General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[J Malone]

Hi is there anyone who has got a response from HFW?

 

[nat237]

Has anyone done the womble bond dickinson video interview and know what sort of questions are being asked? It says the interview will be based on your self-reflection.. Any idea what that may mean??

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Has anyone done the womble bond dickinson video interview and know what sort of questions are being asked? It says the interview will be based on your self-reflection.. Any idea what that may mean??

I would expect this to be about knowing your strengths, weaknesses, what motivates you/what doesn’t or where you get your energy from/what takes your energy away from you

 

[LuNo]

Hi everyone!

Does anyone have any tips for Bristows first stage interview?

Thanks in advance

 

[LCZ]

Hey all! Long time lurker, first time poster! I’m in a sticky (but obviously extremely lucky) situation of having two vac schemes but they slightly overlap with each other... I’ve been offered the July dates at a firm about a week and a half ago and just been offered another vac scheme on Friday afternoon. The problem is that week 2 of vac scheme 1 overlaps with week 1 of vac scheme 2 - what do I do?? Thinking of calling up the second firm and telling them honestly to see whether I could come for the second week but really stuck in a pickle here

 

[D]

Hey all! Long time lurker, first time poster! I’m in a sticky (but obviously extremely lucky) situation of having two vac schemes but they slightly overlap with each other... I’ve been offered the July dates at a firm about a week and a half ago and just been offered another vac scheme on Friday afternoon. The problem is that week 2 of vac scheme 1 overlaps with week 1 of vac scheme 2 - what do I do?? Thinking of calling up the second firm and telling them honestly to see whether I could come for the second week but really stuck in a pickle here

Two choices:

1. See if one firm has alternative dates for the VS. They may be able to move you to an alternative scheme (I did this with FF).

2. Pick the firm you want to do the VS at (your #1 firm choice) and then look to leverage the second firm into a TC. They will either say yes, and you have a TC offer, or they will say no, and you will lose nothing (as you have to pick one or the other).

Congrats on two offers!

 

[LCZ]

Two choices:

1. See if one firm has alternative dates for the VS. They may be able to move you to an alternative scheme (I did this with FF).

2. Pick the firm you want to do the VS at (your #1 firm choice) and then look to leverage the second firm into a TC. They will either say yes, and you have a TC offer, or they will say no, and you will lose nothing (as you have to pick one or the other).

Congrats on two offers!

Hey! Thanks for the advice!

I already tried to move to an alternative date at firm 1 as a precaution to avoid this clash but they said they had allocated the spaces for their first summer scheme in June already unfortunately.

I suppose the best thing to do is explain to the second choice firm the situation (honesty is the best policy?) and see whether they can be flexible in allowing me to do a week, or a straight TC interview as you say. This is obviously a positive difficult situation to be in

 

[D]

Hey! Thanks for the advice!

I already tried to move to an alternative date at firm 1 as a precaution to avoid this clash but they said they had allocated the spaces for their first summer scheme in June already unfortunately.

I suppose the best thing to do is explain to the second choice firm the situation (honesty is the best policy?) and see whether they can be flexible in allowing me to do a week, or a straight TC interview as you say. This is obviously a positive difficult situation to be in

Just remember - you don't want to give the impression to the second firm that they are your second choice. By saying that you can only do a week because of another firm... indicates that heavily (in my view). This is why you want to phrase it differently. Say they got back to you after the first firm did, you are still really interested but simply cannot attend as you have made those commitments. But, re-iterate your desire to work there and then state that because of this (your desire to work at the firm) that you'd be willing to consider a direct TC offer.

Just remember - if you REALLY wanted to be at the second firm (as you have undoubtedly lead them to believe in your application), they will simply ask you to do their VS. I think my phrasing makes that seem less so. Also, it shows you have the confidence to ask!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hey all! Long time lurker, first time poster! I’m in a sticky (but obviously extremely lucky) situation of having two vac schemes but they slightly overlap with each other... I’ve been offered the July dates at a firm about a week and a half ago and just been offered another vac scheme on Friday afternoon. The problem is that week 2 of vac scheme 1 overlaps with week 1 of vac scheme 2 - what do I do?? Thinking of calling up the second firm and telling them honestly to see whether I could come for the second week but really stuck in a pickle here

It’s most likely you won’t be able to come to the second week of one - missing the first week is the most tricky week to miss (miss induction, All your IT set up etc).

This happens all the time and generally you just have to decline one of the schemes unfortunately.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Just remember - you don't want to give the impression to the second firm that they are your second choice. By saying that you can only do a week because of another firm... indicates that heavily (in my view). This is why you want to phrase it differently. Say they got back to you after the first firm did, you are still really interested but simply cannot attend as you have made those commitments. But, re-iterate your desire to work there and then state that because of this (your desire to work at the firm) that you'd be willing to consider a direct TC offer.

Just remember - if you REALLY wanted to be at the second firm (as you have undoubtedly lead them to believe in your application), they will simply ask you to do their VS. I think my phrasing makes that seem less so. Also, it shows you have the confidence to ask!

Most unlikely you will get a direct TC offer too.

instead of wording it this way, word it that you’d like to transfer over to a direct TC application and you would like to understand what parts of the recruitment process you’d need to complete should that be an option.

 

[LCZ]

Most unlikely you will get a direct TC offer too.

instead of wording it this way, word it that you’d like to transfer over to a direct TC application and you would like to understand what parts of the recruitment process you’d need to complete should that be an option.

Thank you for the advice!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Thank you for the advice!

there’s nothing stopping you from reneging the first offer, if the second firm is the one you prefer.

 

[Nik L]

JD Spring Scheme postponed until further notice.

 

[L.M.P]

JD Spring Scheme postponed until further notice.

just got the email

 

[PAM]

Anyone received an update from Addleshaw Goddard, re whether the Spring Scheme is still taking place? Don't want to email them just yet, but considering it's two weeks away it would be good to know with the whole Coronavirus situation.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Anyone received an update from Addleshaw Goddard, re whether the Spring Scheme is still taking place? Don't want to email them just yet, but considering it's two weeks away it would be good to know with the whole Coronavirus situation.

If they are going to update people, they will update everyone at the same time.

 

[Annalise2.0]

Hi all, anyone have any tips for video interviews, I've had three this cycle and only managed to progress past that stage for only one firm, not sure if that one was a fluke as I pretty much did the same approach in all three, I've just been invited for another one so I'll be very grateful if anyone has any tips/advice as I really really want to smash this one. Thanks

 

[AY]

Hi all, anyone have any tips for video interviews, I've had three this cycle and only managed to progress past that stage for only one firm, not sure if that one was a fluke as I pretty much did the same approach in all three, I've just been invited for another one so I'll be very grateful if anyone has any tips/advice as I really really want to smash this one. Thanks

I’m no expert in vid interviews only done two, but for the one I passed I tried to focus on the structure of my answer. On the sticky notes bullet point three or four points that you want to talk about eg why a firm. By having a structured answer it will ensure you won’t mess up as much. — for example 1. Practice areas/expertise 2. Culture 3. Training experience 4. Etc. Those are just examples of some of the things you could say, not what you have to. Each firm will have different unique qualities that stand out. Also practice practice practice (including recording yourself with a timer). Hope this helps

 

[Annalise2.0]

I’m no expert in vid interviews only done two, but for the one I passed I tried to focus on the structure of my answer. On the sticky notes bullet point three or four points that you want to talk about eg why a firm. By having a structured answer it will ensure you won’t mess up as much. — for example 1. Practice areas/expertise 2. Culture 3. Training experience 4. Etc. Those are just examples of some of the things you could say, not what you have to. Each firm will have different unique qualities that stand out. Also practice practice practice (including recording yourself with a timer). Hope this helps

Thank you so much!! I appreciate this. I'll definitely keep practicing as much as possible, I usually use sticky notes too but I'll definitely make them more prompt too

 

[Jen E C]

Hi all, anyone have any tips for video interviews, I've had three this cycle and only managed to progress past that stage for only one firm, not sure if that one was a fluke as I pretty much did the same approach in all three, I've just been invited for another one so I'll be very grateful if anyone has any tips/advice as I really really want to smash this one. Thanks

You can usually find the timings for it somewhere online ie how long you are given to answer. You also tend to be able to find out what category of questions will or won't come up eg commercial/competency/motivational/strengths/situational. Then I like to write out full answers to questions I think could come up and practice them out loud and refine the answer until its within the time limit. For ones I am less sure will come up I like to bullet point just so I know what I would say. After that, it is usually easier to adapt your answer to the actual question being asked whilst making sure you aren't cut off/too far under the time given.

I understand some can't be prepared for, which I haven't actually encountered, but I would imagine taking deep breaths and keeping a clear head would see you through that. It's easy to panic and then end up waffling at the speed of light.