Graduate recruiters offer their #toptips for vacation scheme students

The naïve aspiring solicitor might think that finally receiving that email from the graduate recruitment team confirming your place on the summer vacation scheme means a deep sigh of relief and a golden ticket to boozy sky-high lunches a la Shard, Sushi Samba and Fenchurch Seafood Bar & Grill (see here, grad recruitment Facebook accounts). But as dedicated LCN readers, you should be well-versed in the fact that a vacation scheme is anything but an easy ride.

The vacation scheme is your chance to impress those who will be interviewing you for a training contract – but, importantly, it’s also an opportunity for the candidate to size up the firm and ask whether it’s the best fit for them. Caroline Walsh, head of legal trainee recruitment and development at Clyde & Co, offers her top 10 tips for getting the most out of a vacations scheme here.

Some time ago, we decided to take advantage of recruiters’ wisdom on Twitter, asking how candidates can maximise their chances of converting a vacation scheme into a training contract. In case you missed out on their #toptips, we’ve brought them all together below.

Recruiters’ top tips for making the most of your vacation scheme

Katharine Banbury – Graduate recruitment and development specialist at Olswang LLP

• "Show genuine interest in the tasks you're given. Ask appropriate, intelligent questions. Be professional - and be yourself!"

Alix Balfe-Skinner – HR adviser at Taylor Vinters

• "Show your personality and give the scheme your all."

Shoosmiths

• "Demonstrate you’re a team player! Get involved in as much as possible & always offer your assistance to others."
• "Always give a task a go! Do your research BEFORE asking Qs & never ask your supervisor to do a task for you."
• "Keep a positive & professional attitude, stick to deadlines, be thorough in your work, network & enjoy!"

And Samantha Hope, head of recruitment and development at Shoosmiths added:

• "TAKE INITIATIVE - do more than what is expected of you to show your determination to succeed."
• "Consider every opportunity as a step on your career path even if it doesn't turn out how you expected."

Trowers & Hamlins

• "Selected SVS [summer vacation scheme] candidates should show the potential they demonstrated on paper in their approach to the placement as a whole."
• "SVS placements are a two-way process: do candidates have the raw potential firms want and can the firm offer what they want?"

Francesca Clixby is account manager at AllHires, a leading online application system and an excellent friend to LawCareers.Net. Follow the team on twitter @AllHires to hear when the latest training contract and vacation scheme application forms go live, tips from graduate recruiters and more.