Hello
@Abbie Whitlock I feel like this might be a bit silly but I have a Vac scheme at a law firm in a couple of weeks. I really want to convert it into a TC offer. However, the firm have an AC after the Vac scheme to decide who receives a TC offer.
I guess I want to know roughly how important is the AC in this context. I.e. if I do poorly in the written ex but do well in the interview and group ex, and the vacation scheme am I still likely to get an offer ?
Hey!
Not a silly question at all, and I think it is something that a lot of people are curious about. I was always less confident in the interviews, so I had similar concerns too!
I'd actually really recommend reaching out to the firm and asking, either before the scheme or during the scheme. I've found that the graduate recruitment team are usually quite open about this, and they may be able to give you a clearer indication of how the individual AC tasks are weighted alongside the VS performance. This can vary quite a bit between firms - for example, on one of my schemes there were a few assessed tasks plus supervisor feedback from the VS, but it was generally understood that the assessed tasks carried more weight than the day-to-day feedback.
From what I have heard from speaking to graduate recruitment teams more broadly, it is rarely the case that one weaker component will completely rule you out. As long as you meet their minimum benchmark for making a TC offer in each task and perform well overall, you can absolutely still get an offer. They are usually looking at your performance holistically, rather than expecting you to be perfect in every single element.
It is also worth remembering that one of the reasons the AC is often there is to standard candidates (particularly since everyone has different supervisors/teams), so it is important, but it is just one part of the overall picture. I'd say that strong performance during the scheme (such as showing enthusiasm, being proactive, building good relationships, and producing solid work) can definitely put you in a great position going into the AC.
I would focus on being consistent across everything rather than worrying about any single component too much. If you are unsure, I would definitely ask the firm as they'll be able to give you the most accurate answer.
Good luck - you've got this!!
