By Lynne Curry, Ph.D., SPHR bio The applicant knocked it out of the park with both his resume and his answers to your interview questions. The references he provided gave positive reports. Do you make the offer? Not so fast. Have you fully checked out the real person behind the resume and interview answers? If you search him out on social media, will you find posts … [Read more...] about Who’s the real person you plan to hire? Can social media help you decide?
Hiring
Easy-to-use interview system guarantees a good match between secretary and attorney
For secretarial interviews, an Ohio administrator uses the approach that includes everything—attorney input, staff input and even observations from the receptionist. At the 25-attorrney firm in Dayton, the administrator set up the system not only to make sure the applicant is qualified for the job but also to evaluate how well the secretary will work with the attorney and … [Read more...] about Easy-to-use interview system guarantees a good match between secretary and attorney
What’s the ‘employee experience’ like at your law firm?
Professionals have been talking about the customer experience and the candidate experience for years, so it was bound to happen. Another term is now being batted around in human resource and management circles: the employee experience. Before you dismiss it as another buzz term or, worse, a fad, consider the implications of ignoring this crucial aspect of managing your law … [Read more...] about What’s the ‘employee experience’ like at your law firm?
Half of today’s U.S. legal professionals have flexible work arrangements
Special Counsel, a provider of legal consulting, attorney recruiting, legal talent, legal technology and eDiscovery solutions, recently released its 2019 Salary Guide, which includes comprehensive national salary and benefits data and total compensation figures for in-demand legal positions at law firms and companies ranging in size. According to this year's guide, with the … [Read more...] about Half of today’s U.S. legal professionals have flexible work arrangements
Employment Law Update: The New Year’s Resolutions Edition
By Mike O'Brien bio A lawyer and doctor were talking together at a New Year's party when the doctor complained about how people always asked her for free medical advice. She said to the lawyer, "People probably always ask you for free legal advice…as a fellow professional, how do you deal with it?" The lawyer thought about it, and then said, "I always answer their … [Read more...] about Employment Law Update: The New Year’s Resolutions Edition
Could making friends at work be your next best career move?
Professionals typically spend more waking hours with their coworkers than anyone else, so friendships are bound to blossom. But does having confidants help or hinder efficiency at work? In a recent survey from staffing firm Accountemps, 62 percent of employees said having coworkers that are friends outside of the office positively affects productivity. But only 39 percent of … [Read more...] about Could making friends at work be your next best career move?
Onboarding: How to make your new hire’s first day a success
The first day of working in a law firm can intimidate anyone, whether you're a new receptionist or a new associate. It doesn't matter how friendly your new co-workers are or how qualified you are for the job, it's still uncomfortable. You're stepping into a finely tuned machine and you need to get in sync with the moving parts, momentum, and direction. Fast. And how well you … [Read more...] about Onboarding: How to make your new hire’s first day a success
What you need to know about complying with the FLSA
To be or not to be exempt from overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)? That is the big question, according to Sandra Hoyle-Smith, a Texas-based human resources expert and employment law mediator. Hoyle-Smith notes that many law firms do not calculate overtime correctly and in some cases have wrongly classified employees as being exempt from overtime pay when … [Read more...] about What you need to know about complying with the FLSA
Pick up on these revealing “non-verbal cues” to avoid hiring problem staffers
Good interviewing requires resume evaluation and a bit of psychology, says Scott Ford, manager of a professional office in Utah. It's not just what candidates say but how they say it. And Ford should know: he's a licensed clinical social worker, and as manager he applies his skills in therapy and counseling to interviewing. Look for other clues Beyond the resume, Ford says … [Read more...] about Pick up on these revealing “non-verbal cues” to avoid hiring problem staffers
Just how truthful is that applicant’s resume? Here’s how to find out
There's always tough competition for a good job. And sometimes, to beat out the competition, people do more than brush up their resumes. Some fabricate the facts to get in a better position for winning a job. But there's a way to sort out the facts from the fiction, says Michelle Taylor, PhD, of Taylor Consulting in Huntington Beach, CA, a company that provides psychological … [Read more...] about Just how truthful is that applicant’s resume? Here’s how to find out