Ask A Graduate Recruiter Anything!

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker should I be reaching out to my interviewers after an assessment centre to connect via LinkedIn, or would that be too much?

Should makes it sound like you have to. You definitely don't have to.

Many people do this and ultimately it is ok to do - they can ultimately ignore your LinkedIn message or turn down your connection request.

My personal opinion is its a bit too much to do this just because someone has interviewed you though. I think it is fine if you secure the role, but just connecting with them after an interview I find a little cringey (but people will disagree with me on this!).

 

[djqb]

Should makes it sound like you have to. You definitely don't have to.

Many people do this and ultimately it is ok to do - they can ultimately ignore your LinkedIn message or turn down your connection request.

My personal opinion is its a bit too much to do this just because someone has interviewed you though. I think it is fine if you secure the role, but just connecting with them after an interview I find a little cringey (but people will disagree with me on this!).

Thanks for clarifying Jessica! You're right, I think it makes more sense to wait until an outcome, otherwise it comes off quite weird and cringey.

 

[djqb]

Hi @Jessica Booker, I recently did an AC and I'm awaiting the outcome, which is supposed to come via phone call. I'm going to be travelling outside the UK in the next week.

Should I email GR informing them of this? (since I won't have access to my UK phone number)

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker, I recently did an AC and I'm awaiting the outcome, which is supposed to come via phone call. I'm going to be travelling outside the UK in the next week.

Should I email GR informing them of this? (since I won't have access to my UK phone number)

Yes - you can send them a brief email to let them know your alternative contact details or whether contacting you via email is better, and explain when you will be back on your U.K. number.

 

[djqb]

Yes - you can send them a brief email to let them know your alternative contact details or whether contacting you via email is better, and explain when you will be back on your U.K. number.

Thank you Jessica!

 

[M991]

Hi @Jessica Booker. Hope you’re well.

I just wanted to ask what is meant by "Do we have a permission to contact this company for a reference at this time?" on Vero, when filling out my screening form for a vac scheme. I have completed most of my work experiences abroad and I do not think that references are particularly common there (especially when it comes to waitering jobs, etc.). I am sure that those organisations will be able to confirm that I worked there, but do I have to let them know that Vero may possibly get in touch with them and inquire about me?

Thank you very much!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker. Hope you’re well.

I just wanted to ask what is meant by "Do we have a permission to contact this company for a reference at this time?" on Vero, when filling out my screening form for a vac scheme. I have completed most of my work experiences abroad and I do not think that references are particularly common (especially when it comes to waitering jobs, etc.). I am sure that those organisation will be able to confirm that I worked there, but do I have to let them know that Vero may possible get in touch with them and inquire about me?

Thank you very much!

For data protection reasons, they are asking whether you consent to Vero contacting the companies via the details you have given. The only time it is really ok to say no is if you are still in employment and you don’t want your current employer contacted yet. If you say no, Vero are just likely to ask you why you don’t agree to that employer being contacted.

For politeness and efficiency, I would contact previous employers to check you have the right contact details and to inform them that a recent employer could be coming their way.

 

[M991]

For data protection reasons, they are asking whether you consent to Vero contacting the companies via the details you have given. The only time it is really ok to say no is if you are still in employment and you don’t want your current employer contacted yet. If you say no, Vero are just likely to ask you why you don’t agree to that employer being contacted.

For politeness and efficiency, I would contact previous employers to check you have the right contact details and to inform them that a recent employer could be coming their way.

Thank you so much!

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

Hello @Jessica Booker hope you are doing well. I was just filling out the Ashurst Direct TC app and had four questions so could you please help me out?

1. Ashurst asks for more information regarding my education system particularly because I did not study in the UK. I studied in New Delhi, India and did my Class 10 and 12 there. If I remember correctly, you had briefly mentioned that most grad recs are aware of how these classes work in India so I'm not sure about whether I should add any extra detail explaining my school education or not. If I should add anything, what would that even be, I'm just confused.

2: For "Please use this section to tell us about yourself, your skills, achievements and why you want to train as a solicitor and work at Ashurst." , how many words should I dedicate to each individual attribute asked and most importantly, for the part "why you want to train as a solicitor and work at Ashurst" - Does the Ashurst part have to be the most detailed when compared to the other parts of the question or does everything have equal weighting?

3: Is a more recent piece of work experience better than something that is six months old? The issue is that I don't want to write stuff about the newer work ex piece because I don't have the time tbh and I have a similar experience that I had already written about. Both of these are law firm internships.

4: "If you intend to do the GDL/LPC/SQE, when and where do you propose to commence this?" Absolutely no clue on how to answer this. I want to do it as quickly and cheaply as possible but wondering if I can say it on the application?


Thanks in advance.

 

[Casual]

Hello @Jessica Booker

I hope you are well.

I recently got a vacation scheme offer and the firm wants to carry out a background check (through the Vero platform). On my application form, there is an informal work experience outside the UK that I got through a family friend at a casino (so no employment contract). I worked there for a couple of weeks only and I doubt anyone would be able to confirm I worked there now as it was 4 years ago.

If there is no way to confirm this work experience, how would that affect my background check and chances of securing VS and later a TC with a firm?

 

[polarbearpistachio]

Hi Jessica,

I'm a future trainee but i'm not due to start my LPC until September. Do I have to ask my firm for permission before I undertake any paralegal opportunities or is it common place for this to occur?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica,

I'm a future trainee but i'm not due to start my LPC until September. Do I have to ask my firm for permission before I undertake any paralegal opportunities or is it common place for this to occur?

Double check the terms of your offer letter, but I wouldn’t expect there to be any where you are not employed until you start with the firm (and therefore it’s more difficult for them for them to restrict your employment before then).

 

[polarbearpistachio]

Double check the terms of your offer letter, but I wouldn’t expect there to be any where you are not employed until you start with the firm (and therefore it’s more difficult for them for them to restrict your employment before then).

Is it worth double-checking with grad rec anyway if I'm unsure?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Is it worth double-checking with grad rec anyway if I'm unsure?

Yes, you can do if you want to be sure.

 

[nisadee]

Hi @Jessica Booker
I'm doing a spring vac scheme and summer vac scheme and I've just got an email from the summer firm asking to come into their offices for a pre-vs event to meet the team, get to know my trainee buddy etc. however, the date clashes with the spring scheme. what would be the best course of action? should i let them know i'm doing a spring scheme? i worry because the spring scheme firm is a very different type of firm to the summer firm so i don't really want them to know about it...

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker
I'm doing a spring vac scheme and summer vac scheme and I've just got an email from the summer firm asking to come into their offices for a pre-vs event to meet the team, get to know my trainee buddy etc. however, the date clashes with the spring scheme. what would be the best course of action? should i let them know i'm doing a spring scheme? i worry because the spring scheme firm is a very different type of firm to the summer firm so i don't really want them to know about it...

I would just explain that you have to work over the Easter break and won’t be able to take time off from work. Give them your other availability and ask if there is any alternative dates would be available to come in.

The firm is going to find out about your other scheme anyway, so I wouldn’t worry to much about disclosing it to them.

 

[syw]

Hi @Jessica Booker , I have had a couple of experiences when interviewing for paralegal roles at city firms in London that have essentially confused me. In essence, I have been asked 'what are your long-term ambitions', and I have found that answering in all honesty, namely that I am aiming to be a commercial solicitor really does not go down well, even for contractual paralegal positions! I have even overheard partners at previous international firms in London where I used to work say the same thing about paralegal candidates. It strikes me as odd because surely there are very good attributes in a candidate if they are generally very ambitious. I ask this because I am at a mental hurdle as to whether to now answer honestly, or simply lie, and make out that I want to be a career paralegal, and am happy with the work-life balance staying put. Any thoughts on this would be great. It just makes no sense to me, and feels like an extra unnecessary law-related tick box hurdle.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi @Jessica Booker , I have had a couple of experiences when interviewing for paralegal roles at city firms in London that have essentially confused me. In essence, I have been asked 'what are your long-term ambitions', and I have found that answering in all honesty, namely that I am aiming to be a commercial solicitor really does not go down well, even for contractual paralegal positions! I have even overheard partners at previous international firms in London where I used to work say the same thing about paralegal candidates. It strikes me as odd because surely there are very good attributes in a candidate if they are generally very ambitious. I ask this because I am at a mental hurdle as to whether to now answer honestly, or simply lie, and make out that I want to be a career paralegal, and am happy with the work-life balance staying put. Any thoughts on this would be great. It just makes no sense to me, and feels like an extra unnecessary law-related tick box hurdle.

Some firms or for particular roles are not looking for people to progress - they are looking for career paralegals (sometimes even with contract roles).

Even with contract roles that are not looking for career paralegals, they can be concerned about your longevity even for the length of the contract. For instance, a 12 month contract now, and firms could be worried you’d be going off to start the LPC/SQE in September of this year or could secure a TC that starts before the contract is due to end.

 

[futuretraineesolicitor]

Hello @Jessica Booker hope you are doing well. My apologies for reposting this. I was just filling out the Ashurst Direct TC app and had three questions so could you please help me out?

1. Ashurst asks for more information regarding my education system particularly because I did not study in the UK. I studied in New Delhi, India and did my Class 10 and 12 there. If I remember correctly, you had briefly mentioned that most grad recs are aware of how these classes work in India so I'm not sure about whether I should add any extra detail explaining my school education or not. If I should add anything, what would that even be, I'm just confused.

2: For "Please use this section to tell us about yourself, your skills, achievements and why you want to train as a solicitor and work at Ashurst." , how many words should I dedicate to each individual attribute asked and most importantly, for the part "why you want to train as a solicitor and work at Ashurst" - Does the Ashurst part have to be the most detailed when compared to the other parts of the question or does everything have equal weighting?

2(b)- I feel there is an overlap between the "skills" and the "achievements" here because my skills will only be backed by my achievements, otherwise I won't be able to claim that I'm skilled in XYZ without the evidence which will come from the achievements.

3: "If you intend to do the GDL/LPC/SQE, when and where do you propose to commence this?" Absolutely no clue on how to answer this. I want to do it as quickly and cheaply as possible but wondering if I can say that on the application?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hello @Jessica Booker hope you are doing well. My apologies for reposting this. I was just filling out the Ashurst Direct TC app and had three questions so could you please help me out?

1. Ashurst asks for more information regarding my education system particularly because I did not study in the UK. I studied in New Delhi, India and did my Class 10 and 12 there. If I remember correctly, you had briefly mentioned that most grad recs are aware of how these classes work in India so I'm not sure about whether I should add any extra detail explaining my school education or not. If I should add anything, what would that even be, I'm just confused.

2: For "Please use this section to tell us about yourself, your skills, achievements and why you want to train as a solicitor and work at Ashurst." , how many words should I dedicate to each individual attribute asked and most importantly, for the part "why you want to train as a solicitor and work at Ashurst" - Does the Ashurst part have to be the most detailed when compared to the other parts of the question or does everything have equal weighting?

2(b)- I feel there is an overlap between the "skills" and the "achievements" here because my skills will only be backed by my achievements, otherwise I won't be able to claim that I'm skilled in XYZ without the evidence which will come from the achievements.

3: "If you intend to do the GDL/LPC/SQE, when and where do you propose to commence this?" Absolutely no clue on how to answer this. I want to do it as quickly and cheaply as possible but wondering if I can say that on the application?

Thanks in advance.

1) You can add your qualifications/grades and then in brackets put “GCSE equivalent” or “A-level equivalent”

2) There isn’t really isn’t an answer to this. Different people will allocate a number of words differently and still be successful. As you have suggested you might want to amalgamate the skills and achievements anyway too.

3) You need to think about this and present some form of answer that is relevant to you. You may want to explain that due to financial constraints compounded by relocating to the U.K. your decision to take a course would be determined by sponsorship provided by the firm but that as you have said you would look to complete the course as soon as possible upon receiving financial support/sponsorship from the firm you train with.