Career Clinic: Why can't I get an interview for a vac scheme?

Could be...

Could be one of the following:

* they look at your first and MPhil and suspect you really want to be an academic; you need to explain clearly why you took the MPhil and why you actually want to join a commercial/ corporate firm; highlighting previous work experience/commercial exposure may help;

* Is there any chance your applications give the impression that you expect your academics to carry you in the door? Take another look at them - the academics should be a "check the box" exercise and you should be majoring on why you want to join that particular firm, why you have applied to them specifically - take an honest look at your past applications and ask yourself whether you have done this;

* vacation schemes are oversubscribed, particularly if you fall outside the "traditional" second-year law student/third-year non-law student bracket - at your stage an application for a training contract might be more appropriate and (statistically...) easier.

Good luck.

Assistant X -14 Jan 2010 | 11:21

Check your CV, letters and application forms absolutely thoroughly for typos, grammatical errors or formatting inconsistencies. These can create a hideous impression - try not to give anyone the slightest excuse to put you on the "no" pile. Perhaps you could get your most pedantic friend to have a look at your CV...

Anonymous -14 Jan 2010 | 11:37

You sound ideal. I honestly can't comment without seeing your applications; it is very possible that the careers service are useless and are giving bad advice. The careers adviser at my uni had urine stains on his trousers at all times so I didn't trust a word he said (if he can't wee straight as an adult, what does he know about real life?).

Do you know anyone working in the field? If so, it'd be worth contacting them to review your CV, covering letter, applications etc.

Magic Circle Associate -14 Jan 2010 | 12:09

Why Vac Schemes?

You don't need to get on a vac scheme to get a TC. If you want value for your time, do open days, workshops, and anything at all that involves speaking to the relevant people (HR, trainee recruitment partners, even trainees). In my experience, it's all about getting your name (and face) on their radar. Unless your application is terrible and/or you perform badly on tests, that should be enough to land you an interview.

Tics -14 Jan 2010 | 12:16

Wrong Plan

First of all, do not worry for a second about your age as this will not be a factor - I received a TC offer at a top 20 City firm at the age of 29 after achieving a first class degree from a university at completely the opposite end of the scale in terms of the university rankings.

What is wrong is that you should not be applying for vac schemes at this stage. They are generally only for undergraduate law students in their penultimate year regardless of how good the candidate may be! Some firms do make exceptions though.

So the plan now should be applying for TCs and not vac schemes. I completely agree with some of the above posts that comment that you do not need a vac scheme to receive a TC offer as I never did a vac scheme anywhere. I only had in-house legal experience at a bank and a mini-pupilage.

Furthermore I would not worry about coming across as too academic. Your additional qualifications will enhance your CV provided you can show that you are committed to a corporate career as opposed to an academic career at the interview stage. So, for instance, make sure you are up to speed with general developments in the business world and economy when you go for interviews.

Good luck.

City Future Trainee -14 Jan 2010 | 16:13

Tips

Here are some tips I learned while I was making training contract applications:

- Academics are essentially a box-ticking exercise (as mentioned above).

- Firms want to see you are an all-rounder - do you have many extra-curricular activities on your CV? Volunteering, sports, positions of responsibility etc.

- Make yourself stand out - be that an interesting hobby that you have gained valuable skills from, jobs you have done in the past etc - firms get thousands of applications and you need to make yours stand out (in a good way).

- Work experience IS important - before I did any vacation schemes I had experience at a small local firm and a slightly larger regional firm (one was only for three days).

- Don't overlook the importance of the jobs/work experience section - use this to really sell yourself, just as you would for each of the other aspects of the application form.

- Get some experience in a commercial environment - if you already have it, make the most of it.

- Try and get a job paralegaling in the meantime - my interviews tended to focus a lot on the experience I gained doing this.

City Trainee -14 Jan 2010 | 16:24

Valid advice above. Maybe you could ask the firms that have turned you down why they have done so. Also, ironically it can help demonstrate your interest and motivation for the position you applied for. Good luck.

Frenchie -14 Jan 2010 | 16:22

It can also be worth emailing the graduate recruitment team and perhaps ask them whether you would be suitable for their vacation schemes, using the opportunity to introduce yourself and sell yourself. As someone above said, getting yourself noticed can be key. They will then look out for your application if what you say in your initial contact impresses them (and it sounds like it should).

City Trainee -14 Jan 2010 | 16:24

Look again at your CV

I had a contact with a similar experience and it turned out that the careers service was doing him a massive disservice by telling him his mediocre CV was great. Take a fresh look at your CV/application form and ask yourself whether it really stands out compared with the average CV a law firm sees - chances are it doesn't as everyone has top degrees, A-levels and a myriad of outside interests and achievements.

The key is to think of how you can make yourself stand out - emphasise your enthusiasm for the type of work the firm to which you are applying does and give practical examples. Definitely use your past experience if it can link in to the firm's work in any way. If you have any, also make the most of your contacts - having a contact at the firm may well help you to get that foot in the door.

Anonymous -14 Jan 2010 | 16:25

Why the vac scheme applications?!

I think the other posters are bang on - why on earth are you applying for vac schemes?! Vac schemes are there to help firms spot talent, and to help the talent be sure that they're making the right career choice, therefore they're aimed at the young 'uns. Go straight for a TC, I never did a vac scheme (having worked before going into law) and I was never asked why I hadn't - in fact, not all firms offer them, so they can't be that vital!

NQ -14 Jan 2010 | 16:27

Legal Career

When I qualified I wish I had your academic qualifications, but I set my sights on almost any firm for that training contract and was fortunate to get one. The firm was small but did a good mix of work, with some talented individuals. Once qualified with six months' experience it was fairly easy to join the 'big boys' - who will be very keen as you are relatively cheap and they do not have the concern of all that costly training.

You will stand out when you qualify because of your background - are you setting your sights too high ? Surely the main thing is to get a TC rather than area of law - if you wait too long will you need to do the finals again as you are out of date? You may actually hate the area you think you might like and prefer something else (no - not investment banking?!)

I agree - do not bother with vac schemes; if you want experience consider pro bono and/or what is available. Lots of firms would love to have someone with your academic calibre on their books.

PS Some firms may offer you a paralegal role with a view to TC. Good luck!

Partner at PI firm -14 Jan 2010 | 16:39

Strewth, why on earth do you want to be a solicitor ? It's massively oversubscribed at your stage - i.e. it's dead hard to get a TC; has been for at least 18 years as far as I can see.

It does not get any better when you qualify if you hit the market when the economy hits the buffers or the Govt goes and takes away work you thought the profession could count on.

If you are still hell bent on trying to qualify as a solicitor, then you need to take other advice and pep up your CV and applications.

Sure, your academic qualifications may look very impressive to an adviser attached to the University careers service, but are they what the legal profession is after? Are they what the firms you are applying to are after? Is there anyone you can ask for honest advice?

Also - academics are a first filter, but what else have you got that will add value to the firms you are applying to? Managerial experience may interest them, especially if you managed teams of people and delivered targets. Good communication skills will go down a storm as well. Evidence of business acumen and contacts can be useful too.
And some firms like sporty people because sport puts you in touch with business opportunities - our senior partner picks up business from contacts he meets on the go-karting circuit. When he looked for an assistant solicitor, he chose one who shared his passion for motor sport. Do you play golf?

Good luck, but don't waste too much time in pursuit if you find you are banging your head against a brick wall - you'll be judged adversely for not being good enough/lucky enough to get a TC within a reasonable period of time.
Told you it was hard !

high street solicitor -15 Jan 2010 | 14:08

Play down any non-law experience

My experience is that there is a dislike of non-law experience of any substance. Commercial awareness is talked up but commercial experience is a distraction, to the extent that I was turned down for several training contracts for being too experienced to be taken on in a trainee position. Graduate recruitment are tick-boxers who don't like the unknown, so build up the law firm open-days, work shadowing and vac schemes (even if they were a waste of time), and be careful how you put forward any real commercial background.

Al -20 Jan 2010 | 17:13

I'm honestly amazed that you haven't waltzed into a job given your academic background. Maybe as others have suggested you're viewed as too old for a vac scheme and should apply directly for a TC. I would definitely show your application to someone who's already got a TC, or ask to see their application. I got no interviews with my first few apps. After seeing a successful application I realised what I'd been doing wrong.

GimmeaTC -21 Jan 2010 | 16:11

Thank you

Thanks for all the really helpful comments!

I have started applying for TCs instead now, and have just got a place on an open day for next month. I appreciate all of the points made above and will now make even more of my previous work experience, sports and extra-curricular, and real potential as a commercial lawyer.

Wish me luck!! :-)

Still Hopeful! -25 Jan 2010 | 13:25

Qualifications in what?

Cambridge doesn't run a law MPhil, does it?
What were/are your Bachelors/Masters in?

Charlie November -01 Feb 2010 | 19:48

Quals

BA is in Land Economy and MPhil is also in Land Economy, for which I am researching a 30,000 word thesis on corporate insolvency and the property landlord...

Still Hopeful! -02 Mar 2010 | 21:50