What I learned from my first round of training contract applications as a career changer.

A little bit about me...

In 2012, I graduated with a 2:1 in law but poor A-Level equivalent grades (I did a BTEC in Software Development that I wasn't mentally invested in) and not much work experience under my belt, I did not feel that it would be the best use of my time to apply for training contracts as I knew I would be competing with people with far better academics and extra-curricular activities on their CV. I tried to get work experience by pinging off about 100 emails offering my services for free to small law firms in London. This didn't really get me anywhere except feeling a bit sorry for myself.

I needed money desperately so I ended up contacting a recruitment agency that placed me in a temporary role with a fantastic dispute resolution organisation. I was kept on a more permanent basis and seven years and three promotions later I am still there!

I always had the intention to return to a career in law and I applied for one training contract in 2017 but I did not make it past the application stage. This reaffirmed my belief that a career in law isn't for me because of my less than perfect past and I temporarily gave up again.

I have found myself being drawn back to law more and more over the past 9 months as my current work contract is due to come to a natural end in less than a year, and I cannot think of any other career I would be happier in than law.

I decided at the start of the year that I would get some solid legal experience under my belt and apply for training contracts and finally pursue my dream career. I watched a YouTube video where one person applied for over 100 training contracts before finding success, so this gave me confidence that perhaps I could do it too.

I told myself that this would be my warm up round and not to expect anything whilst I build up my CV.

Five applications later...

I am sat here in mid-August 2019, reflecting on the past six months - which have flown by - and I can honestly say that although I did not secure a training contract, I have learned so much from the process and I am incredibly proud of how far I have come since the beginning of the year.

I made 5 targeted applications and managed to secure one assessment day and made it past application stage on three out of the five applications. This was a much better result than I hoped.

Four lessons I learned from the process...

1. Following the news is not good enough for commercial awareness...

I started listening to news podcasts on my way to work in January and I am now pretty clued up on what is happening around the world.

However, during my interview, when asked "what news story have you been following and why?" I was thrown off by the "why" part of the question. I couldn't think of a reason other than the fact I knew I had to follow news stories for interviews. I managed to answer the question, but I know that I didn't shine.

What I learned from this experience is that it is important to follow news articles that genuinely interest you, not news articles that you think you should be following.his will enable you to come across as more authentically interested in commercial issues and enable you to be prepared to answer questions that you don't expect.

2. My grades don't define me...

I managed to pass the application stage for two firms where I did not meet the A-level criteria (AAB/ABB). This gave me a huge confidence boost.

I recommend emailing graduate recruitment in advance, explaining your situation and gaging the tone of their response. Most firms said they review applications on a case-by-case basis, which is a good sign.

I don't know whether someone without significant work experience would be able to get past the gatekeeper, but in my opinion, if the rest of your application is fantastic and you can convince grad recruitment that your grades were a blip, you stand a good chance.

3. Target applications!

As much a tried to follow the advice given by successful TC applicants across the world wide web, I still found myself applying to firms that do not align with my interests.

For example, I now know that I want to work for a firm that works on international deals, has a diverse workforce, open-door policy, approachable partners, sports teams, suppports pro-bono work and is based in the City.

I might be happy working for any firm, but I want a firm that I can stay with for a long time. If I found myself working for a firm without a global reach, I know that I would start looking elsewhere once I have mastered the UK. Thats just how I am; I always want to push myself to the next level.

Before making applications and visiting firms, I wasn't quite sure what I wanted, and found myself applying to a range of firms, meaning that I would have to morph myself into the 'ideal candidate' for the firm. One day I wanted to be a family lawyer, the next day I wanted to be an insurance lawyer, and on the weekends I wanted to be a litigator! This is an incredible drain on time and mental energy. I do not recommend it. Especially because I think it is important to follow commercial stories that align with the type of lawyer you want to be. Unless you have all the time in the world, you will find yourself in my shoes, knowing a bit of everything but not being an expert in anything.

Now that I know what kind of firm I want to work for, I know that I can spend less time trying to be someone else, and more time showing firms who I am and becoming the best version of me!

4. Start preparing for the next stage before you are invited

I cannot stress enough how important it is to know the application process of each firm you apply to and prepare in advance for the next stage of the recruitment process.

I found myself being given five days to master the Watson Glaser test and one week to prepare for an assessment day. Had I focused on the next stage before being told to, I would have been a lot more prepared and less stressed.

5. Build a brand

I wrote down a list of things that I am interested in, and I decided to start this blog to start documenting my interests.

For example, I am interested in:

1. Helping social mobility in the legal profession and across all professions.

2. Middle Eastern politics

3. Legal developments in FinTech

4. Learning to code

5. Financial Services

This blog will be a reflection of my interests and goals.