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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

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Does anybody have advice for the nrf Arctic Shores test?

I don't know if it's just me but when I did the facial expressions one in the past, the majority looked exactly the same🤣
I tried to pick the faces apart which sounds weird, but I tried to look at differences of eyebrows, corner of mouths, and if there were more lines on a face I just assumed they were frowning with a negative expression?
 
Ffs. I was good at that test on my first cycle, but this cycle I’ve been not doing as well. Looks like I’ll need to bite the bullet and buy the JobTestPrep kit or something.

Does anyone else have any WG prep websites they use? I’ve already used the Clifford Chance free test quite a few times. I’m scoring 80%+ in those but was only in the 32nd percentile when I did the Linklaters test.
I brought the JobTestPrep last year and it was okay but I still found that I preformed badly on tests, so what I did instead is I made applications to firms with WG which I wasn't interested in to get practice, and I started to see the same type of questions pop up. I found this works better because u become used to the formatting of these questions and it doesn't put you off when you are doing the test for a firm you are interested in.
 
How long does one application usually take people?
It depends on the application and firm but it takes me between 1-3 weeks per application.

I tend to start a few at the same time and add to them gradually. I submit them roughly at the same time. 🙂

I do it in this way because I am neurodivergent. I find it difficult to focus for long periods of time tbh. 🥲

Some people can finish applications in 1-2 day which is insane. 💀
 
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NRF Test report

How you understand others - 4/4

How you attend to tasks and decisions - 1/4

How you respond to change - 3/4

How you identify patterns and rules - 4/4

Not sure if this is a good enough report ://
From what I have seen in this thread and previous ones is that NRF doesn't fully rely on the report when they are assessing candidates. I remember this was written somewhere that this report is what the grad rec team might use to guide which questions to ask candidates in the interview. hopefully this is true though.
 
From what I have seen in this thread and previous ones is that NRF doesn't fully rely on the report when they are assessing candidates. I remember this was written somewhere that this report is what the grad rec team might use to guide which questions to ask candidates in the interview. hopefully this is true though.
oh okayy, understood. thank you for informing this!
 
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From what I have seen in this thread and previous ones is that NRF doesn't fully rely on the report when they are assessing candidates. I remember this was written somewhere that this report is what the grad rec team might use to guide which questions to ask candidates in the interview. hopefully this is true though.
ah hopefully this is true, I was hoping they would still look at the application and not just have a benchmark for a buzzfeed style test and base on that
 
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@Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu
Would it be a bad idea to mention a Kirkland open day in an application to Travers? IK Travers are strong in private equity, and what sparked my interest in PE was a debt finance workshop at the Kirkland open day. But I also go on to talk about how I like the Travers room-sharing system because of the high level of supervision + training (which Kirkland doesn't really have)

Ofc I could deflect this in an interview by saying I didn't like Kirkland's culture after attending the open day, but I'm wondering whether grad rec might discard it because I'm applying to wildly different firms and so won't be a good fit (which is partially true, it's one of my least favourites). Then again it would be difficult to substantiate my interest in PE work without mentioning the open day.

Would appreciate any advice to be honest
 
APPLICATION UPDATE; I will be fixing this table in a couple of days, because it is so unorganised and anarchical

Applied​
Baker McKenzie (6th of October)
Allen & Shearman | ❌
Goodwin (6th of October)
Pinsent Masons |❌
Mayer Brown |❌
Skadden ❌
Morrison Foerster (7th of October)
Slaughter & May | ❌
Jones Day | ❌
Gibson Dunn (11th of October | First-year insight scheme attended)
Cooley (8th of October)
Linklaters
Willkie Farr & Gallagher | ❌
Latham & Watkins (online test, silent since sadly | 25th of October
Forsters LLP ❌
TLT
Dechert LLP
Orrick
HFW Assessment Center on the 28th of Jan
BCLP
Paynes Hicks Beach
Eversheds ❌ post VI
Clyde & Co
Addleshaw Goddard LLP
Kirkland
Covington LLP
White & Case
Macfarlanes
UN Legal Affairs Intern (New York HQ)
Clifford Chance Dubai | ❌
Weil | ❌
Katten
Charles Russel Speechlys
King & Spalding (TC)
Quinn Emmanuel (Paris) ❌
HSF SADDEST PFO SO FAR
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (placed on hold since early December, so awaiting outcome)
Perth Thingy… (I randomly applied to a company in Perth Scotland, since it was just CV based, and I have no idea what the name was and they ghosted me I think because I didn't get an email or anything 😂 😂 😂 )
Deloitte (completely ghosted, no confirmation email whatsoever so 100% PFO 😂😂)
Vison & Elkins
Morgan Lewis
Walker Morris
CMS
Hogan Lovells
Osborne Clarke
Davis Polk
RPC
Ropes & Gray
Paul Weiss
Squire Patton Boggs
Mills & Reeve
Simmons & Simmons (VI stage so far)
Norton Rose Fulbright
Withers (they asked for visa info, and I didn't realise it's outside my term time, so they suggested transferring my application to a TC so there's hope I think)
Joelson
Capsticks LLP | ❌
Gowling WLG ❌
Gide Loyrette Nouel London ❌
DAC Beachcroft (TC)
Howes Spercival
PwC |❌
Cleary Gottlieb | ❌
Reed Smith | ❌
Farrer & Co
Shoosmiths
Freshfields
Debevoise & Plimpton
Greenberg Traurig (TC)
Lockton ❌
Watson Farley & Williams (last second and they're rolling so highly unlikely)
 
@Jessica Booker @Andrei Radu
Would it be a bad idea to mention a Kirkland open day in an application to Travers? IK Travers are strong in private equity, and what sparked my interest in PE was a debt finance workshop at the Kirkland open day. But I also go on to talk about how I like the Travers room-sharing system because of the high level of supervision + training (which Kirkland doesn't really have)

Ofc I could deflect this in an interview by saying I didn't like Kirkland's culture after attending the open day, but I'm wondering whether grad rec might discard it because I'm applying to wildly different firms and so won't be a good fit (which is partially true, it's one of my least favourites). Then again it would be difficult to substantiate my interest in PE work without mentioning the open day.

Would appreciate any advice to be honest
Obviously wait for official advice on here, but couldn’t you talk about the PE workshop, and not explicitly name the other firm? I don’t see why you’d need too.
 
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