The benefits of passive job searching

“Our whole role in life is to give you something you didn’t know you wanted. And then once you get it, you can’t imagine your life without it.” – Tim Cook

A high quality, authentic, and trusted recruitment partner is much the same, but you may wonder why you should engage one if:

• you’re genuinely happy in your role;
• you enjoy your day-to-day work;
• you like working with your colleagues;
• you are challenged and given new opportunities;
• you receive sufficient and frequent training;
• you have career progression and are excited for the future;
• you have a good work-life balance;
• you’re paid well – at or above market value, you believe.

What is in it for you to engage a trusted recruiter or explore new opportunities? Well, consider what might be if:

• What awaits you is actually better than what you currently have?
• The work is more varied and interesting and challenges your expertise to a greater extent?
• You could develop your career much more quickly or progress further than you ever thought possible?
• You thought you were being paid a fair market rate, but you could be paid a lot more?
• Your work-life balance suffering to meet that billable hours target is simply no longer true?

In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of passively keeping an eye out for new roles and why engaging with an honest and trusted recruiter who specialises in the legal market is the right way forward.

The Scottish legal market has scarcely seen a more buoyant period. Jobs are plentiful, and legal professionals are in greater demand than ever. You would expect this to be a good thing, right?

Well, what I am seeing, experiencing and hearing from my professional network is the complete opposite. In reality, most legal professionals aren’t exploring new opportunities, capitalising on opportunities to increase their salaries or applying to work with companies that have better employee welfare policies.

But you could be!

“You’ll never please everyone all of the time and you’ll never be what everyone is looking for, so focus on being the best you can, for the people you do please.” – My parents, circa 1995

This sentiment is exactly what I apply to my work life. I only work with selected clients who I truly believe in and with whom I build close professional relationships to become their valued recruitment partner. I get to understand their business as much as they do, so I may represent and present them to you, the professional legal market and potential candidates and employees, as best as possible. The same, of course, applies to candidates I work with; I listen to what you are looking for in a move and what your motivators and drivers are. I appreciate that just because a client has a good opportunity doesn’t make it a good opportunity for you. But how do I know whether this opportunity is right for you or not?

We engage in discussion, in full transparency that you are only exploring passively, so I may learn what opportunities and types of firms you are looking for and what career aspirations you have. I will never bombard you with inappropriate options. I can provide you with market insight, current salaries, average employee benefits and the type of work you will be involved with. You can then decide whether you are still satisfied with your current position, or you would like to make a move. If so, as soon as an opportunity that meets all your criteria comes along, you’ll be the first to hear about it!

Did you know 80% of available roles are never advertised? – thrivemyway.com

Unfortunately, relying on a job board notification or even checking your dream firm’s website for current vacancies is no longer enough if you want to secure a role you will love. Relying on a professional network of friends, former colleagues and alumni is similarly insufficient to land the role you seek as many positions remain confidential throughout the process and are completely unknown to anyone outside partners, HR and trusted recruiters.

“In the end, 66% of roles are filled externally with only 26% being filled internally and the other 8% have clearly been forgotten about, cancelled, or never filled.” – Glassdoor

It is in those cases that we can benefit you. Not only can I inform you of roles that are available but not advertised or confidential, but I can extensively prepare you for interviews, provide you with detailed company information, interviewer personality, information regarding competency metrics as well as tips on which areas of your expertise will be of most interest to the interviewer and, therefore, your biggest strengths. 

“50% of employers said that candidates need to be better at articulating their skills.” – Monster

I am more likely to receive detailed interview feedback than any interviewee might, which I can rebut if the wrong impression was formed, or provide you with constructive feedback to help you be successful the next time around. 

I will also know the answers to those awkward questions you feel are too inappropriate to ask, but which may help you to make a decision on whether you truly want to work with this firm or if another will be better suited.

“Choose hope over fear. We see the future not as something out of our control, but as something we can shape for the better through concerted and collective effort.” – Barack Obama

Naturally, you are protective of your career. You have spent two years of high school studying for Highers and Advanced Highers to get the necessary results for a LLB course, spent a further four years of university study to complete the LLB, a further year of study to complete the Diploma, secured a traineeship for another two years, and then searched for an NQ position in the field you want to practise in. 

I appreciate finding a new role is a momentous task, and as such you don’t want to make a mistake. Rest assured, every conversation we have is treated in the strictest confidence, and conversations with prospective employers can be handled anonymously to protect your hard work and achievements thus far. But by choosing hope and not fear, and working in collaboration with the right trusted and specialist recruiter, we can together take your career to the very next level.