Robin, 2012 Law Undergraduate of the Year, unveils his final two tips for making it to the top
Step Four: The Interview
(Sometime during March – April 2013)
If you
make it to the interview – congratulations! You’ve been short-listed to the
final 12 candidates. At this point, it’s all about how you present yourself in
person. Interview techniques will come into the fore, but beware also the
‘trial by sausage roll’ (the informal part of the day which takes place over
drinks and a buffet). Don’t forget, the interview starts the moment you walk
through the doors of the firm and ends the moment you leave the building. The
firm doesn’t just want to know if you’d be a competent employee; they would
quite like to get to know you as a person too.
My top tip: if
you have a buffet lunch, be sure to position yourself near a table. Trying to
introduce yourself to a partner with a drink in one hand and a plate of the
mushroom vol-au-vents, salad and olive canapés is not a good look. At least at
a table you can put your drink down and have one free hand when the time comes.
Step Five: The Awards ceremony
(19 April, 2013)
If you’re short-listed to the
final ten candidates then you will be invited to a gala dinner held at Canary
Wharf along with over a hundred other people involved in the other Undergraduate Awards. It’s a great day and if you win you’ll be presented with
the award by a senior partner and this year the Rt. Hon Michael Portillo. At this stage
there’s really nothing you can do since the decision has already been made as
to whose won – just sit back and enjoy the food and drinks!
My top tip:
remember that you’ve done exceptionally well to be shortlisted for the award.
There’s much more to life than winning. Whatever happens
– give yourself a pat on the back and make the most of what you’ve learnt from
the experience.
Another top tip for the awards ceremony, gents: when your award is announced, suit up! It got to be a running joke last year that boys who won weren't wearing their jackets.
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