Please state the month/year you interviewed at the firm.
February 2020
Please specify what the interview was for.
Summer Vacation Scheme 2020
Please give an overview of the day with approximate timings.
10 am arrival and talk from graduate recruitment; 10:30 trainee tour and chat; 11am interview with two partners; 11:45 Watson Glaser Test; 12:30 to 13:30 Lunch with a few trainees and other candidates; 13:30 to 15:00 group interview (four of us) with two assessors sat at the table
Please provide a summary of each assessment on the day with approximate timings.
Interview with two partners for 30 minutes, though it ran over, no competency questions, more like a general chat. Watson Glaser Test - 30 minutes, exactly the same format as the usual one with Pearson. Group exercise - 1 hour to discuss the acquisition options of five companies for a client - M&A exercise... then 15 minutes to present between the four of us, and then 15 minutes for discussion and questions about our presentation with the assessors.
Please list any interview questions you were asked.
Why Osborne Clarke?
Why Reading/Thames Valley office?
Who else have you applied to?
What would your advice be to Boris Johnson on automated vehicles - identify political, legal and practical issues?
If we were to open a new office anywhere in the world, where would you open it?
Do you think we should change our strategy regarding Brexit, such as closing an UK or European offices?
What is your best advice for each aspect of the assessment on the day? Please break this down for each assessment. This can include advice for preparation, as well as tips for the day.
with the partners, it was very clear they were interested in me as a person, asking personal questions and telling me about themselves. It was very important to be yourself and friendly and enthusiastic. I prepared by knowing small details about Osborne Clarke such as where all their offices were which came in very useful when they asked questions about offices. Being very commercially aware with Brexit and new technology - I read all of the OC tech 2020 news beforehand.
Watson Glaser test - practice the online free Pearson test multiple times as I recognised a lot of the questions that came up.
Group exercise - they said they assessing team work and commercial awareness with communication - prepare by knowing what the firm does for its clients (commercially aware) and see if you can recognise if the client was a copy of one of OC's actual clients. Be friendly and consist with chatting. I would advise to ask other people who are slightly quieter if they agree with the plans. Just being yourself was key.
Were you successful?
Yes
