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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

BobThebIlly

Legendary Member
Premium Member
Dec 6, 2024
232
399
Just did Goodwin oh boy... I should've taken this one out to the lake district too lmfao

ahhhhhh I lit sounded like a frog crocking in half of them omds

Also, can someone reassure me please? I wasn’t able to finish the first question properly, so my third and final point ended up being only around two sentences long.

I also finished with around 20 seconds remaining on the timer for the other questions. Is that a bad sign?
 

spamelinazoid

Legendary Member
  • Dec 19, 2021
    282
    421
    I attended one of the application webinars they hosted and somebody asked something similar. Rik Palmer, one of the grad rec team bascially described it as they categorise people at each stage of the process. He didn't go into too much detail but essentially something like Exceptional, Very Good, Good, Average, Poor. etc.

    E.g like this. Person A applied in September, Person B applied in November. Person A had a 'Good' written application' so they're put on hold for a bit. Person B has an 'Exceptional' so even though they applied two months later, they're progressed to test + VI straight away. But now Person B had a 'Poor' SJT + VI performance, so they are rejected/put on hold, and they'll now go back to Person A and progress them through etc.

    He specifically mentioned plenty of people categorised lower at application stage, make it through the whole process and secure places on the scheme, because they perform well on the other components. It's generally a matter of waiting until higher scoring people progress/fail. Hence why some people have vac scheme offers, and some people have been waiting for months. Not a great feeling of course, but does not = PFO at all.
    Oh wow that’s so interesting, thanks for typing all that. Good to know!
     
    • Like
    Reactions: baj5

    Afuturetrainee

    Legendary Member
    Mar 11, 2025
    136
    161
    Latham, it's been 1 month since your deadline. I’m going to need you to start moving your bodies 🤨😩

    Come Here Lets Go GIF by Bounce
     

    Novaa

    Legendary Member
    Dec 2, 2022
    182
    708
    Just did Goodwin oh boy... I should've taken this one out to the lake district too lmfao

    ahhhhhh I lit sounded like a frog crocking in half of them omds

    Also, can someone reassure me please? I wasn’t able to finish the first question properly, so my third and final point ended up being only around two sentences long.

    I also finished with around 20 seconds remaining on the timer for the other questions. Is that a bad sign?

    You cutting down your response to fit the time should be okay, as they got the main idea of it.

    Alsoo, I saw a TikTok of someone who assess VI’s saying that leaving time at the end is actually seen as a good thing. Because it shows you don’t waffle to fill in time, and can be calm under pressure.
     

    BobThebIlly

    Legendary Member
    Premium Member
    Dec 6, 2024
    232
    399
    You cutting down your response to fit the time should be okay, as they got the main idea of it.

    Alsoo, I saw a TikTok of someone who assess VI’s saying that leaving time at the end is actually seen as a good thing. Because it shows you don’t waffle to fill in time, and can be calm under pressure.
    YESSS THANKS FOR BRINGING MY SMILE BACK NOVAA
     

    Laurel Lance - Black Canary

    Distinguished Member
  • Jul 31, 2025
    68
    94
    I attended one of the application webinars they hosted and somebody asked something similar. Rik Palmer, one of the grad rec team bascially described it as they categorise people at each stage of the process. He didn't go into too much detail but essentially something like Exceptional, Very Good, Good, Average, Poor. etc.

    E.g like this. Person A applied in September, Person B applied in November. Person A had a 'Good' written application' so they're put on hold for a bit. Person B has an 'Exceptional' so even though they applied two months later, they're progressed to test + VI straight away. But now Person B had a 'Poor' SJT + VI performance, so they are rejected/put on hold, and they'll now go back to Person A and progress them through etc.

    He specifically mentioned plenty of people categorised lower at application stage, make it through the whole process and secure places on the scheme, because they perform well on the other components. It's generally a matter of waiting until higher scoring people progress/fail. Hence why some people have vac scheme offers, and some people have been waiting for months. Not a great feeling of course, but does not = PFO at all.
    Got it, I've been thinking that way before that's why I wasn't horribly waiting for the test invite as I am probably fall in either good or average. This might applies to other firms too, take good side of it that we can practice longer than prior invites.
     

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