2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Is it normal to see a firm you've applied for search for your name on Linkedin? Maybe, I'm grasping at straws here

not unknown. I have been known to look at someone LinkedIn profile if I felt I needed to

 

[MandyA]

On Friday I got a VI invite for BLM law, has anyone done this and can help me

I could also do with some tips if anyone has any please This will only be my second ever VI and I don't want to mess up as badly as I did in the past

 

[Nadine1]

I just received a CMS VI invite too!! So so happy, they must be sending them out in batches today Anyone have any idea as to the timings???

Congrats! The timings are 60 seconds from the question ending to plan your answer and then 60 seconds to answer it. You can take a break between each question though which is quite nice.

 

[Georgina Evans]

has anyone gotten their kennedys feedback report? whats the structure of it i.e. how many strengths/weaknesses are listed

They tell you your three highest scoring strengths and they tell you your one lowest scoring strength

 

[E.A]

Why do law firms ask if you have applied to them previously? Is it a disadvantage if you reapply having been rejected or...?

Always wondered about this too!?

 

[Jacob Miller]

Why do law firms ask if you have applied to them previously? Is it a disadvantage if you reapply having been rejected or...?

Always wondered about this too!?

Depends on the firm:

Some firms, I think, quite like a candidate re-applying if they can show that they've grown and developed since the initial application. They may even check through your old application to compare it to the new one (hence why I always recommend starting a new app from scratch for re-applications). Some firms have a rule that, if you've previously been rejected after a particular stage (usually interview) that you aren't permitted to re-apply. I know this is the case with Travers Smith, for example.

 

[collie_121]

Congrats! The timings are 60 seconds from the question ending to plan your answer and then 60 seconds to answer it. You can take a break between each question though which is quite nice.

Thank you so much for your help!! How many questions are there out of interest?

 

[MZ]

not unknown. I have been known to look at someone LinkedIn profile if I felt I needed to

Out of curiosity, what about their application would make you want to look at a candidate's Linkedin profile?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Why do law firms ask if you have applied to them previously? Is it a disadvantage if you reapply having been rejected or...?

Because some people like to cheat the system and apply multiple times, and it helps to pick that up.

Because it helps pick up people who have applied to other roles within the firm and help work out if a TC is the right role for them.

Because a fair number of applicants will be people who applied previously, whether that is insight programmes, open days, vacation schemes or training contracts. It helps the recruiter pick up people who have come to the firm before.

Because some firms have a policy of not allowing you to reapply, or will only allow you to apply a set number of times or within a certain timeframe.

Because some firms will use it to help them judge how far your application has improved since your last application. If your application was unsuccessful last time, it helps them judge what has changed since your last application.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Out of curiosity, what about their application would make you want to look at a candidate's Linkedin profile?

Just because you can. Sometimes you just get a sense that information is missing from an application and using LinkedIn can just help to verify information or get that information that is missing.

LinkedIn can often be a better source of information too.

 

[Mxkry]

For Travers Smith is it necsaary to include the address for yourself and the firm on the cover letter?

 

[M1999]

For the question: Please include activities, interests and positions of responsibility, whether at school, university or otherwise. (Max 250 words)
Can I link it to the firm (for example, opportunities for having trainee responsibility on their TC programme), or shall I just strictly focus on me? I have no room in the other questions

 

[Celestie]

I have had some wonderful messages from some lovely people on how to tackle commercial awareness interviews - thank you so much!

If anyone has any more advice on how to tackle a complex article a firm gives you (structure etc) in an interview, please let me know!

 

[Nadine1]

Thank you so much for your help!! How many questions are there out of interest?

There are four questions - one CMS related, one “what would you do in x situation” and two competency questions

 

[Daniel Boden]

Thank you for the encouragement! If by chance you still remember, can I ask in what month you did the video interview and in what month you got invited to the AC?

Did the video interview in early December and got invited to AC mid-to-late Jan I believe before doing the AC in early February

 

[AH97]

For Travers Smith is it necsaary to include the address for yourself and the firm on the cover letter?

I didn't and interviewed with them in November, but I know some people do include addresses - it's a matter of preference

 

[Jacob Miller]

For Travers Smith is it necsaary to include the address for yourself and the firm on the cover letter?

I personally did but the consensus is that it's unnecessary.

 

[Jacob Miller]

For the question: Please include activities, interests and positions of responsibility, whether at school, university or otherwise. (Max 250 words)
Can I link it to the firm (for example, opportunities for having trainee responsibility on their TC programme), or shall I just strictly focus on me? I have no room in the other questions

Great question! In such a small word count, I would personally just explore the example and skills gained, don't try to make specific links to the firm or life as a trainee here as, provided you show the transferability implicitly in how you write, they'll be able to join the dots.

 

[M1999]

Great question! In such a small word count, I would personally just explore the example and skills gained, don't try to make specific links to the firm or life as a trainee here as, provided you show the transferability implicitly in how you write, they'll be able to join the dots.

Thanks so much Jacob!

 

[M1999]

Another question... for the work experience sections, is the 'position' capitalised first letters? So for example, Sales Assistant, or Sales assistant?