Fellows and Associates discuss hiring habits in the Intellectual Property sector
London, United Kingdom (PRWEB) February 20, 2014 -- It has been reported in previous articles that opportunities for patent attorneys with a background in electronics are rife across the industry. However, in Fellows and Associates’ latest press offering they discuss how this need does not necessarily result in a hiring frenzy once a suitable candidate becomes available.
Phillipa Field came on board in early 2012 and claims since joining the team “I have learnt a fair bit, with one fact becoming glaringly obvious from very early on; patent attorneys with a background broadly in electronics are extremely high in demand. With this in mind, you would think if we found candidates in this area then placing them would be a straightforward process. This actually isn’t the case in all instances”.
She notes that, although the Electronics departments in a number of firms have the workload to accommodate a new recruit, there are other factors that come into play during the hiring process. Personality and experience in business development (or the desire to gain some) can dictate whether a candidate is successful, even if their technical background and academics are of a high calibre. Firms are apparently looking past the black and white and assessing whether the candidate can be successfully integrated on a social level.
Pete Fellows, Managing Director, explains “Whether these candidates are hired or not, there is still the overarching problem regarding the overall lack of candidates in this area.” It is suggested that firms need to play a bigger role in attracting those who are considering a move through mediums such as social media platforms and an investment in brand management. However Phillipa heeds the warning that “a neglected account, or one that is heavily updated but only in sporadic bursts, will not add anything to a firm’s reputation.”
Fellows and Associates pay attention to their own advice it seems, with their social media accounts growing in reputation and popularity. Their latest video, an installment of their ‘Video Roundup’ series, gives viewers an insight into their current work commitments, including further promotion of their third annual Salary Survey.
The inclusion of social media into private practices’ business model is seen as a possible indicator in a change in the way business is conducted in the Intellectual Property sector. Firms can no longer ‘quietly operate behind closed doors and survive solely on historic reputation’ and must be available to potential candidates ‘armed with a defined brand message’. Phillipa explains ‘we have definitely seen a trend in firms becoming more visible in the industry, and also a trend in firms really committing to keeping their own staff as well as accommodating new recruits into their team. So the question we were asking ourselves is why aren’t firms going to greater lengths to welcome the candidates that were on the market?’
It is observed that some firms have become more risk averse since the economic uncertainties of recent years. There is little flexibility in terms of a candidate brief being open to less conventional applicants and perhaps an added pressure in firms beginning a recruitment drive before finalising the attributes they require, causing the process to break down. It seems that personal preference plays a key part with candidates needing to possess interpersonal skills, as well as the right technical fit, in order to secure one of the many great opportunities that are available.
Fellows and Associates are currently working on a number of opportunities across the technology sectors, with roles available with Gill Jennings & Every, Williams Powell and Valipat. Pete concludes ‘we have had an extremely busy start to 2014 which we hope is indicative of things to come. The market is extremely buoyant with firms beginning to think more laterally in terms of their business model and hiring habits. We know that the right personality will still be needed for the right role, but that hasn’t stopped us from going to strength to strength’.
About Fellows and Associates
Fellows and Associates recruit Patent Attorneys, Trade Mark Attorneys, IP Lawyers and other Intellectual Property professionals worldwide. The firm offers a diverse range of recruitment services including search, advertised selection and managed campaigns. Fellows and Associates’ management consultancy division offers targeted strategic advice to firms within the Intellectual Property sector worldwide. See http://www.fellowsandassociates.com for more, phone +44 207 903 5019 or email contact(at)fellowsandassociates(dot)com.
Michele Fellows, Fellows and Associates, http://www.fellowsandassociates.com, +44 2079035019, [email protected]
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