Why should an attorney work with a search consultant?

Search Firm Exclusive Positions. Many companies and law firms use only search consultants to find candidates. They do not use print advertisements or any other forms of recruiting because they know that a professional consultant is working to limit the amount of time they have to devote to the search. Candidates will only be considered through search firms.

Marketplace Knowledge. Professional search consultants know which companies are hiring and the reasons why. Would you want to know if there was a lot of turnover in a particular law department? Would knowledge of whether the attorneys in the department were busy or not sway your decision to accept a certain job? These and many other facts about companies and their history should be information the candidate uses to his benefit in deciding whether to accept a new position. In addition, many attorneys although doing well in their current positions want to know about exceptional opportunities that arise on occasion. These candidates are not “in the market” but maintain relationships with search consultants to be their eyes and ears in the marketplace.

Interview Counseling. A good search consultant knows what works and doesn’t work in interviews. The advice can range from help in understanding the company and its position so that a candidate walks into the interview confident and knowledgeable to specific ways to handle sensitive issues such as compensation, prearranged vacations, and important questions. The search consultant can also help the candidate handle tricky situations such as the management of multiple interviews with multiple companies.

Improved Communication. The search consultant is involved with the entire search process and should be aware of lingering questions or concerns the employer has or what issues the candidate did not effectively handle. This can be crucial especially if there was a misunderstanding between the parties. By giving and receiving feedback from both the employer and candidate, the search consultant monitors the communication and understanding the parties have with each other.

Career Counseling. Good advice regarding career moves comes from years of experience. Understanding the way people are promoted and develop within their profession is an important piece of the career development puzzle. A candidate who knows what kind of position he wants eventually, needs only to figure out the best avenue to get there. Others without specific ideas of where they want their careers to end up need counseling to figure out what specific duties they excel at and enjoy and what kinds of jobs to aspire to.