This is part of a series of testimonials from candidates who have successfully been placed by The Execu|Search Group. This testimonial comes from Daphride Exume; you can find our past testimonials here.
When Daphride, a legal professional, lost her job due to company lay-offs in April, she viewed the situation as an opportunity to move forward in her career. After connecting with Melissa Haber, a Senior Director of Legal Services at The Execu|Search Group, Daphride was given the opportunity to interview for a position in the legal department of a well-known consumer products company. After landing the position on a temporary basis, Daphride impressed her supervisors and quickly received a full-time offer! Enjoying her new role as a paralegal, Daphride was happy to speak with us about her job search:
On her background…
After graduating from The College of New Jersey, I started working part-time at a law firm thinking that this would help me get my foot in the industry for a future career in law. While I came to the realization that becoming a lawyer was no longer the right path for me, I still wanted to work in the legal industry and gain new responsibilities. To build my career in this field, I sought work as a legal assistant.
On what she was looking for…
When I partnered with Execu|Search, I had recently been laid off from a small firm where I loved the work, the interaction I had with clients, and the impact I was able to make. However, I wanted to work for an established firm for greater job security.
On how TESG worked to meet her needs…
My initial meeting with Melissa was very in-depth. We discussed everything from my salary expectations to the kind of work I was interested in. I felt that my candor was important in helping her understand the best potential opportunities for me.
From then on, I was in constant contact with Melissa. Between all of our emails and phone calls, I always felt confident that things would work out in my favor and that Melissa would place me in the right employer.
On preparing for the interview…
Melissa helped give me the confidence I needed to speak about my successes and present an authentic version of myself. She reminded me that, while I needed to show the employer that I was the best candidate for the position, the company had to put the same amount of effort into impressing me.
On her overall experience…
This opportunity has been such a great fit for me. In fact, I was recently hired as a permanent member of the company! The department welcomed me with open arms from the moment I started, and I truly feel at home in my new role.
“After witnessing Daphride’s sparkling personality and strong work ethic, I immediately knew where I wanted to place her,” says Melissa. “Having worked closely with the General Counsel, I knew she would mesh well with Daphride and would want to make her part of the legal team. Both the company’s General Counsel and Senior Counsel have thanked me for finding the perfect candidate. Seeing Daphride thriving in her new role is exactly why I love what I do!”
