There are some common mistakes made by candidates which risk turning a recruitment agent or prospective employer off. If you can eliminate such mistakes at the outset then your chances of securing that newly qualified position will be greatly increased.
- Not researching the firm – when applicants find themselves applying for several jobs which are advertised there can be a temptation to produce a ‘standard’ application to submit for each one. This often results in the candidate not fully researching the firms who are offering the jobs they are applying for. Again, this can stand out to recruiters when that candidate is considered against other candidates who have done their research on the firm. There are really no excuses not to do some basic research about the firm given the amount of information that is freely available on firms’ websites, in the legal press and in publications such as the Legal 500.
- Choosing an area of law to practise in– it is usually very apparent to recruitment agents and prospective employers when a candidate has not spent enough time considering which area of law suits them best and which they want to practise upon qualification. Additionally, it can be obvious when a candidate hasn’t fully consider what type of law firm will best fit them as a person.
- Use of inappropriate language – a candidate’s language in applications and in interviews should always be natural, clear and concise. Trying to be clever, or colloquialisms or slang may result in you receiving a rejection. Try to impress by presenting yourself, your experience and your skills as simply as possible. Humour can be used but sparingly and with caution and will be more appropriate for the interview stage so as to help build rapport with the interviewers.
- Dishonesty – it is never advisable to be dishonest when applying for a newly qualified solicitor job. As well as this being wrong, recruitment consultants and prospective employers may detect half truths. If you take this path, it also becomes very easy to trip yourself up by contradicting yourself and forgetting the answers you may have previously given.
- Poor stationery/layout – the simple rule here is to print your CV, and covering letter if required, on a good quality, heavier weight, white or cream paper. Do not use coloured paper, decoration or funky fonts in an attempt to stand out and ensure the layouts of CV’s and covering letters are professional.
- Basic but fatal mistakes – the golden, unequivocal rule for job applications is: NO grammar, spelling or formatting mistakes! One of the key skills of a solicitor is to have an eye for detail in their work so even the smallest of mistakes is inexcusable. To avoid mistakes do not rush applications, use your word processor’s spell and grammar check and proofread them multiple times – and ask someone else to proofread them for you too.
Professional One to One Careers Advice for Newly Qualifieds
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We offer a range of professional careers services to help newly qualified solicitors with their career choices and applications.
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All of our careers advisors and coaches have worked as solicitors and have been involved with the recruitment of junior solicitors. <br><br><b><u><a href=”http://www.newlyqualifiedsolicitorjobs.co.uk/job-application-services”>Click here to find out more… </a></u></b>
Get help with your career decisions, job search, applications and interviews from our resident legal career coach, Matt Oliver LLB (Solicitor).
