TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

Jessica Booker

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Hi @Jessica Booker, what is your advice on following up with firms - i.e., for application updates?
General rules:

Do you need an answer or do you just want an answer? If there is an actual need (e.g. you need to know for other recruitment processes/commitments), then it is okay to ask. If it is just to give you some reassurance, I generally say avoid asking and trying to sit it out.

If you know many other candidates have heard back and you haven't, it is okay to ask when you may hear back. If it sounds like many candidates are waiting to hear back, then I would just be patient and wait.

If a firm provided a timeline as to when you would hear back and it is more than 1 week beyond that deadline, then you could ask for an update on timelines.
 

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General rules:

Do you need an answer or do you just want an answer? If there is an actual need (e.g. you need to know for other recruitment processes/commitments), then it is okay to ask. If it is just to give you some reassurance, I generally say avoid asking and trying to sit it out.

If you know many other candidates have heard back and you haven't, it is okay to ask when you may hear back. If it sounds like many candidates are waiting to hear back, then I would just be patient and wait.

If a firm provided a timeline as to when you would hear back and it is more than 1 week beyond that deadline, then you could ask for an update on timelines.
Thank you so much, that really helps
 

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This is really not an issue - I wouldn't worry about this as it is very normal.

If you/your department are very quiet, maybe ask your supervisor if there are any old tasks that maybe a trainee did for them that you could effectively replicate that you could then compare the trainee's output too and get feedback from the supervisor and/or trainee on.
Thanks for your reply!!!

It’s the opposite situation actually. The department is incredibly busy but it is the trainees rather than the partners/senior associates who seem to have the most ‘vac schemer appropriate’ tasks. I have been so busy that I don’t even need to go out of my way to ask for additional tasks but I did wonder whether it was important for me to go out of my way to get tasks from associates/partners directly.
 

Jessica Booker

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TCLA Moderator
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Graduate Recruitment
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Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
15,334
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Thanks for your reply!!!

It’s the opposite situation actually. The department is incredibly busy but it is the trainees rather than the partners/senior associates who seem to have the most ‘vac schemer appropriate’ tasks. I have been so busy that I don’t even need to go out of my way to ask for additional tasks but I did wonder whether it was important for me to go out of my way to get tasks for associates/partners directly.
I definitely wouldn't worry about it then - you don't need your tasks to go via partners or associates directly. I would just try to put some effort to engage with them outside of tasks when you can.
 
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Jessica Booker

Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
15,334
21,414
Does anyone have an email address to HR for HFW (not their early careers contact but for general HR enquiries) - cannot seem to find it anywhere?
I’d probably call their switchboard and ask for this as it probably isn’t something put out externally where HR is generally an internal function.
 

trainee4u

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Sep 7, 2023
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