Are you a future trainee?

We're hiring at TCLA. Apply by midnight on 31 March 2025.
Apply Now

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jaysen" data-source="post: 13344" data-attributes="member: 1">From anonymous <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> --Hi all,It’s been great to read about everyone’s success stories- what a nice way to keep candidates motivated!I agree with a lot of what everyone has said here that there definitely is an element of luck. While it’s easy to feel disheartened, you do need to remember (and I actually read this on a TCLA forum!) that it only takes one firm and one offer. I was lucky enough to secure a TC with PwC only on my third cycle of making applications. Prior to this, I’d never gone past the HR interview stage- my assessment centre with PwC was actually my first and only!I was studying the BPTC when I was on my third cycle of applications. I never wanted to become a barrister- I applied for the BPTC purely because it would help me qualify back in my home country, and my intentions were always to be a solicitor.Nonetheless, I found myself at a disadvantage while making apps- the consensus seemed to be that recruiters might have doubts about my commitment to the profession unless I was successful in convincing them of my reasons for doing the BPTC, as opposed to the LPC. From my perspective, this meant that I had less success getting past the application sift, despite getting better at writing these applications. When I received my AC invitation from PwC this February, I had applied to 8 firms and received 7 rejections. I was incredibly stressed and had a massive case of imposter syndrome- never in a million years would I have expected to get through and receive a TC offer.It’s been quite a journey, but I cannot emphasise enough how rewarding it is. Looking back at the process, here’s what I wish I knew earlier:1) NetworkingI only really appreciated the importance of networking in my third cycle, and it’s definitely easier said than done- as an introvert, I completely understand that networking can be painful. That being said, I wouldn’t have secured a TC offer with my dream firm without the help of a lot of amazing people. By networking you’ll also learn how to adapt to different people and social situations while improving your conversational skills- so important for building rapport with your interviewer!2) Preparation Think about why you’re applying to the firm you’re applying to, and avoid taking a scattergun approach, despite how tempting it is. Look at a wide range of resources while doing your research so you get a comprehensive view of things, and make use of your university’s employability service.The TCLA courses have been an absolute godsend- so easy to understand and really helped put whatever I read on FT into perspective. I’ve used bits and pieces in my AC and interview, as well as while preparing my case study during my vac scheme. The mock interview was really helpful as well, and I received a lot of positive feedback because of the last minute tips I learned from my mock interviewer.When in doubt, ask- something might seem really complex, but someone would have gone through the process before! We were asked to prepare a bail application during my vac scheme and I had near-zero experience in this area- I reached out to a classmate who was applying for the Criminal Bar, and she was really helpful in helping me prepare for this.The City can seem quite intimidating, but there are a lot of places where you can get support. Consider initiatives such as SEO, Aspiring Solicitors (AS) and Rare- I personally found AS’s Springboard event super informative and it really got me into the right mindset for my vac scheme.3) Self-careSurround yourself with a good support network you can fall back on when things get stressful, as juggling the application process with studies and/or a job can be incredibly tough. Be kind to yourself! It might not seem like you have enough time, but sometimes the best thing you can do is step back and give yourself a rest- you deserve it.</blockquote>

Verification: Our company is called, "The Corporate ___ Academy". What is the missing word here?

Top Bottom

Search

Search

Are you a future trainee?

Reply to thread