Career Clinic: Do firms only want foreign recruits for their business contacts?

Prejudice? what prejudice!

Gosh! People actually stereotype races in the City or in the profession? Who would have thought!

Despite holding lofty ideals of no prejudice and merit only, the industry is run by humans and they will always do that. It's akin to an Asian firm hiring a white face to sit in the meetings when travelling to West for business.

I admit my comments above do not answer your immediate concerns (and they may sound cocky for which I am sorry). But stick to facts and prepare for the worst. Gather your experience and move on to an option which is more close to your heart (this does not mean a Chinese business but a city which knows merits matters).

Good luck.

RIL -27 May 2010 | 06:54

You don't say how long you've been in the UK but assuming you speak Mandarin (either as your first language or at a standard sufficient to be used in business), then I would say you are targeting the wrong firms. You should be targeting the top tier that have or want businesses in China.

Ex-Magic Circle Lawyer -27 May 2010 | 09:21

Learn how to sell yourself

Given the number of talented people chasing training contracts, in the absence of any eye-catching, extra curricular bells and whistles on the CV, a 2:1 degree from a Russell Group university will, as you acknowledge, not make you stand out.

However, you have been invited to several interviews, even though you did not highlight in your application the potential business development benefits associated with your origins (because, as you admit, there aren’t any).

This suggests that you – on paper at least – are good enough to be considered for a training contract on the basis of your academic record and CV experience alone and the decision to interview (and subsequently reject) you was independent of your (in)ability to bring in business.

The truth is that no law firm expects its trainees to be rain makers (and no trainee applicant will be rejected purely because he cannot guarantee to bring in business).

So where should you apply? Well, if you speak any of the Chinese languages to a high standard, the top international firms may be interested, even if your academics are not first class. These guys are global and, to them, the local Chinese community is China itself.

In any event, it sounds like it is your interview performance (and not your university background or CV) which is the barrier to clinching the deal. Accordingly, you would perhaps benefit from some interview guidance (perhaps with friends who have been trough the process or your university career adviser) so that you can approach future interviews with more confidence and focus.

Good luck.

Hagar -27 May 2010 | 10:07

Try harder

I agree with the above poster. You are obviously fairly capable and your CV has merit, but you need some interview practice. There are always going to be prejudices, but rather than seeing your ethnicity as a barrier, you need to find a way to market it to turn it into an advantage.

I have a Japanese peer who speaks hardly a word of Japanese, was born in this country and has managed to market herself as a pioneer for the firm's development in Asia and because no one else is Japanese, they hardly question her. She also went to a Russell Group university and got a 2.1. There are a lot of Chinese students, so you need to brush up on your knowledge about your ethnicity. Read up on the economist, find out more about China and target firms looking to expand in that area. Good luck.

Anon -27 May 2010 | 11:43

Blag It

Just big yourself up and say you know all the Chinese, can bring in business, are fascinated by the growth of China, are looking to seize every opportunity... some expansive US or MC firm will snap you up because they will be fascinated by this eastern promise and afraid to challenge you for fear of being accused of racist. Go for it.

billyblagg -27 May 2010 | 13:55

My friend, I think you are misinterpreting the question. I doubt the interviewer is expecting you to say that you have loads of Chinese contacts and can turn that into instructions for the firm. You are applying to become a trainee not a senior associate or partner.

Your answer should aim to demonstrate (a) understanding of the firm's objectives; (b) commercial awareness; (c) self awareness.

I was going to give you a model answer but that's going make it too easy. Best of luck.

anon -27 May 2010 | 14:33

Everyone markets at smaller firms

The smaller the firm, the sooner you need to pay your way by bringing in work. As others have suggested your interviewers are, at best, being lazy in where they assume your target market might lie. If it's not ethnic then you need to be able to say what it is or might potentially be.

If you can't point to a network in an ethnic community, is there another? Could you talk about belonging to or joining a networking organisation when you start your training contract?

Anonymous -27 May 2010 | 16:28

Hi, you say that 'knowing that I am not Oxbridge or 1st class material, I have specifically targeted smaller full-service firms'.

Having being involved in graduate recruitment for a magic circle law firm, I do not agree. The MC firm I worked for were interested in recruiting bright, non-Oxbridge individuals and also very open to Chinese applicants.

I would apply to MC firms if I were you. You certainly have nothing to lose. Good luck.

Anonymous -28 May 2010 | 14:28

Y E S

The answer is simply yes.

Andreas -31 May 2010 | 10:07