Hi Abbie,Hello!
My overall approach to the work experience section has been pretty simple and consistent across all of the applications I made - I would aim to discuss:
On your first point, I do think it is worth briefly mentioning how the experience developed your skills (e.g. your example on prioritisation and time management). The key is to just make sure that it is concise and relevant - a sentence or two that shows the impact the experience had is usually enough, and I'd avoid going into lots of reflective detail.
- What the role was
- What you actually did
- The skills and insights that you gained (ideally linked back to commercial law or the role of a trainee solicitor, if it fits naturally)
In terms of length, it really depends on the experience that you are talking about. If there is no word limit, I would use those three elements above as a guide and keep things concise where you can. Realistically, entries will vary quite a bit and shorter roles might be somewhere around 50 words, whereas more substantial entries could be closer to 250-300 words. The main thing is to avoid waffling and make sure that everything you include adds value to your application.
For your last question, I personally wouldn't go into very specific anecdotes (like a difficult customer situation) in the written application. I would keep it more high-level and focused on the overall role, as those kinds of detailed examples are much better saved for video interviews or ACs, where you can properly explain your actions and reflect on them
Thanks for this useful - I wondered whether for these types of Work Ex Sections (e.g. White & Case's), where there is a 250 word space for each section, should we use prose or stick to bullets. I for example have done a range of jobs in the Foreign Office, from sanctions to working in Somalia so I question if i should do 250 word paragraph for 7+ roles!
