Does anyone have any advice regarding an application question which asks what is your unique selling point and why? Would it be advisable to talk about skills or past work experience here?
Yes, it would be advisable to talk about skills or past work experience, but the key is to frame them in a way that highlights what makes you stand out. A "unique selling point" (USP) should focus on what differentiates you from other applicants; this could be a combination of your skills, experiences, background, or personal attributes.
If you have a particularly strong or uncommon work experience (e.g., a mix of legal, financial, and regulatory experience), that could be a great angle. Alternatively, if your skill set is distinctive (e.g., ability to bridge legal and commercial considerations effectively), you could focus on that.
For example, you could say:
"My unique selling point is my ability to combine legal expertise with commercial insight, developed through my experience at X,Y, and Z. Having worked in legal, compliance, and financial roles, I understand not only the legal frameworks governing transactions but also the strategic considerations that drive them. This enables me to add value beyond legal analysis by anticipating commercial implications. For example, taking part in X task where I X, I applied knowledge from all three listed domains which resulted in….”
For questions like this, you can really talk about anything! It’s not about the USP itself, it’s about how you link it back to your experiences and self which could demonstrate some strong candidacy.