General Discussion Thread 2020-21

[TCLA Community Assistant]

So there's no difference in the questions I should be asking in interviews of different length?

no - there will just be fewer questions.

I think your over analysing the situation. It’s very common for candidates to do this. But the interviewer was asking you if you had any general questions, not whether you had specific questions about the next stage.

I’ll be frank - the person doing the interview was either 1) doing a lot of them and/or 2) is an outsourced person doing it. I have had to do telephone interviews like that before and it’s pretty monotonous because you are asking very similar question to candidates many times over, usually close together, which is why they might have seemed less engaged in the process.

 

[Jaysen]

@Jessica Booker Jess, I recently had a fairly short phone interview (15 - 20 mins), it consisted of maybe 4 - 5 competency / motivational questions, and at the end the interviewer said something along the lines of "Ok, thanks for your answers, just to let you know you should find out the outcome of your interview by the end of the week and if you've made it through, we'll be in touch next week to set up the AC. Do you have any questions?". I thanked her and went with the questions I'd been meaning to ask, something about their international opportunities and secondments.

But the thing is, it felt very unnatural for some reason. Maybe it was due to the short length of the interview, maybe because of her tone which almost seemed to indicate "do you have any questions about what I just said", I don't know, but thinking about it in retrospect, my question re secondments seems now like the most rehearsed, artificial question ever (and her answer wasn't too enthusiastic either, further lending to my belief).

Is it possible that in short phone interviews, my questions for them should be different than the ones I'd ask after a full-scale interview? Or even entirely omitted?

With telephone interviews, I know it's hard to gauge what something is thinking, and it's easy to read into the way they say things. As Jess said, the interviewer will be calling many other candidates, which probably explains her tone and lack of enthusiasm when answering the question.

It's a fair point about you thinking your question came across as rehearsed. It sounds to me like this may not have been a genuine/necessary question to ask, but I doubt the interviewer thought anything of it.

Going forward, it sounds to me that this is more a case of choosing 'genuine' questions, especially if you felt this came across as artificial/rehearsed. As a general rule, I wouldn't be asking overly long questions, although this is something that is probably easier in a face to face interview than a telephone conversation.

 

[cryingoverTCs]

I have a dilemma! I need to complete the Mayer Brown tests but I didn't realise my extra time had not been already added and the deadline for these tests is Monday - I've already emailed to ask for the extra time, but as it is Friday, they may not look at it until Monday and it'll be too late by then - what can I do?!

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

I have a dilemma! I need to complete the Mayer Brown tests but I didn't realise my extra time had not been already added and the deadline for these tests is Monday - I've already emailed to ask for the extra time, but as it is Friday, they may not look at it until Monday and it'll be too late by then - what can I do?!

wait for the extra time to be applied. The deadline will be extended

 

[cryingoverTCs]

wait for the extra time to be applied. The deadline will be extended

Ok thanks, Jessica!

 

[Velikilawyer123]

no - there will just be fewer questions.

I think your over analysing the situation. It’s very common for candidates to do this. But the interviewer was asking you if you had any general questions, not whether you had specific questions about the next stage.

I’ll be frank - the person doing the interview was either 1) doing a lot of them and/or 2) is an outsourced person doing it. I have had to do telephone interviews like that before and it’s pretty monotonous because you are asking very similar question to candidates many times over, usually close together, which is why they might have seemed less engaged in the process.

I see, thanks so much that makes a lot of sense!

 

[Velikilawyer123]

With telephone interviews, I know it's hard to gauge what something is thinking, and it's easy to read into the way they say things. As Jess said, the interviewer will be calling many other candidates, which probably explains her tone and lack of enthusiasm when answering the question.

It's a fair point about you thinking your question came across as rehearsed. It sounds to me like this may not have been a genuine/necessary question to ask, but I doubt the interviewer thought anything of it.

Going forward, it sounds to me that this is more a case of choosing 'genuine' questions, especially if you felt this came across as artificial/rehearsed. As a general rule, I wouldn't be asking overly long questions, although this is something that is probably easier in a face to face interview than a telephone conversation.

Hmm that's a good point. I've heard firms saying you should only ask questions that genuinely interest you and that will help you find out more about the firm and make your decision. Is this a case of "tailoring" your question based on your own background? E.g. something along the lines of "Given I did X which sparked my interest in Y, I'm wondering about your firm's Z" - or is that too wordy / not genuine?

 

[billalchowdhury]

Has anyone heard back from HSF for their winter vac scheme?

 

[OB]

Hmm that's a good point. I've heard firms saying you should only ask questions that genuinely interest you and that will help you find out more about the firm and make your decision. Is this a case of "tailoring" your question based on your own background? E.g. something along the lines of "Given I did X which sparked my interest in Y, I'm wondering about your firm's Z" - or is that too wordy / not genuine?

Interviews are a two way conversation where while the firm is learning about you, you are able to ask any genuine questions of interest you have. I know it’s good to ask questions at the end but I don’t think you should be treating it as such an assessed part of the interview.

Also the type of question you ask depends on the type of interview and who is interviewing you. E.g. something specific to the partner and their work/experience isn’t suitable to ask Grad Rec but also a specific question about the recruitment process isn’t suitable to ask the partner.

 

[Rene]

Has anyone heard back from HSF for their winter vac scheme?

Yeah they’ve given out some offers but think they’re still doing ACs but not sure

 

[Dfrtyh]

How to answer the Clyde & Co final question? Do you make it general or is it specific to that firm?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

How to answer the Clyde & Co final question? Do you make it general or is it specific to that firm?

what’s the question?

 

[Numerius Negidius]

Is it appropriate to ask a superior in a student run organisation for Akin Gump's "company/organisation" reference? I worked last year but I doubt my boss still remembers me, and my work and volunteering this year has all been delayed or cancelled because of corona.

What do firms ask for from company referees? Is it just to confirm the work experience, or will they ask for a call or a detailed letter?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Is it appropriate to ask a superior in a student run organisation for Akin Gump's "company/organisation" reference? I worked last year but I doubt my boss still remembers me, and my work and volunteering this year has all been delayed or cancelled because of corona.

What do firms ask for from company referees? Is it just to confirm the work experience, or will they ask for a call or a detailed letter?

They aren’t unlikely to ask for a reference for a student society/run organisation unless you were employed.

 

[Simba281]

Can anyone help with how to go about answering the following question: ' Focusing on one or more of CMS’s sectors, what challenges and opportunities for growth do you see presenting themselves over the coming 12-24 months?'

I know the first place to start is actually researching each sector but I am unsure as to how to structure the answer or what to focus on

 

[OB]

Can anyone help with how to go about answering the following question: ' Focusing on one or more of CMS’s sectors, what challenges and opportunities for growth do you see presenting themselves over the coming 12-24 months?'

I know the first place to start is actually researching each sector but I am unsure as to how to structure the answer or what to focus on

This question is testing your commercial awareness and your firm knowledge. Pick a development in the business world which falls within one of CMS' sectors and explain what opportunities and challenges it poses

 

[Miki3999]

When the firm asks for the details of main spare time interests, is it ok to include positions of responsibility from the past? They are not asking specifically for that but I have no idea how to otherwise fill 600 words.

 

[cgs97]

For a cover letter that asks about why you and why the firm, should we aim for a 50/50 split? Or is it okay to focus a bit more on my own skills and experiences? Just struggling to hit the balance right.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

When the firm asks for the details of main spare time interests, is it ok to include positions of responsibility from the past? They are not asking specifically for that but I have no idea how to otherwise fill 600 words.

not a problem to do this unless they have asked for positions of responsibility elsewhere

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

For a cover letter that asks about why you and why the firm, should we aim for a 50/50 split? Or is it okay to focus a bit more on my own skills and experiences? Just struggling to hit the balance right.

it will vary from applicant to applicant, depending on their experience, so I wouldn’t say it needs to be 50/50 (or that should be the aim) but that you have to ensure you answer both aspects, taking into account what else is covered in the rest of your application.