Career Clinic: Help! My TC has ended in disaster

Wouldn't worry about it - should be plenty of work in Insolvency departments - I know my firm won't have enough trainees to fill the NQ positions available there and wouldn't be surprised if this was replicated across the market. Just join two or three good recruitment agencies and let them do the rest.

Trainee City Firm -15 May 2008 | 12:50

I heard DLA is swamped in insolvency - worth an application?

Anonymous -15 May 2008 | 16:17

You say the indications were that you would be taken on but weren't. Whilst it may be difficult, the first thing you need to ask yourself (and the firm you trained at) is why this is. I know this might be painful but you are bound to be asked at any interviews and it will also allow you to assess what the best way forward is with your career. Good luck

Anonymous -15 May 2008 | 17:10

You should definitely involve a recruitment consultant rather than applying direct. They will know which firms have vacancies and help you target your application (and your CV) to the right places. Do you know what has gone wrong? Sometimes firms find particular departments - even those that are perceived to be booming - are oversubscribed and it can be just a question of bad timing, but you'll need to be able to explain your position convincingly in interviews. Finally, is there any chance your firm might keep you on in finance, with the possibility of moving over to insolvency later?

Ex-MC Lawyer -15 May 2008 | 17:17

If you know who the good insolvency firms are, do a bit of homework. Find out the name of the head of department and write to him/her direct with your cv. An NQ applicant did this to our team a few years ago and her application really stuck out. Her covering letter basically said that our firm had a really good reputation for this team's area of expertise and she would love to work here. Vain and gullible fools that we are, we saw no reason to question this at all. We interviewed her and she got the job. We get loads of emails from recruiters. Who wouldn't want to save on agency fees by employing someone who's shown a bit of initative?

Partner, national firm -15 May 2008 | 17:17

You should definitely ask for feedback from the parters as to why you were not taken on and harass them until you think you have the truth. If the reasons are directed to you as a person. the feedback will be invaluable. It will enable you try and put things right as an NQ elsewhere.

Wife of Investment Banker -15 May 2008 | 17:22

Get feedback on why you were not offered a job all. That is really important and may help you as you move forward. A good recruitment consultant should be able to place your cv strategically.

Sooty speaks -15 May 2008 | 17:36

Try ASB law

Anonymous -15 May 2008 | 17:54

Don't worry, lots of us are in the same boat. I basically targeted a particular department, asked before joining whether there would be a job, was told there would be, was pretty much assured if any job was offered it would be mine, and did an outstanding seat in the department. Now because of sub prime woes, the department I want is only taking on one person -having taken on over six NQs in the last year and I have to fight for the position along with 10 other hopefuls. Tough. I have sent my applications direct to the other firms I really want, and then used a recruitment agent to find other roles. Got a few interviews so far and an informal offer. I think this two-pronged approach is best. Good luck.

EM NQ -16 May 2008 | 12:18

Investment Bank has a wife? Grrrrr.

Anonymous -16 May 2008 | 13:10

I'm in exactly the same position (although I'm looking for a Corporate role). Sign up with 2 or 3 recruitment consultants and they'll do all the work for you.Not sure what the market is like for insolvency NQ positions, but it is tough getting corporate roles, so maybe you should at least consider the possibility that you might not get your first choice.

GR -16 May 2008 | 15:28

You should ask the partners who 'promised' you a job to put the word around their contacts that they have someone they would have kept on if there had been a vacancy. It will ease their conscience and boost your appeal relative to dozens of trainees who simply didn't make the grade.

US Partner -16 May 2008 | 17:11

I was exactly in the same boat when I qualified a few years ago. Surprising that this happened to you in insolvency a boom area at the moment. Perhaps you got unlucky with timing as I got when I qualified but had to then move from a friendly top 10 firm. The advice from the other poster in your position is spot on - speak to agencies but also approach firms direct. This is how I got my current job (from a direct approach) and a significant increase in salary to boot. A fall up the stairs as one of my friends noted. Good luck to you.

Associate, US Firm -16 May 2008 | 17:25

Take the advice of 'Partner' definately apply directly, your application will stand head and shoulders above the rest. It will show you have actually bothered to research the firm, rather than letting an agency 'scattergun' your CV to firms. Trust me, I know which application I would put infront of the partners of my firm to see.

In house Recruiter -16 May 2008 | 17:33

Agree in this instance with advice to go direct - in the current environment firms will take every opportunity to cut costs - and that includes taking candidates direct to avoid paying 30% of annnual salary to a recruitment agency for sending the CV to them.The good news is that your preferred area of practice is one which is very hot at the moment so someone out there will be interested in taking you. The national firms might be the best bet as they tend to deal with more of the smaller insolvencies - there aren't too many of the jumbo deals that the magic circle thrive on at the moment, and they may well be trying to redeploy people internally in any event.

City Partner -16 May 2008 | 18:40

Apply direct to firms. Recruitment agencies are an utter waste of time, unless they have special contacts and you develop an outstanding rapport with your 'consultant'.I agree with the previous poster who said that they use a 'scattergun' approach.

Ex-lawyer 2 -19 May 2008 | 11:18

While law firms will always (should always!) employ the best candidate, all things being equal, they would much rather employ someone direct and pay no agency fee, good times or bad! Agencies exist to supply resources that are in short supply and for whom firms are happy to pay a premium on top of salary. Like it or not, NQs are not in short supply and firms will be spoilt for choice where looking at this level. Anything a candidate can do to give themselves an edge should be taken and that includes identifying firms for themselves rather than letting an agency wallpaper London with their CVs.

In-house recruiter -22 May 2008 | 17:57