Matthew Mercer, Senior Graduate Recruiter for Shoosmiths answers your questions.
1. What are the chances of a candidate securing a Training Contract with a 2:1 but a fail in one subject because of mitigating circumstances? Will a year long work experience sort of overcome the fail?
2. In a number of applications, you are asked to sell the firm to a potential client in a couple of hundred words. Would you recommend picking just one practice area or industry, or would you discuss the firm as a whole?
3. The same goes for when application forms ask who the firms main competitors are and how their firm is different. For example, if you want to join Shearman & Sterling due to their reputation as a leading M&A firm, would you state other M&A firms as their competition or would you speak more generally, about other similar firms?
4. How early (or late) should an applicant submit their applications?
5. For one firm, I meet the UCAS point requirement, but fall short from the overall IB point requirement. Would you recommend still applying for that firm?
6. What is the most common mistake you see being made in application forms?
7. What is the most common mistake you see being made in interviews?
