Application technique
which may contain important instructions, and prepare your answers in a separate document first. It may be time consuming, but it’s crucial to approach each application individually, back up your work regularly and avoid the temptation to copy and paste. And while some recruiters say never copy and paste under any circumstances, others accept that you probably will, so take some advice on how to do it successfully. One London barrister says: “Be careful when copying and pasting. It saves time, but you won’t endear yourself to a set if you’re obviously describing how much you want to join their main rival.” Similarly, Laura Newton of Brick Court Chambers says: “Make sure that the ‘variable’ parts get updated and that the text fits in with the rest of the form.” Cover letters Unless the employer’s instructions state otherwise, send a short cover letter with the application form (or CV). Use it to highlight your unique selling points, provide extra information to support your application and convey your motivation for the job. The golden rule of cover letters is to keep them brief – no longer than one A4 page. Never write a standard cover letter to accompany all of your applications. ‘Dear Sir or Madam’ won’t do. Tailor each letter to the firm/chambers to which you’re applying. Clarity, neatness and courtesy are all equally important. CVs If one of your target firms or sets requires a CV rather than its own form, use this to your advantage. Unlike application forms, a CV gives you the chance to create your own personal record of achievements in a format that you control. The content of your CV should comprise the following: • Personal details – include your name, address, telephone number and email
guff like that on your applications. Flattery will get you nowhere – it’s just padding and it doesn’t impress.” Competition is stiff and some firms and chambers receive thousands of applications for just a few places. Don’t give recruiters the easy option to eliminate you from their lists – so avoid spelling mistakes, grammatical errors or casual language. Alix Balfe-Skinner, HR manager at Taylor Vinters LLP, says: “Attention to detail is everything – small things such as making sure you use capitals in the correct places are crucial.” Application forms The open-ended or competency questions on application forms vary, but tend to focus on teamwork, problem solving, communication and judgement (eg, “Outside of your studies, describe a situation where you’ve worked in a group to achieve a goal”). As a rule, the best answers are as significant and unique to you as possible, easy to discuss at interview and relevant to the job. Tackle the question by breaking it down into the situation or context, the task or problem faced and the outcome or result. Make sure that you read instructions carefully. And keep an eye on word limits, as one barrister advises: “Brevity is key; don’t waste words on things that are irrelevant, so abstract as to lack sense or by trying to be funny. Save your humour for interviews.” Don’t underestimate the amount of time it takes to complete an application form (hours rather than minutes). Plan to do them well in advance and submit it way ahead of deadline day. Lucie Rees, graduate recruitment and development manager at HFW, suggests “saving the form as you go along – there’s nothing worse than spending hours doing something only for a technical hitch to mean you have to do it all again”. Always read through the entire form, including the small print,
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