2020-21 Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion

[Jessica Booker]

In general, when are referees contacted? I'm assuming it varies from firm to firm but is the norm for contact to be made after an offer is made?

There is no set rule on this. Some firms contact referees once they invite people to the final stage of their recruitment process so they know they have the reference before they make the person the offer.

Look at the language used to gather your reference information when you apply. You have to declare you are happy for references to be contacted, so if you have ticked a box to say that's ok, your references could be contacted at any point.

If you haven't done this, then the firm has to contact you to let you know they will be contacting references and to get your permission to do this.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Yes, it's normally only after the firm have made you an offer as it would be quite tedious for a firm to contact every referee of every person that applies!

Some firms will do it once they know they are interviewing someone. They don't want to be in a position where they offer someone and then have to retract it on the basis of something that's written in their reference.

 

[MS2000]

Has anyone else not heard a single thing from any firm in about 2 weeks?

 

[Kubed]

There is no set rule on this. Some firms contact referees once they invite people to the final stage of their recruitment process so they know they have the reference before they make the person the offer.

Look at the language used to gather your reference information when you apply. You have to declare you are happy for references to be contacted, so if you have ticked a box to say that's ok, your references could be contacted at any point.

If you haven't done this, then the firm has to contact you to let you know they will be contacting references and to get your permission to do this.

Thanks, useful to know!

 

[LegalNim]

Some firms will do it once they know they are interviewing someone. They don't want to be in a position where they offer someone and then have to retract it on the basis of something that's written in their reference.

Do you know what firms tend to ask referees? Is it checking what we've submitted on the form is correct? or do they have to write about us? If they don't write much or write well then do you think we'll be penalised? My professional referee is an engineer and isn't so much with the words haha.

 

[M1999]

Has anyone still not heard back from addleshaw Goddard post VI? Been over two weeks now

 

[TChopeful2021]

Has anyone completed an assessment centre with Dentons? If so, I would appreciate any tips! Thank you.

 

[law230]

Has anyone else not heard a single thing from any firm in about 2 weeks?

no news good news??? its getting harder to believe.

 

[Shannon Balnaves]

So, I had an interview in middle of December and was told I would be contacted in Jan. Its now the middle of February... in general, is it appropriate to contact firms and ask about when you will be contacted? I dont want to seem impatient or anything, but getting more anxious by the day! Thanks all

 

[M1999]

So, I had an interview in middle of December and was told I would be contacted in Jan. Its now the middle of February... in general, is it appropriate to contact firms and ask about when you will be contacted? I dont want to seem impatient or anything, but getting more anxious by the day! Thanks all

Definitely contact. People do it all the time and waiting that long post interview I don’t blame you for being anxious!

 

[CareerChanger]

me receiving an invite for Arctic shores from TV having seen how much everyone on here thinks it’s a terrible measure

 

[Polyglot]

Has anyone still not heard back from addleshaw Goddard post VI? Been over two weeks now

Still waiting for my VI invite like

 

[AH97]

Guys is it worth emailing MB given I did my tests on 29th December and still haven't heard back? I've heard they haven't really replied to emails either

I'm in the exact same position! I emailed them yesterday and they responded today saying:

"We have received a vast number of applications this year which has resulted in us taking a little longer than usual to get back to you with an update. We will get back to you with an outcome as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience."

I think that they must be swamped!

 

[AH97]

Some firms will do it once they know they are interviewing someone. They don't want to be in a position where they offer someone and then have to retract it on the basis of something that's written in their reference.

I know it will vary, but what kind of general things in a reference could result in the offer being retracted?

 

[Numerius Negidius]

My FF application hasn't been updated since December...

 

[Mxkry]

When can we expect to hear from Simmons & Simmons Post-VI?

 

[MzM]

Binned by Morgan Lewis post phone interview. They won’t give feedback which is a bit of a let down. Good luck to everyone else still waiting!

 

[ishikam]

When can we expect to hear from Simmons & Simmons Post-VI?

When did you do yours? I did mine on 19th January and haven't heard back yet! A friend of mine who did it after me got rejected already so idk whats the process.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Do you know what firms tend to ask referees? Is it checking what we've submitted on the form is correct? or do they have to write about us? If they don't write much or write well then do you think we'll be penalised? My professional referee is an engineer and isn't so much with the words haha.

Some firms will ask for quite significant feedback on a candidate from main referees. But it is very much up to the referee what they respond with. Many employers and academic institutions have a standardised policy to only provide factual information (e.g. employment dates, job title, grades achieved etc).

As a candidate, you won't be penalised if a referee doesn't provide more substantial detail. You may need to provide a subsequent referee who is willing to provide a character reference for you though. This happens with me a lot, even now as someone who is self-employed, and I have a university friend who is in a job that is deemed reputable enough and in a regaulated industry who has provided a character reference for me when my factual references haven't provided insight into my "character".

 

[layk]

Not a word! I think some people have been invited to interview but I applied 2 days before the deadline and haven’t heard anything since. When did you apply if you don’t mind me asking?

I applied around two weeks before the deadline! I'm wondering if it's a PFO or if they've just had an influx of applications :/ Although when I applied last year and got through to interview, it only took them two weeks to get back to me so I wonder if that's anything to go by.