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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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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.