2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[RoughWood]

Is it worthwhile emailing graduate recruitment for some application feedback after getting rejected post application?

Honestly, I'm just sick of being rejected at this point. I've spent months on researching and writing applications, attending events, months spent gaining legal work experience through cold emailing firms, going for open days, networking, and its just fucking frustrating at this point.

It's a bloody draining process that makes you question your self worth, and when you get rejected, firms simply tell you that "rejections are made on very small margins" or "you were a very strong candidate, but unfortunately...".

If firms want to show that they truly care about D&I, all they need to do is jot down a couple points with every rejection they send out, and spend some more money on GR and employ more people to read applications (instead of bragging about having concierge services or fancy new offices). That's it. Not everybody has hundreds of £ to spend on application review services, just to find out what "small margins" they are being rejected on.

Sorry for the rant but I'd appreciate it if anybody could answer my question. Thank you.

I completely feel your pain, it is so frustrating getting rejections at application stage as you never get any feedback about how to improve for the future.

Just know you are not alone, I had a PFO within an hour (!!!!) of submitting an application to a regional firm a few weeks back with no input to take forward. Got to admire their efficiency though!

In my opinion it never hurts to ask if there were any particular points you could improve on, the worst they can say is no.

 

[Emily Kate]

I was on the reserve list for a different firm and a month later they called me to say a spot had become available! Even though they have now filled their places, they are probably giving the candidates some time to confirm their place and other candidates may drop out later due to clashing dates etc! The fact that they even have a reserves list suggests that they have used one in previous years, so I wouldn't lose hope

Thank you that's really good to know. I'm honestly crying rn cos they started the email by making it sound like i'd got it lol

 

[E1998]

Why do firms still interview if the spaces are full?

 

[FM302989]

Why do firms still interview if the spaces are full?

I had this once. A firm was interviewing their Winter Vac Schemers at the same time as running two Assessment Days for direct TC applicants (strange timing).

Not a single person who applied for the direct TCs and attended the Assessment Days were offered a TC

 

[Legalmel_99]

Yeah post-interview

I think there’s a really good chance!

 

[JayC]

Got the Orrick WG, anyone know if everyone gets it? Also do people know whether it is timed?

 

[futuretraineecity]

Reed smith pfo post research questions!

 

[Matt_96]

Can't remember if I chucked this into the convo as well, but I'd recommend getting a Lexology account. You get morning emails on practice areas of interests (corporate, real estate, private client etc.) including articles put out by law firms on those topics.

These are written to be client friendly, but a lot of them will be quite high level and some articles aren't worth reading, but can be very helpful to stay in the know. I personally find this helpful as some articles are directly applicable to work I do in my current Paralegal role

The number one platform for global legal intelligence - Lexology

Lexology is the number one platform for global legal intelligence built on insights, forward-looking analysis and expert guidance from the world’s leading law firms.

www.lexology.com

I can second this. I had to do an interview on third-party litigation funding recently which is something I knew very little about and 95% of the info I obtained came from lexology. The only problem is that because a lot of the commentary is drawn from practitioner blogs, I don't think there is ever going to be a single article that 100% answers your question as they tend to be quite introductory. Some of the more in-depth stuff is harder to find.

 

[layla rose]

Anyone ever felt their AC interview/s went really terribly and still managed to get through? Such a silly question lol but I keep kicking myself over my answers when I know I could’ve done so much better! Ahhh

 

[Elle W]

Thank you that's really good to know. I'm honestly crying rn cos they started the email by making it sound like i'd got it lol

Well you should be proud because you obviously impressed them! I understand though - it's quite gutting to come so close BUT you still have a strong chance of getting a place! Hope you hear from them soon with positive news

 

[LegalG]

Has anyone heard from Browne Jacobson?

 

[John Travoni]

Looks like WBD are getting back to candidates rn

 

[RoughWood]

Looks like WBD are getting back to candidates rn

PFO for me, good luck guys!

 

[lilli]

Anyone ever felt their AC interview/s went really terribly and still managed to get through? Such a silly question lol but I keep kicking myself over my answers when I know I could’ve done so much better! Ahhh

One of my AC interviews I thought had gone really well, it was long and thought I'd built a good rapport with the interviewers - I got a PFO and the feedback said it was too short and didn't build enough of a rapport! Then another AC interview I was convinced I had messed up as it was soo short, didn't think I'd answered the questions fully / in enough detail, felt like I kept stuttering lol but got the vac scheme! So i feel like it's really hard to know, don't worry !!

 

[Georgina Evans]

WBD video interview invite! This application cycle has been crazy - compared to some of the other applications I've submitted, I didn't think my WBD was particularly strong!

 

[Wls1507]

Received a VI for Irwin Mitchell! Does anyone have any tips for prepping as this is my first one and I am so nervous and wondering if 5 days is going to be enough, thank you!

 

[tractor12]

Anyone ever felt their AC interview/s went really terribly and still managed to get through? Such a silly question lol but I keep kicking myself over my answers when I know I could’ve done so much better! Ahhh

People will have different standards - your "terrible" could be someone else's "incredible"! Keep those fingers crossed

 

[E1998]

I had this once. A firm was interviewing their Winter Vac Schemers at the same time as running two Assessment Days for direct TC applicants (strange timing).

Not a single person who applied for the direct TCs and attended the Assessment Days were offered a TC

Don't get it at all, it wastes peoples emotions and time

 

[E1998]

One of my AC interviews I thought had gone really well, it was long and thought I'd built a good rapport with the interviewers - I got a PFO and the feedback said it was too short and didn't build enough of a rapport! Then another AC interview I was convinced I had messed up as it was soo short, didn't think I'd answered the questions fully / in enough detail, felt like I kept stuttering lol but got the vac scheme! So i feel like it's really hard to know, don't worry !!

I agree with this, sometimes you just can't tell!

 

[sam970]

WBD video interview invite! This application cycle has been crazy - compared to some of the other applications I've submitted, I didn't think my WBD was particularly strong!

Congratulations and good luck!!