Harrison Barnes

A Well-Sourced Referral Can Make a Big Difference When Job-Hunting

Harrison Barnes focuses on finding qualified lawyers for major firms through his Los Angeles-based firm BCG Attorney Search. An experienced recruiter, Harrison Barnes knows the value of a referral from a powerful and influential person.

A recommendation from someone who knows your strengths places you ahead of other candidates and may be the decisive factor in winning a job. A good referral identifies you as a trustworthy person and gives you an advantage in negotiating compensation and benefits. In addition, referred interviewees tend to get more explicit information about job expectations and stand a better chance of being promoted.

Good connections do not happen overnight – they must be cultivated. Quoting industry leaders in articles, sending appreciative notes, and communicating respect for their opinions all make favorable impressions. A good reputation in your field pays dividends.

Shared interests can also lead you to compelling recommendations. Professional organizations, houses of worship, and neighborhood associations let people know your strong points. Friends and relatives are glad to put in a good word for you. Even someone in a competing company can give you a leg up on the competition.

The “Pygmalion Effect” and the Influence of Others’ Expectations

Based in Los Angeles, Harrison Barnes leads BCG Attorney Search and provides coordinated recruitment solutions that generate legal career opportunities. In a recent article on the BCG Attorney Search website, Harrison Barnes explored the “Pygmalion Effect” and how it helps set high expectations in the workplace and in life in general.

The concept comes from playwright George Bernard Shaw’s drama “Pygmalion,” and revolves around the idea that expectations of one’s superiors, whether negative or positive, are internalized and have a major role in determining one’s outlook in life. Those who have people who believe they are capable of achieving greatness around them are more likely to attain great things.

Within a classroom setting, this is demonstrated by teachers who are supportive of students, who then feel motivated and go on to achieve better results than expected. It also translates into settings such as Alcoholics Anonymous, where positive peer expectations enhance one’s ability to give up an addictive substance. The bottom line is that it makes sense to surround yourself with those who believe in you, as it will provide the basis for empowering beliefs, and avoid those who are less supportive.

Competing for Jobs

The CEO of BCG Attorney Search, Harrison Barnes matches attorneys with positions in law firms across the United States. Possessing 20 years of experience as a legal recruiter with BCG Attorney Search, Harrison Barnes regularly publishes articles to help attorneys gain admission into law firms.

When you are looking for a job, you have to compete with others, just like times you had to compete to get into schools, sports teams, social groups, and relationships. To better your chances, you must understand that the critical elements supporting admission into a group or job include trust, familiarity, and self-interest.

Groups let in people they trust, and they tend to trust people who have backgrounds similar to theirs. Be trustworthy, and present yourself as someone trustworthy. If you have acted dishonestly in the past, trusting you may not be easy for some people.

Familiarity is another crucial element. Become familiar with others by networking, speaking at seminars, and publishing articles. Group memberships may also count toward familiarity since people with similar interests often feel a sense of familiarity.

Self-interest is another reason groups let in newcomers. People let in those who give more value than they take and do more than is expected. If you are always giving, this will motivate others to let you into their group or job.

Why Switching Jobs Regularly Is Not a Good Idea for Young Lawyers

The CEO of BCG Attorney Search, Harrison Barnes provides attorney placement services to law firms across the country. Averaging one placement a day at BCG Attorney Search, Harrison Barnes also publishes content to help young lawyers make good career choices. He recently published an article calling against frequent firm switching.

Young lawyers today switch firms on the whim. They can go to another firm to get a slight increase in remuneration, to escape an associate they are not in good terms with, or to change cities. Switching firms for the above reasons could backfire.

There are only a few justifiable reasons to move firms. The only good one is that there is something at the firm that is so endemic and pervasive that will hinder a lawyer from progressing in his or her career while there. It should be something beyond the young lawyer’s control. Otherwise, if no such reason exists, it is wise for the lawyer to stay at the firm, showing commitment to his or her role.

If a young lawyer develops a reputation for switching every so often, he or she will likely hurt his career advancement options, especially with other firms. In many cities, the legal community is small and lawyers talk to each other. If word gets out that one lawyer is not committed to any position or firm, employers will shun him or her.

Employers need to trust the people they hire. If they do not trust a candidate and believe he or she will leave because of the slightest reason, they are unlikely to hire him or her.

How Business Professionals Can Harness the Power of Encouragement

The founder of BCG Attorney Search, Harrison Barnes is committed to matching law firms and attorneys. To this end, Harrison Barnes writes articles on the legal profession, including the article “The One Easy Fix That Will Make You Happy Practicing Law,” which highlights the importance of encouragement in the workplace.

A piece published by Chron titled “Teamwork & Encouragement on the Job” shares much of the perspective outlined in the article mentioned above. In part, it states that the job satisfaction of an employee is influenced by the amount of encouragement he or she receives. Thus, an employee seeking a higher level of job satisfaction might achieve this by working in an environment where praise and verbal support are present. Additionally, employees may find encouragement through coaching and mentoring sessions.

The article goes on to cite a 2007 study by Seokhwa Yun and others that addresses how transactional and transformative leaders can bring encouragement into the workplace. The researchers found that, by engaging with and motivating employees, a leader can increase organizational citizenship behaviors such as punctuality and volunteerism within a business environment.

How Yoga Can Help Leaders in Decision-making

Harrison Barnes is the chief executive officer of BCG Attorney Search, a company he founded in 2000. Besides working at BCG Attorney Search, Harrison Barnes enjoys doing exercise and yoga in his free time.

In addition to being beneficial to the health and well-being of the yogi, yoga practice can also assist leaders in their career path. One constant in general yoga classes is the cultivation of self-awareness by promoting a deep reconnection of the yogi with him or herself. Yoga teachers encourage mindfulness by teaching others to stay present or at the moment. This activity can be beneficial for leaders in their work since self-awareness is a way to make informed decisions, setting aside personal bias and ego, and focusing only on the matter at hand.

The word Namaste is a common greeting in yoga classes. It means the expression “I bow to you,” in English, which shows that yoga classes encourage the feeling of appreciation of the value in others. In a company setting, effective leaders are those who appreciate and value employees. A leader of a business should be a collaborative person that shows open-mindedness in the decision-making process.