Rachel Bouman - Law

The Career Journey of A Legal Profession

Why Non-Compete Agreements Matter

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document-rachel boumanAs a company looking to hire employees, it may be important to consider sending out non-compete or non-solicitation agreements. Stephanie Hendricks of Hendricks Law Firm PLLC explains that a non-compete form restricts an employee from joining a company that may be considered competition upon exiting the present business. This provision typically stands for a period of time occurring directly after the employee decides to leave. Non-solicitation includes not allowing past employees to divert clients or employees away from the business.

Provisions such as these are important to help safeguard the company. Employees are often exposed to confidential information that help the company function. It is a valuable step to protect this information especially in the case of an employee’s termination. Without this protection, nothing would stop an individual from taking the business’ clients or employees in order to start their own lucrative project.

If a document including non-compete and non-solicitation provisions is not signed, little else can be done to protect the business’ important information. If a suspicion arises, a lawsuit would have to take shape in order to validate the claim. The offense would have to result in a quite volatile interference with business processes. It is possible to reach a solution through a case like this, however a lot more money and time can be saved with a precautionary document signed in the early stages.

Stephanie Hendricks offers more than 15 years of experience in sharing legal advice for business operations. To read more from her on the topic of non-compete forms, visit HG.org here.

Resume Advice From a Legal Recruiter

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job-interview-Rachel BoumanReview these steps to make a better first impression with your resume.

  1. Find a way to make the most relevant information stand out. Bold, bullet points, and headings are a few ways to make the most necessary lines more prominent.
  2. Adjust your resume for the exact job to which you are applying. Deleting old information will make your resume even more relevant. Also, if applying to both general litigation and patent litigation spots, have two versions of your resume available. Each one should be tailored to the type of position you desire.
  3. Anything included on the resume should be able to be discussed in a very professional and intelligent manner. Brush up on anything that may have slipped your mind or simply delete it from the document. Have details regarding the legal matters worked on ready.
  4. Give firm examples related to the experiences listed on the resume. Be direct when explaining your role in a project. Don’t just say that you “worked on” a project, include that you “successfully implemented” a project.
  5. Review all information and make sure the details are up to date. Competence in abilities such as languages should also be honestly assessed. If you used to be advanced but have more of an intermediate handle on French now, be sure to make that adjustment.
  6. Display that you are human by sharing your interests. This aspect can help the interviewer lighten the mood and ask you a question related your hobbies. There is a chance the applicant may have something in common with the interviewer.
  7. When trying to decide whether to list education or experience first, think of what you are trying to convey first. If you attended a top school, include that first. Alternatively, if your past work experience sounds more impressive, insert that near the top of the page.
  8. Proofread the resume multiple times. Remember to share it with someone else to review as well. Mistakes and typing errors are big deterrents for recruiters looking to hire.

For more resume tips from a Lateral Link Legal Recruiter, visit AboveTheLaw.com here.

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