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Aspiring Lawyers - Applications & General Advice
Applications Discussion
Crisis of confidence + working full time while applying
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<blockquote data-quote="NickMcK" data-source="post: 37231" data-attributes="member: 3800"><p>As others have said, you're already a winner for getting the vac scheme and we're all sure you can do it again and turn it into a TC!</p><p></p><p>I worked full-time whilst also studying the GDL and doing apps last year and some things that helped me get through it were:</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong>Being disciplined with regular but consistent application work</strong>. This helped both to get the applications done and to give myself a break from feeling like I should being 'working' on getting a TC all the time.<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">This included doing regular but smaller amounts of application work rather than lumping it all together in one go. For me, this meant that Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings were my application 'sessions' where I would do research or write applications.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">For you, this could be 30 minutes of your commute in the mornings to work. Whatever works for you but provided you get into the routine of doing this work it will all add up and you'll see progress.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">But don't worry too much if life gets in the way and you need to grab 10-15 minutes on trains, in cafes in between meetings etc.</li> </ol></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong>Being strict with the number of applications I could apply to. </strong>It may seem counter-intuitive but its worth spending quite a bit of time at the start of the application cycle picking your shortlist of firms to apply to rather than keeping a longlist of 40-50 firms you would 'like' to apply to in the back of your mind. <ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">A partner at a firm very wisely told me to start with a longlist of around 40-50 and get this down to no more than 10-12. It's a tough process as there are so many firms that seem appealing at the outset but this worked for me. Quality over quantity. By doing this you'll also go through the process of removing firms you aren't a good fit for and save yourself wasting time applying for the ones you don't really care for but feel you 'should' apply to. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">If you find it tough to go from 50 to 10 then start with a list of 50, narrow that down to 20 'potentials' and then pick your top 10. This might also be worthwhile having during the pandemic as recruitment processes are so volatile at the moment and last cycle some firms suddenly stopped recruiting mid-cycle so people were caught out having written half an application when recruitment stopped.</li> </ol></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong>Your current job is an asset and not a burden</strong>. Simply by having that job you have shown you can get through a competitive recruitment process. Every day will give you experience that can be applied to application and interview questions and show you can work as a professional. I come from a non-law career and it was this experience that made me stand out from students with traditional and similar experiences. We put so much pressure on TCs that we often forget that applying for other jobs is also a tough and competitive process! </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong>Assessing flexibility in my current job.</strong> <ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Can you adjust your hours to work earlier one morning and attend a careers fair in the afternoon? That will save you some annual leave. Likewise, can you take half-days rather than full days of annual? I worked some of this out and then had a chat with my manager who was keen to be flexible provided I got the job done. This is even easier now that TC recruitment events are being held online so you can just work a bit earlier or later and attend a virtual event for an hour or so rather than lose a day travelling to London. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Can you also frame some of the events/opportunities as revenant to your work? I attended a few webinars hosted by law firms that related to my role but also gave me an insight into how a firm I wanted to apply to works - my manager was happy to see a member of their team taking their development into their own hands, usually businesses have to pay for this and force people to attend training! These are also great things to put down on questions related to demonstrating you have researched a firm.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Also: Virtual vac schemes seem to be shorter than in-person ones. Which is great for people like us as only using 4 days annual leave is much less of an issue than having to use 10!</li> </ol></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong>Finally, not beating myself up if I slip up.</strong> We're in a global pandemic and you're working full-time trying to do one of the toughest things you can do as a professional, it's going to be stressful no matter what! So make sure you regularly check-in with yourself and your friends/family to remember this and see the amazing progress you're making.</li> </ol><p>Good luck! Keep us updated as you get on and message me if you'd like any more help on framing your current job for applications, cvs and interviews. Happy to share my experience.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="NickMcK, post: 37231, member: 3800"] As others have said, you're already a winner for getting the vac scheme and we're all sure you can do it again and turn it into a TC! I worked full-time whilst also studying the GDL and doing apps last year and some things that helped me get through it were: [LIST=1] [*][B]Being disciplined with regular but consistent application work[/B]. This helped both to get the applications done and to give myself a break from feeling like I should being 'working' on getting a TC all the time. [LIST=1] [*]This included doing regular but smaller amounts of application work rather than lumping it all together in one go. For me, this meant that Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings were my application 'sessions' where I would do research or write applications. [*]For you, this could be 30 minutes of your commute in the mornings to work. Whatever works for you but provided you get into the routine of doing this work it will all add up and you'll see progress. [*]But don't worry too much if life gets in the way and you need to grab 10-15 minutes on trains, in cafes in between meetings etc. [/LIST] [*][B]Being strict with the number of applications I could apply to. [/B]It may seem counter-intuitive but its worth spending quite a bit of time at the start of the application cycle picking your shortlist of firms to apply to rather than keeping a longlist of 40-50 firms you would 'like' to apply to in the back of your mind. [LIST=1] [*]A partner at a firm very wisely told me to start with a longlist of around 40-50 and get this down to no more than 10-12. It's a tough process as there are so many firms that seem appealing at the outset but this worked for me. Quality over quantity. By doing this you'll also go through the process of removing firms you aren't a good fit for and save yourself wasting time applying for the ones you don't really care for but feel you 'should' apply to. [*]If you find it tough to go from 50 to 10 then start with a list of 50, narrow that down to 20 'potentials' and then pick your top 10. This might also be worthwhile having during the pandemic as recruitment processes are so volatile at the moment and last cycle some firms suddenly stopped recruiting mid-cycle so people were caught out having written half an application when recruitment stopped. [/LIST] [*][B]Your current job is an asset and not a burden[/B]. Simply by having that job you have shown you can get through a competitive recruitment process. Every day will give you experience that can be applied to application and interview questions and show you can work as a professional. I come from a non-law career and it was this experience that made me stand out from students with traditional and similar experiences. We put so much pressure on TCs that we often forget that applying for other jobs is also a tough and competitive process! [*][B]Assessing flexibility in my current job.[/B] [LIST=1] [*]Can you adjust your hours to work earlier one morning and attend a careers fair in the afternoon? That will save you some annual leave. Likewise, can you take half-days rather than full days of annual? I worked some of this out and then had a chat with my manager who was keen to be flexible provided I got the job done. This is even easier now that TC recruitment events are being held online so you can just work a bit earlier or later and attend a virtual event for an hour or so rather than lose a day travelling to London. [*]Can you also frame some of the events/opportunities as revenant to your work? I attended a few webinars hosted by law firms that related to my role but also gave me an insight into how a firm I wanted to apply to works - my manager was happy to see a member of their team taking their development into their own hands, usually businesses have to pay for this and force people to attend training! These are also great things to put down on questions related to demonstrating you have researched a firm. [*]Also: Virtual vac schemes seem to be shorter than in-person ones. Which is great for people like us as only using 4 days annual leave is much less of an issue than having to use 10! [/LIST] [*][B]Finally, not beating myself up if I slip up.[/B] We're in a global pandemic and you're working full-time trying to do one of the toughest things you can do as a professional, it's going to be stressful no matter what! So make sure you regularly check-in with yourself and your friends/family to remember this and see the amazing progress you're making. [/LIST] Good luck! Keep us updated as you get on and message me if you'd like any more help on framing your current job for applications, cvs and interviews. Happy to share my experience. [/QUOTE]
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