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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2024-25

sibs23

Legendary Member
Jan 15, 2021
222
441
Consider also that the DAS is rolling to the extent that they give some offers before the deadline but the TC is only that they progress to AC before the deadline, I believe. Direct TC might fare better (that being said I sent an application today and it was for the DAS, and I'm also second-guessing myself since you can only apply once a year and I like the firm)
Thank you. I got caught out by the different date on the job page compared to the early careers page. The last half hour has been a mad rush copying everything over to the form! I hate rushing like that - I feel sick. I've decided to go for the DAS. Just going to hope for the best now
 
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Chris Brown

Legendary Member
Jul 4, 2024
595
1,962
Any interests that don't require you to make a commitment to others. For instance, it could be hobbies that are very much from a self-interest point or activities that are solo pursuits or where the output is really only for your benefit rather than other people's.
Thank you Jessica! :)

Would you say I should aim to hit the word count on this question or is it fine if I am a bit below it e.g., 350/400 out of 500?
 

sapphireoreos

Valued Member
Feb 20, 2023
107
176
@Jessica Booker I’m applying to Withers, and they have a 60 word question asking to give details of my current interests and activities including the nature of your involvement. I therefore have three questions. Firstly, does interests and activities in this context means extracurriculars (e.g. society executive roles) or hobbies (e.g. language learning)? The Form doesn’t have a separate question about positions of responsibilities and extracurriculars, so I’ve put them in my work experience section for now.

Secondly, what would the best approach be? Should I focus on one thing and expand on it, or bullet point multiple activities? Similarly, what is your advice on how to tackle 60 word questions, as I’m used to 200-350 word questions? Thank you!
 

S7321

Star Member
Jan 3, 2025
27
56
@Jessica Booker Have sent you a PM on this with more details, but I entered my University module grades from memory into a VS application form because I couldn't access my transcript. Now I have my transcript, and there are some minor discrepancies (like 1-2% points off, but grades remain unchanged). Should I flag this proactively to graduate recruitment?
 

Miss Chocolate

Legendary Member
Nov 27, 2023
428
487
May be a stupid question, but would you say it's important to make an impression on an Open Day? Am I OK to turn up with any questions I may have and ask them to people if I speak with them individually? Is there anything else I need to do, like make an effort with graduate recruitment or something 💀💀

any insights would be appreciated, thank you!! @Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker
 

jta227

Legendary Member
Nov 10, 2024
144
280
May be a stupid question, but would you say it's important to make an impression on an Open Day? Am I OK to turn up with any questions I may have and ask them to people if I speak with them individually? Is there anything else I need to do, like make an effort with graduate recruitment or something 💀💀

any insights would be appreciated, thank you!! @Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker

Making a good impression is always a good thing, but it’s unlikely it will completely carry an application that is not up to the firm’s quality. They can only get to know so much of you in one day. What’s probably more important is getting good insights and info to tailor your application more so it’s better - which indeed may involve talking to a lot of people.

I think it’s important not to make a *bad* impression though by trying too hard to impress people - that’s not what an open day is for. Treat it as a two-way thing and just be normal IMO. Asking any questions you have will be fine. What made me cringe is when after a talk the speaker would ask for questions and people would shoehorn in some random deal or development they had looked up before and try and relate it to the talk.
 

Miss Chocolate

Legendary Member
Nov 27, 2023
428
487
Making a good impression is always a good thing, but it’s unlikely it will completely carry an application that is not up to the firm’s quality. They can only get to know so much of you in one day. What’s probably more important is getting good insights and info to tailor your application more so it’s better - which indeed may involve talking to a lot of people.

I think it’s important not to make a *bad* impression though by trying too hard to impress people - that’s not what an open day is for. Treat it as a two-way thing and just be normal IMO. Asking any questions you have will be fine. What made me cringe is when after a talk the speaker would ask for questions and people would shoehorn in some random deal or development they had looked up before and try and relate it to the talk.
Thanks for this!! They aren't sharing information on who's speaking during the event so not sure i can go with specific questions but we shall see...maybe they will release that information the night before.
 

CHLTC

Well-Known Member
Nov 28, 2023
22
35
Hi @CHLTC I really empathize with your struggles, as case studies/written tasks were always the hardest part of ACs for me as well. I don't think there is a specific method you can prepare, since as you mentioned, they come in a wide variety of formats. In my view, the only way to prepare is by developing the underlying skills every case study will seek to test: time-management and work under pressure, clarity of writing and structure, commercial awareness and analysis, ability to digest large amounts of information, etc.

To do that, I think it is useful to both practice actual case studies and to read more widely about the commercial matters that might be relevant for them. A particularly helpful resource for me was the course offered by TCLA on the matter (which you can find here). It includes a number of mock PE and M&A case studies, recordings of two hour long sessions explaining how to think through written/interview style M&A case studies, and a number of questions that are analyzed in depth by the TCLA team. To link a few useful free resources on TCLA:
  • An amazing guide for M&A case studies by @Jacob Miller, which includes both a mock case study and a model answer with detailed explanations of how you should think through the materials (which you can find here).
  • A mock written case study offered by TCLA here.
  • An excellent article written by @Jaysen Sutton, which explains the process, types, structures, and general terms of an M&A transaction (which you can find here).
  • A glossary of M&A terms by @Amma Usman here.
Besides these, I have also found a few external resources you may want to take a look at:
Finally, I quoted bellow a recent post I wrote which I think you could find useful - it includes my top tips for any written task:
Hi Andrei, thank you so much for all of this. This is incredibly kind of you to write all this and give me all these useful links. I really appreciate it. Thank you very much, I will look through these in detail.
 
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James Wakefield

Legendary Member
Premium Member
Oct 7, 2024
269
708
Is the Withers Vacation Scheme freestanding? As in, do you have to separately apply for their TC after?
Hi all. Still not clear on this so any advice would be really helpful.

On the website there’s one small section which says “Learn about our one week vacation schemes that allow you to get to know the firm before you apply for a training contract.”

Just wondering if that means the VS is freestanding at Withers?
 
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Jessica Booker

Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
15,299
21,356
@Jessica Booker I’m applying to Withers, and they have a 60 word question asking to give details of my current interests and activities including the nature of your involvement. I therefore have three questions. Firstly, does interests and activities in this context means extracurriculars (e.g. society executive roles) or hobbies (e.g. language learning)? The Form doesn’t have a separate question about positions of responsibilities and extracurriculars, so I’ve put them in my work experience section for now.

Secondly, what would the best approach be? Should I focus on one thing and expand on it, or bullet point multiple activities? Similarly, what is your advice on how to tackle 60 word questions, as I’m used to 200-350 word questions? Thank you!
The question will cover extracurriculars and hobbies. I wouldn't use bullet points. I would try to highlight 2-3 key activities you think are most important/relevant to you or that you are not covering in the work experience section - you'll just need to be super concise. I would recommend focusing on the results/outcomes from your activities rather than detail on your actions.
 
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Chris Brown

Legendary Member
Jul 4, 2024
595
1,962
Hi all. Still not clear on this so any advice would be really helpful.

On the website there’s one small section which says “Learn about our one week vacation schemes that allow you to get to know the firm before you apply for a training contract.”

Just wondering if that means the VS is freestanding at Withers?
Based on the wording I think they are separate from each other.

Since it says the VS will allow you to get to know the firm ‘before you apply for a training contract’ - I think this means the VS just acts like a insight scheme and you must then apply for the TC separately.

It might be that you need to do the scheme in order to apply for the TC so it acts as a fast track route? Not entirely sure if this is the case though.
 
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James Wakefield

Legendary Member
Premium Member
Oct 7, 2024
269
708
Based on the wording I think they are separate from each other.

Since it says the VS will let you to get to know the firm ‘before you apply for a training contract’ - I think this means the VS just acts like a insight scheme and u must then apply for the TC separately.

It might be that you need to do the scheme in order to apply for the TC so it acts as a fast track route? Not entirely sure if this is the case though.
It’s weird though because there’s no other reference anywhere on the website or on the graduate brochure!
 
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Jessica Booker

Legendary Member
TCLA Moderator
Gold Member
Graduate Recruitment
Premium Member
Forum Team
Aug 1, 2019
15,299
21,356
May be a stupid question, but would you say it's important to make an impression on an Open Day? Am I OK to turn up with any questions I may have and ask them to people if I speak with them individually? Is there anything else I need to do, like make an effort with graduate recruitment or something 💀💀

any insights would be appreciated, thank you!! @Andrei Radu @Jessica Booker
Yes, it is important to make a good impression on an open day.

Just focus on active listening and balance asking your questions to the right people, at the right time. If you show enthusiasm and interest, you will make a favourable impression. Don't try to hard to impress - that's usually where it goes wrong.
 
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AlegalA

Legendary Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Dec 4, 2023
227
455
It’s weird though because there’s no other reference anywhere on the website or on the graduate brochure!
TCLA did do a list with firms who applied from VS or TC, and Withers is in the "Mostly from Vacation Scheme but with a consistently healthy direct TC intake" list, so hopefully it is automatic? (only thing is it's dated back to 2022/23 so maybe it's changed). Also their TC deadline is in March, which is before both spring and summer VS happen, so successful VS applicants would have to wait a year before applying which seems long.
 
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