Hi Jess,
I hope all is well!
A quick question - is being a little socially awkward / very self-critical absolutely detrimental to your chances of being offered a tc spot after a vac scheme? Are you truly being assessed during every second of the scheme ( even in the grad rec presentation talks) (even when the firms suggests you're only being assessed on assessments) ?
I recently completed a vac scheme with a firm I LOVE and I felt like I enjoyed myself and was significantly more comfortable at the firm than at another firm I did a vac scheme with. But I worry I came across as too socially awkward/ insecure.
I saw a Linkedin post from someone with a great academic profile who was rejected for being 'too self-critical,' and at first, I thought it was a US firm, that rejects people for any reason, but it was a firm which I would argue takes similar trainees to the firm I did my vac scheme at.
I know I am a lot less self-critical/socially awkward in the legal working environment, having worked in the legal industry ( and was out of the blue told by a partner on the scheme, that I come across as very confident during a coffee chat), but I think the competitive nature of the vac scheme and knowing everyone's academic profile is significantly better than mine ( did I just get in on diversity) / I am the oldest in the room made me come across as insecure/socially awkward at times.
I don't even know how to realistically fix being insecure/self-critical/socially awkward.