Work Culture

February 4, 2023 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

LEGAL TRENDS TO FOLLOW CLOSELY IN 2023

From advancements in technology to changes in the workplace, the latest legal trends are having a significant impact on attorneys and their clients. Here are the ones to watch in 2023:

Increased Collaboration

Law firms are now using much smaller offices than before the pandemic. This has led to more firms placing an emphasis on “collaborative workspaces.” This collaboration refers to expanding each attorney’s practice areas and how their cases are handled. The shift toward a more collaborative environment provides a learning environment for legal professionals and helps them reach cooperative breakthroughs.

Diversity & Inclusion

Achieving workplace diversity requires an inclusive and tolerant mindset, which is vital to a successful work culture. Diversity is more than a buzzword. Combining minds from various backgrounds creates unique and specialized solutions to problems.

The American Bar Association highlights the benefits of a diverse and inclusive workplace:

a rise in the quality of service
cost reduction
an enhanced reputation for the law firm
an improvement in departmental operations,
and increased contributions to organizational initiatives.

Document Automation

Technology has evolved, and mobile devices are so common that the stacks of boxes containing documents are now a thing of the past. Some law offices have chosen to go paperless as legal documents can be accessed on a phone or computer. Considering the dire predictions about Earth’s environmental future, we should expect to see more legal practices using automation technology to further reduce dependence on paper.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Assistance

AI stole plenty of headlines in 2022, from image generators like Midjourney that are uncanny in their ability to create an image from any prompt one could think of to AI chatbots that can write your cover letter for you. Automated billing, document storage, accounting, and practice management are all areas that will benefit from AI automation technology moving forward.

With data volume increasing, firms and corporate legal departments are using AI software to streamline data management. AI software solutions are also improving workflow, taking care of ordinary tasks unrelated to legal work (billing, e-mail, marketing) that chip away at billable hours.

Improving the Client Experience

Following a larger trend in business, the legal sector is becoming more client-focused. The candidate pools are experiencing a more diverse array of applications. These potential employees are invaluable to law firms that want to sustain long-term growth by providing better connections with clients from many walks of life, which increases the appeal of firms that champion diversity.

At Strategic Recruitment Solutions, we have matched top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region for over a decade. Moreover, we focus on building long-term relationships with the companies we assist. Call us today at 888-366-6508. 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.

December 5, 2022 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

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.

April 28, 2020 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

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

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 sp ecialize 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.

September 10, 2019 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

WANT TO RETAIN TOP TALENT? HERE’S HOW

At SRS, we help you find and retain the top talent in the legal and IT industries

What’s your first response to the question, how to keep top talent? If you believe it is solely about offering them more money or prestige, consider this recent ranking of the top law firms in the country. The ones rated as the best for compensation or prestige didn’t even make the top ten.

Although compensation is an important factor, it is not always the determining or sole factor in what helps you retain your top talent. Here are five things that your top talent seeks beyond compensation:

Top Talent Seek Opportunities for Personal Growth

Learning opportunities can keep talented hires engaged in the firm’s work and mission. While especially popular in the IT departments, learning opportunities can also help retain employees in other areas. For example, one law firm in Australia provided the opportunity to learn Mandarin.

Recognition and Respect are Essential

Great employees continue to prove themselves every day. They help set and maintain the productive rhythm of the company by stepping up when needed and mentoring others. When you have top talent, it is obvious so why not, reciprocate. Recognition and respect from leadership helps to solidify the bond between your company and its great employees.

Top Talent Seeks a Leadership Team They Can Trust

Like all long-term relationships, trust is a factor. Fairness is a factor. Caring is a factor. Great employees stay because they can trust that leadership has their back. They can trust that leadership will make the best decisions for the company. They trust that when things go sideways, leadership will get the company back on course.

Stability Attracts Top Talent

A law firm with the right amount of stability can benefit the top young talent. It is essential to find the right balance between removing bad employees and allowing too much turnover. A successful organization has senior talent in place to help nurture young employees into a path towards leadership.

The Best Employees Share Your Company’s Vision and Strategy

Even in the hierarchical military chain of command, providing a clear strategy will help you retain the best people. The talented want to see their roles in your firm’s strategic plan.

But before you can link employee values and personal goals with your firm’s, you must find out which talent is the best fit. To do this, the “Harvard Business Review” suggests not just looking for ability but also aspiration. At Strategic Recruitment Solutions, our goal is to connect our Client Partners with the best active and passive candidates searching for a high-end career. Our experts can help streamline your executive recruitment strategies and assist in managing the entire interviewing and hiring process.

Strategic Recruitment Solutions has been matching top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region for more than a decade. We focus on Legal and IT Recruiting and have industry-expert recruiters that can offer the kind of insight and guidance that helps grow companies and careers. We have offices in New Orleans and Baton Rouge and are ready to help your business identify professional candidates for the legal and IT industries.

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.

October 29, 2018 by Amy Shanks Leave a Comment

PERSONALITY TRAITS THAT WILL GET YOU HIRED

Does your personality fit the company culture?

Yes, personality does matter! Hiring decisions today are based on more than having a specific skill set or an abundance of experience. Employers are also looking for employees who fit their company culture. So why does personality matter? By assessing a candidate’s personality traits, a hiring manager will assess whether a candidate fits into their company’s culture. Although each employer may value different traits based on the core values of their business, the following traits are the most attractive to future employers:

1. Be trustworthy, respectful of others, and team-oriented.

Part of fitting into a company’s culture is fitting in with the people who make up the culture.

2. Make sure your personality is enthusiastic, passionate, tenacious, and confident.

Employers know that when employees thrive in their work environment, the company thrives as well.

3. Show dedication, flexibility, and professionalism.

Employers aim for employees who are professional in their work commitment and to the company’s core values. Everyone knows that projects, tasks, and interactions do not always go as planned. Above all, show you are flexible and can adapt to multiple situations.

4. Be intellectually curious and show your emotional intelligence.

Intellectual curiosity and emotional intelligence complement one another. Employers appreciate candidates who have a desire to learn and who want to discover new things. As a result, employers will look at an employee’s ability to balance themselves and their interpersonal relationships.

Finally, personality matters more today in the hiring process than ever before. Furthermore, by paying attention to these traits you will gain the hiring manager’s attention and give yourself a better chance to land your dream job.

If you are ready to take the next step to advance your career, call us today! For decades, Strategic Recruitment Solutions has been instrumental in helping job seekers find their dream jobs. We are your one-stop shop for information, guidance, and insight into the legal and IT markets. Furthermore, we have the keys to help you land your dream job. To get started, search our current opportunities or submit your resume today.