Written by Linda Evans
It is that time of year again. The shops are awash with panicked shoppers, we are all eyeing up the calendar to see just how many people will have to come in to work on those 3 days and there isn’t a lunch reservation to be found in any Dublin eatery…yes folks, Christmas is on the way.
As it is the season of giving, it might be a good time to share the intimate details of my wish list and perhaps spread a little cheer to any solicitors out there who may be considering a career move in 2013.
Strictly Confidential
I want to stress to all solicitors out there who are considering speaking to a recruitment consultant, that confidentiality is of equal importance to me as it is to you. Our reputation is based on integrity and trust and given the size of the Irish legal market and Dublin’s pool of legal talent, it is a vital component of our relationship building process and one we simply couldn’t afford to jeopardise.
I truly understand a solicitor’s loyalty to their current employer and how it can feel like a betrayal to discuss the things that you are not enjoying about your current role. However, nothing you say goes beyond the four walls of our meeting room.
There is no benefit for me repeating any of this information to your current employers or indeed prospective employers. In fact, it would have a detrimental effect as you would likely tell 50 of your closest friends never to come near me again.
What can I do for you?
If you are currently enduring a lack of career progression, seeking a fresh challenge, dealing with difficult work relationships or simply feeling under-appreciated, then I can do my best to secure a position that meets your needs. But, I can only achieve this if you honestly convey to me what the main motivating factors are.
Help Me Help You!
If a candidate has already approached most of the firms / companies in town, then a recruitment consultant can do very little to help you. The value we add to your application and more importantly the piece that our client’s pay us for is as follows:
- We have met with you and assessed your skills and experience
- Determined if your personality is a good fit for our client
- Assessed your long term career goals.
- A 3rd party’s endorsement can go a long way in a very competitive legal market.
Rest assured that there are absolutely no obligations to explore any opportunities at this stage. This is quite simply the information sharing stage and more importantly the time when you commence a relationship of honesty and trust with your specialist recruitment consultant.
It’s good to talk
There is nothing a recruitment consultant enjoys more than being asked our advice on the market. Most specialist recruiters have a sector specific background or a number of years recruiting for particular roles.
Our job is to do the following:
- Know who is hiring
- Know what skills are in demand
- Document the trends in the last 12/ 24 / 48 months
- Provide salary and benefits information
- Assist candidates in creating a strong CV
- Prepare candidates for interviews
- Guide candidates through the process right through to offer stage
In a world where networking and making connections has never been more important, a simple phone call to discuss what’s happening in the market can lead to career development and progression. We look forward to your call!
