone interview.

About Strategic Recruitment Solutions

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 and have industry-expert recruiters that can offer the kind of insight and guidance that helps grow companies and careers. Call us today to see for yourself how easy partnering with the right recruiter will help you reach your business goals.

When you are ready to add to your team, consider partnering with us. We can help you recruit and retain employees now and in the future. Call us today at 888-366-6508.

 

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COVID – 19 Update from Strategic Recruitment Solutions

To our clients and job applicants, 
 

The COVID-19 Pandemic has affected all of us. As we work through this, I wanted to let you know that Strategic Recruitment Solutions, is 100 percent committed to meeting the needs of our clients and our community.  To ensure the safety of our clients, employees and job applicants, SRS has implemented the guidelines and procedures suggested by the CDC and the World Health Organization.

We will continue to employ best practices at any in-person appointments with our clients and job applicants as well as virtual appointments and interviews. Feel free to call us or message us with any questions you may have regarding how we can help you. We have a great state and a resilient people. We will get through this. In the meantime, stay safe and know we are here for you.

Thank you for your continued patronage.

Amy Shanks