Describe a particularly challenging experience you have faced and the way you dealt with it. (250 Words)
At Slater & Gordon Lawyers, because it was the summer holiday period, the firm was having understaffing issues. Therefore, I was assigned to work on a large due diligence matter with just one other co-worker. Two weeks before the deadline, my co-worker resigned, which meant that I had to take up her part of the work. Other than the tight deadline approaching, I realised that my co-worker had barely completed her portion of the due diligence.
[Feedback: For competency answers, we recommend using the STAR format (situation, task, action, result), and explicitly using the terminology. The candidate covers the expository aspect of the answer well (situation and task/problem).
To improve on this answer, we would recommend using the explicit terms of the STAR structure. For example, “At Slater & Gordon, a particularly challenging situation arose when the firm faced understaffing issues”, and “The task at hand was to complete a due diligence report […]”. ]
In order to determine the best possible outcome to finish the due diligence process on time, I consulted my manager. I presented her with the best possible options, and between us, we decided that it was best to put one of my minor projects on hold so that I could prioritise this one. To make sure that the quality of the work was not affected, I worked overtime every day for those two weeks, and my colleagues kindly took over some of my daily tasks that concerned other projects to help me concentrate on getting the due diligence process finished. Although I did feel pressured, the end result was very positive. The client was more than happy with what I delivered, and from this difficulty, I recognised my own capabilities and my ability to work well independently. I made great strides in learning and putting new organisational techniques to use. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the help of my colleagues and my manager; which emphasises the importance of teamwork.
[Feedback: This paragraph is substantially larger than the other. We would recommend spreading your answer out into three separate paragraphs: (1) situation and task, (2) action, and (3) result.
Furthermore, be mindful of contractions, as they should not be written in formal writing (for example, shouldn’t).
The candidate lays out the steps they took to surmount the challenge, and does well to highlight a variety of core competencies, including dedication, resilience, and organisation. The candidate also takes the opportunity to reflect in the ‘result’ section and acknowledge which skills she developed and which attributes were imperative to the success of her experience. This kind of introspection is crucial – candidates often miss the ‘result’ section of their STAR answers. Law firms are looking for candidates who are self-aware and know why they succeed, not just that they do.]
Describe a particularly challenging experience you have faced and the way you dealt with it.
Feedback: To tackle competency questions and situational judgement questions in a comprehensive, easy-to-follow manner, we recommend following the “CAR” structure (“context”, “action”, “result”) and splitting your answer into three paragraphs accordingly, as the candidate does in this case. To increase the likelihood of your application standing out, we recommend choosing an example of a particularly challenging experience you faced as part of an extra-curricular activity, a job, or a position of responsibility rather than academia.
When Refinitiv initially hired me as the first employee of a new project, I assisted with the migration of client accounts on the company's risk assessment software, World-Check One, to a new platform. As the first hire on the project I received little guidance and soon encountered unforeseen technical issues with the migration process. I was unable to migrate key clients' accounts to the new platform.
Feedback: In this paragraph, the candidate outlines the “context” behind their chosen example by providing a succinct description of the backdrop against which it occurred. To truly impress the particularly challenging nature of their experience upon the reader, the candidate could have explained what “unforeseen technical issues” they encountered throughout the migration process and why they were subsequently “unable to migrate key clients’ accounts to the new platform”; in so doing, they would have emphasised the gravity of the situation as well as the aptness of their chosen example.
We recommend dedicating between 50 and 75 words to the “context” part of your answer. We also recommend keeping the following questions in mind whilst drafting the “context” part of your answer:
What happened?
Where did it happen?
Why did it happen?
Why was it particularly challenging?
Although this was challenging, I demonstrated resilience by researching the situation further using information on the company's intranet and by discussing the issues with members of my team who had been involved in similar projects. I resolved the issues as best as I could and subsequently contacted the relevant product manager for World-Check One. I organised to meet him to go over the issues and together we worked to solve the remaining problems. I was given access to an additional program which could be used to clear the problems and migrate clients. Further to this, I also organised weekly meetings with the product manager so that we could review any further issues and report the project's progress.
Feedback: In this paragraph, the candidate explains the “action” they took to deal with the particularly challenging experience they described in the previous paragraph, with a focus on showing the reader how they did it as opposed to simply telling the reader that they did it (e.g., “using information on the company’s intranet”, “discussing the issues with members of my team”, “I subsequently contacted the relevant product manager” as opposed to e.g., “I did some research and spoke to some people before I found a solution”). Notably, the candidate does well to highlight the fact that they organised weekly meetings with the product manager to prevent similar challenges from arising in the future; in so doing, they showcase their proactive attitude as well as their willingness to go above and beyond in order to deliver qualitative work – two attributes that are sought after within the legal market, especially by US-heritage law firms such as Akin Gump.
We recommend dedicating between 100 and 150 words to the “action” part of your answer in order to increase the likelihood of your application standing out and boost the credibility of your answer as a whole. We recommend creating a linear narrative of the situation and highlighting each relevant step you took in order to change its course for the better. If you feel comfortable doing so, we recommend drawing on any of your skills, attributes and/or qualities within the “action” part of your answer, as the candidate does in this case (e.g., “I demonstrated resilience by researching the situation further”), though you should maintain a humble, grounded tone in so doing.
Once I understood the issues, I used my initiative to write a manual of best practice. This manual explained the optimal workflow and how to deal with the issues. It was subsequently given to new hires and greatly increased the efficiency of the project. My manager was impressed with this and my performance later led to my involvement in an additional project.
Feedback: In this paragraph, the candidate highlights the “result” of their “action”, which provides the reader with a sense of closure. To boost the strength as well as the credibility of their answer, the candidate could have provided the reader with precise figures regarding the “result” of their “action”, e.g., “Having understood the issues at hand, I drafted a 100-page manual of best practice, which was given to 10 new hires and increased the efficiency of the project by a factor of 2”.
We recommend dedicating between 50 and 75 words to the “result” part of your answer. We also recommend focusing on the tangible aspects flowing from the “action” part of your answer (e.g., My marketing campaign resulted in a twofold increase of the visibility of the organisation on social media”), though you could briefly mention any worthwhile intangible aspects if you have not yet reached the word limit (e.g., “As a result of my working with a myriad of individuals, I improved my communication skills to a significant extent”).
Describe a challenging situation you have faced, what made it challenging, how did you respond and what did you learn in the process? (250 words)
I represented Bristol Law School in the International Commercial Arbitration Vis Moot 2020. I was the only non-law student in a team of three others. The task was to submit two memorandums.
The challenge was that my teammates were disorganised and complacent. 48-hours before each submission of the memoranda, they had not finished writing their respective sections. This threatened complete failure and dropping out of the competition. However, as a non law student, I had set aside substantially more structured time to understand the necessary law (such as the UNCITRAL). Therefore, I was able to have my tasks completed well ahead of time, and subsequently assist others.
To help the team’s panic at the deadlines, I organised all-night working sessions in the library. In my own time, I collaborated on my teammates’ work to help lighten the load. I did this by researching and assembling CISG case tables to assist their research. Furthermore, to sustain morale, I invested some of my own money into buying dinner to keep them happy and working. Although I knew that this was above what my position demanded, I subsequently learnt to expect to go beyond the expectations of my role and galvanise a team to achieve a collective goal.
As a result of my actions, I kept the team’s morale and motivation high, and we managed to submit the memorandums before the deadlines. Though we did not win the moot, I learnt a valuable lesson in sacrificing personal comforts for the broader group success.
[Feedback: We recommend the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) framework for this type of application question, which the candidate deploys to great effect here. The candidate has clearly split his answer into separate paragraphs for each element of the framework. This makes his answer clear and easy to follow.
In the first paragraph (Situation), the candidate clearly identifies the situation and why it was challenging (i.e. as a non-law student). The Vis Moot is prestigious. It’s a big deal to participate as a non-law undergraduate, which lends credibility to his example.
The second and third paragraphs (Task and Action) are sufficiently specific to demonstrate that the candidate was thoughtful in how (1) he approached his own part of the moot and (2) dealt with the lack of work by his teammates. The answer comes across as very genuine - it’s easy for the reviewer to relate to the situation.
The candidate identifies the Result in the first sentence of the final paragraph. He then moves on to identify the takeaway from the situation (START - a neat improvement on the conventional format). The takeaway is a little grandiose. It would have been better if the candidate had focused more on how he could preemptively avoid a similar situation in the future (e.g. agree deadlines in advance, check in proactively, etc.), but this is small fry overall.]
As the world of law evolves, adaptability is a crucial attribute for future lawyers to have. Describe a time you had to demonstrate adaptability to reach a positive outcome. What role did you play in the scenario and what was the outcome? Did you do anything you would consider innovative as part of the solution. (250 word limit)
In February 2020, I was appointed Consulting Director for Enactus Bristol Consulting leading a team of three new Client Portfolio Managers. However, my role only came into effect in May 2020 to allow for a transition and handover period between executive teams.
As a result of COVID-19 and lockdown, the teams were unable to have a proper handover, and previous clients were lost. The challenges were adapting to a virtual WFH system and sourcing new clients who were now less able to onboard as a result of the economic downturn.
I adapted my role from a ‘leader with oversight’ to a ‘hands-on galvaniser’. I adapted the traditional Enactus strategy to now break with convention and harness the virtual environment as a flexibility advantage. Using my previous experience in theatre, I wrote and directed the video pitches to be sent to prospective clients, as they had a better reply rate than cold emailing. Additionally, I set up a Microsoft Teams group and a SharePoint to simulate a virtual office and allow my teammates to work as naturally as possible. Finally, I sourced leads for social enterprises on Facebook and start-up forums, such as the Social Tech Guide, and fed them to my team to further explore.
My adaptability given the new virtual working environment ensured that I maintained team morale and efficacy. As a result of my virtual-adjustment drive, I have secured ‘Excellent Development’ as a client two months ahead of schedule, and have discussions with ‘Fairtrade International’ pending.
[Feedback: In another superb answer, the candidate uses the STAR format effectively. This format works perfectly for longer-form answers like this one. We recommend PEE (Point, Evidence, Explanation) for shorter in-text examples (e.g., to demonstrate a particular attribute through a relevant example in a cover letter).
This is a tough question which is designed to prevent copy and paste responses. The candidate has thought critically to brainstorm a relevant example which showcases his adaptability. Innovation is essentially any new way of doing something. In this case, the candidate highlights his use of technology to demonstrate his innovation. This works well - unsolicited video pitches by email are certainly innovative!
There are no real improvement points in this answer. This is about as good as it gets.
Describe a difficult or challenging situation you have been faced with, the steps you took to respond to it and the outcome of your actions. (200 words)
A challenging situation was during a volunteering shift at [redacted charity], a charity that provides a confidential listening support for students. A shift normally entailed three volunteers answering calls and messages throughout the night from 6pm to 8am. However, I was the only volunteer to make this particular shift. On this shift, I received a call where the caller discussed ways of potentially threatening their life that night. This was challenging, as I did not have any support system around me to debrief with in such serious scenarios, as well as receiving a backlog of other messages I could not tend to throughout the long call. Firstly, I prioritised the call as this was an emergency. I utilised the communication skills I had accumulated throughout my training and previous shifts and asked relevant questions to explore their emotions in depth. As such, I successfully navigated the call for them to not take any action that night. After the call, I immediately tended to the messages. I summarised the content for the next volunteer to continue on the conversation, ensuring a seamless transition. A week later, I received feedback from the caller thanking me for saving their life, which was truly rewarding.
Feedback: In competency questions like this, we recommend following the CAR structure as this candidate has done. You should begin by concisely outlining the context of the situation (including any tasks you had to complete). Next, you should explain the specific actions you carried out so that you could complete the task. Finally, you should explain the result of your actions with as many specific details/numbers/statistics as possible.
The candidate did well by concisely outlining the situation and the specific challenges they faced. You should note how the candidate uses the exact wording of the question straight away. This indicates to the recruiter that the candidate has fully understood the question being asked. Then, we gain a clear picture of the steps the candidate took to address this challenging situation. You should notice how the candidate uses signposting ordinal adverbs such as “firstly” at some points in their answer. This results in a clear and easy-to-follow structure, which makes the candidates’ writing more accessible to the recruiter. You should always keep in mind that recruiters are assessing how clearly and accessibly you write. This is because you will be dealing busy commercial clients that do not have time to unpack flowery academic language. As such, you should emulate this candidate’s writing style by writing in a simple and well-structured manner. Finally, the candidate concisely outlines the impact of their actions, namely that they helped save this person’s life. This results in a concise, well-structured and impactful answer that addresses each element of the question.
As a minor point for improvement, the candidate could have drilled down on how they prioritised the call and dealt with the backlog of other callers. However, the tight word count prevents the candidate from doing anything in addition to this.
We would also add that volunteering examples like this are usually very strong. They demonstrate that you are a well-rounded person with valuable transferable skills. Here, the candidate deals with a sensitive topic well and provides specific details about their achievements. The candidate suffers from clunky writing and long-winded sentences at times, but this is otherwise a strong answer.
Tell us about a challenge you have overcome that showcases your ambition and drive.
Feedback: In terms of structure, this answer stands out because it is crisp and easy-to-follow. To achieve a similar effect, we would recommend following the “CAR” structure (“context”, “action”, “result”) or the “STAR” structure (“situation”, “task”, “action”, “result”), depending on the example you have chosen to discuss. In fact, we would recommend following the aforementioned structures when answering competency-based prompts and questions in general. In terms of content, the candidate has chosen a good example; leadership positions are often fraught with challenges, as are situations involving cross-border elements and unfamiliar concepts. However, if you do not have a similar example, do not feel pressured to manufacture one – think about your previous work experience, positions of responsibility, or extra-curricular activities and try to remember if you have overcome setbacks of any kind (e.g., working with difficult individuals, facing rejection, adapting your usual approach or schedule to novel circumstances, etc) by being ambitious and driven.
As a project manager for the writing process of a book named Unleash Today, I am responsible for leading a team of 19 people located in 8 different countries. I ensure project deadlines are met, that there is clear communication amongst team members, and keep my team motivated. I was faced with two challenges; to maintain effective team collaboration across multiple time-zones and language barriers, and quickly grasp a subject matter I had little knowledge of, the process of publishing a book.
Feedback: This paragraph provides the reader with the context behind the challenge encountered by the candidate. It is effective because it makes the essential information immediately clear to the reader: the candidate’s position of responsibility, their tasks, and the circumstances which rendered their tasks challenging. We would have shortened some of the sentences to improve the readability of the text, but this is a relatively minor point. We would have also liked to know whether the candidate had been employed to act as the project manager for the book-writing process or whether it was a personal enterprise, but – again – this is a relatively minor point.
To improve team collaboration, I created task-focused sub-teams such as an editing and writing team and a marketing and promotion team. I then introduced the role of a sub-team leader who managed the sub-teams workflow. Additionally, I utilised different collaboration platforms, such as Trello, to coordinate the work allocation, timetable planning and logistics of the project. To keep everyone engaged, I introduced fortnightly meetings, where we discussed the challenges each team member was facing and collaborated on potential solutions. To overcome my lack of knowledge about publishing, I used various resources, including Skillshare videos by former authors. I was then able to use this knowledge to give structured guidance to achieve the project's future objectives.
Feedback: This paragraph is effective because it does not only tell the reader what actions the candidate took to overcome the challenge, but it also shows the reader how the candidate went about it. To achieve a similar effect, we would recommend that you explain and exemplify the actions you took to overcome the challenge in your chosen example (e.g., “I utilised different collaboration platforms”, “I introduced fortnightly meetings”, etc). Echoing the comments made in relation to the previous answer, the candidate could have mirrored the words of the prompted by emphasising that their actions showcased their ambition and drive even if this is implicit in the discussion. Again, this is a relatively minor point, but it can make a stylistic difference.
By improving team productivity, communication, and collaboration between sub-teams, I was able to boost the project's online traction and popularity. As a result of my leadership, there has been a 455% increase in the project's LinkedIn followers, a 920% increase in website views, and a 730% increase in unique visitors in 4 months.
Feedback: This paragraph identifies the results achieved by the candidate as part of their efforts to overcome the challenge, which highlights the magnitude of said efforts and provides the reader with a sense of closure. Moreover, citing concrete figures, as the candidate does in this case (e.g., “a 920% increase in website views”), is generally good practice because it lends credibility to your answer and drives your point home.
What has been the biggest challenge you have overcome? How did you achieve this? * Please do not exceed 400 words.
My biggest challenge was to step up from being a waiter in a busy 50 seat cafe to seizing the opportunity to become its manager.
Feedback: This is an effective introduction because it neatly summarises the candidate’s chosen example, enabling the reader to anticipate and follow the former’s train of thought with relative ease. The candidate’s chosen example per se is apt because it is not far-fetched (from a relatively objective point of view) and it relates to their previous work experience. To achieve a similar effect, we would recommend choosing a plausible example related to your previous work experience, extra-curricular activities or positions of responsibility rather than an example related to your academic experience because it increases the likelihood of your application standing out from as unique and authentic.
Since 2016 I have worked at an independent cafe called [redacted name and location]. I worked full time over the course of my gap year, and have continued part time whilst at University. The cafe prides itself on friendliness, high-quality food that is freshly made from seasonal ingredients, and value for money. Regular customers are particularly welcome at the cafe. There are two owners: one bakes cakes and works in the cafe, and the other manages the finances. In total the cafe employs about 12 members of staff, a mix of temporary and full-time chefs, kitchen porters and front of house staff.
Feedback: Throughout their answer, the candidate follows the recommended “CAR” structure (“context”, “action”, “result”). In this paragraph, the candidate outlines the “context” behind the challenge in their chosen example. For the most part, the candidate provides the reader with relevant facts. However, the fact that “the café prides itself on friendliness, high-quality food that is freshly made from seasonal ingredients, and value for money” and the fact that one of its two owners bakes cakes whilst the other manages the finances are not exactly relevant. To ascertain whether a given fact is relevant or irrelevant, we would suggest asking yourself if the reader could still understand the magnitude of the challenge that you faced and the process of overcoming it without knowing that fact. For instance, in this case, the reader could still understand the challenge created by a relatively sudden transition from the role of server to the role of manager in a busy café without knowing that one of the owners of the café baked cakes whilst the other handled the finances. However, it is doubtful that the reader could have perceived the foregoing as a challenge without knowing the size of the café.
At the start of the summer in 2018 the assistant manager resigned. I was keen to take on more responsibility, and I was able to persuade the owners to promote me to be the manager. My overall aim was to improve the efficiency of the business. I thought that several of the key processes used to run the cafe were inefficient and poorly thought through. I began making changes in the way that we managed stocktaking, and improved the consistency of stock quality and freshness. I recruited several new members of front of house staff, paying particular attention to understanding how they would deal with tricky customers during busy times. I timetabled the staff rota, trying to put together staff teams who could help meet the needs of the customers, and the rest of the staff in the cafe. As a trusted key holder, I opened up the cafe, set out the tables and checked on stock before the first customers. At the end of the day I closed up the cafe and tidied up. I was responsible for all cash handling and wage distribution
Feedback: In this paragraph, the candidate details the “action” they took in response to the challenge in their chosen example. They do well to reveal the overall aim of their “action” and explain the process of achieving that aim step-by-step because it increases the credibility and strength of their answer as a whole. To achieve a similar effect, ensure that you do not simply tell the reader that you did something but that you show the reader how you did it, as the candidate does in this case.
I had worked hard to manage a team of staff in the dynamic world of hospitality, and to ensure that all functions of the 50 seater cafe were operating smoothly. I felt proud that at the end of my tenure as the manager, the cafe was much better organized and was nominated for [redacted local magazine’s] Cafe of the Year. My time at [redacted name of cafe] allowed me to combine my passion for supporting my team with my desire to provide a comfortable yet high quality consumer experience.
Feedback: In this paragraph, the candidate reveals the “result” of the “action” they took in response to the challenge in their chosen example, which does not only highlight the significance of their “action” in the grand scheme of things, but it also provides the reader with a sense of closure. In particular, the candidate does well to cite the café’s nomination for an award at the end of their tenure as manager because it is a tangible “result” that the reader could easily verify. The candidate also does well to cite the personal benefits they derived from their tenure as manager because it allows the reader a glimpse into their personality and attitude towards challenges, even though said benefits constitute an intangible “result” that cannot be easily verified. To ensure that your answer is as persuasive as possible, we would recommend focusing on tangible “results” and, if the word count permits, adding an intangible “result” at the end.
Describe a situation where you took responsibility and were trusted to do. What were the challenges involved and how did you overcome them? (200 words max)*
During my undergraduate degree, I volunteered to run the [overseas nation] cultural booth , but the university was planning to stop funding and upholding the booth. This was because the funds were being mismanaged, leading to waste and very few visitors stopping by. The challenge was ensuring that within the strategy I had adopted, there was minimal waste and that I was environmentally conscious throughout my planning. I focused on being cost effective by connecting with a wholesale retailer that sold [overseas nation’s] food items at competitive prices. I established a relationship with the seller and asked them to connect me with another retailer who rented cultural items. Through applying my negotiation skills, I was able to rent the items at a discount. One of the ways in which I made the booth more engaging and environmentally friendly was to serve the food in sample size portions and in washable fibre containers, so that more visitors would be encouraged to experiment, and I could limit waste. As a result, there was zero waste, I managed to successfully run the booth using only 45% of the allocated fund and was nominated to run the booth for 3-consecutive years by supervising faculty.
Feedback: Echoing the comments made supra, the candidate follows the “CAR” (“context”, “action”, “result”) structure throughout their answer, outlines the “context” of their chosen example in a compendious manner, provides the recruiter with a step-by-step, vivid description of their “action”, and cites precise figures to highlight the significance of their “result”. Moreover, the candidate mirrors the wording of the prompt (e.g., “The challenge was […]”), which does not only improve the readability of their answer but it also places a great deal of emphasis upon the fact that their answer is ultimately relevant relative to the prompt because it acts as a signpost for the recruiter. In terms of the example per se, it is effective because it is related to the candidate’s extra-curricular activities, showcases their entrepreneurial spirit and well-roundedness, and it is presented in a plausible manner. We recommend choosing examples related to your extra-curricular activities, positions of responsibility and/or work experience; we do not recommend choosing examples related to your studies or academic experience per se because such examples are unlikely to help your application stand out from the crowd.
Please describe a situation where you took responsibility and were trusted to do. What were the challenges involved and how did you overcome them? (200 words max) *
As a Team Leader at [redacted energy business], I was responsible for communicating company announcements and policy changes to my team. Tariff increases were especially unpopular as they resulted in a large influx of frustrated customers, resulting in a hit to team morale. If not dealt with swiftly, productivity also suffered.
Feedback: This is a strong start to the answer. You should note how the candidate addresses the question’s exact wording from the outset. We always recommend that candidates do this, since it will focus your writing and make it clear to the recruiter that you have understood the question. This question requires you to discuss a time you overcame challenges in a position of responsibility. The candidate does so by outlining their position of responsibility and concisely summarising the challenges they faced.
This paragraph also improves on the previous answer in two ways. Firstly, the candidate writes much more concisely. We are given a succinct outline of (1) the candidate’s responsibilities and (2) the specific challenges they faced. The candidate does this in just 51 words. This is all you can reasonably be expected to do in a 200-word competency answer. As such, the candidate can analyse the steps they took in detail throughout the rest of this answer.
Secondly, the candidate identifies a specific challenging situation they faced (as opposed to a more generic challenge). We are told about the specific challenges faced as a result of the tariff increases. This focuses the candidate’s writing and allows them to drill down on the specific steps they took as a result.
I prevented this in my team by engaging my team, in detail, with the business rationale for the change. [redacted energy business]’s pricing structure was unique within the residential sector because it only offered one single tariff for all the 1.7 million homes it supplied (as opposed to a multitude of fixed-term tariffs), making it vulnerable to the volatility inherent the wholesale energy market (this is the main reason the company went bust in November 2021).
Feedback: In keeping with STAR, the candidate paints a reasonably clear picture of the initial action they took in response to the challenge. That said, the candidate needed to drill down on how they produced this business rationale and engaged with the team as a result. We are given a descriptive overview of this rationale, but it is not clear how the candidate came up with this rationale or how they communicated it to their wider team. To improve, the candidate should have drilled down more clearly on the specific steps they took in (1) researching the company’s pricing structure and (2) how they communicated this to the team at large. This would demonstrate both the candidate’s research skills and their ability to explain complex concepts concisely. These are two crucial skills sought after by recruiters in commercial law.
As a minor point, the candidate again slips into informal language by stating that the company “went bust” in November 2021. This detrimentally impacts the candidate’s tone overall and calls into question their ability to write professionally.
With reference to company figures, I showed that it wasn’t possible for [redacted energy business] to simply absorb these increased costs – for example between March and May 2021 alone wholesale energy costs rose by 29%. I also helped my team develop strategies for dealing with queries about the tariff change, such as emphasising times when [redacted energy business] had reduced its tariff in response to lower wholesale costs. These presentations were noted in my quarterly review for their clarity and the positive impact on my team’s performance which, unlike others, didn’t decline because of the tariff change.
Feedback: We consider this paragraph an improvement on the previous. Here, the candidate begins to drill down on the specific steps they took to communicate their research to the team. We are told (1) how the candidate picked out the most important statistics from their research and (2) how they used their research to improve the team’s responsiveness to the initial challenges overall. This demonstrates that the candidate can not only communicate well, but also that they can work effectively in teams for the company’s wider benefit. You should aim for a similar level of specificity when discussing the “task/action” elements of STAR.
You should note how the candidate also describes the result/outcome in a fair amount of detail. The candidate does particularly well to identify how their actions preserved the team’s productivity level, as compared to other teams. This adds gravity and context to the candidate’s achievements overall. To improve, the candidate could have quantified the “positive impact” of their actions with specific details/statistics where possible. This would have added weight to the candidate’s achievements and so have made their answer more convincing overall.
About You: Tell us about the biggest setback you have experienced. How did you overcome this setback?
Feedback: To ensure that your answer is both comprehensive and easy to follow, we recommend following the “CAR” structure (“context”, “action”, “result”). We further recommend splitting your answer into three distinct paragraphs and addressing the “context” of the setback that you encountered, the “action” that you took in order to overcome it, and the ensuing “result” in turn. Here, the candidate follows a slightly different, less effective structure, though they do loosely incorporate the elements of the “CAR” structure.
Being a proactive member of the sixth form student council, I decided to organise the sixth form's first student ball. As the first-ever event of its kind, and with the responsibility for the organisation and fundraising entirely up to the students, this was an ambitious challenge.
To organise such a large event, I set up a 15-strong social committee comprised of student volunteers, with the help of the sixth form council, which I was elected to lead.
Feedback: The candidate delineates the “context” behind their chosen example by providing the recruiter with a succinct description of the backdrop against which it transpired. They do particularly well to prime the recruiter with details and figures that highlight the magnitude of the setback they encountered, e.g., “the first-ever event of its kind”, “the organisation and fundraising [were left] entirely up to the students”, “a 15-strong social committee”.
On a slightly different note, we advise against allowing a single sentence to stand on its own as a paragraph; in this particular instance, it could have been joined to the first paragraph because it addresses the same subject matter rather than marking the beginning of a novel train of thought.
During the organising process, I faced a significant setback. It had initially been decided that there would be live entertainment at the event, but this proved to be too costly. I proposed that we advertised for performers within the sixth form and we ultimately chose 10 acts to perform during the event. This enabled us to provide cost-effective live entertainment, whilst showcasing the talents of the student performers.
I overcame this setback by thinking in a calm manner and realistically thinking about my options in the little time remaining. By doing so, I was able to find an effective solution which not only impressed the students but upheld the committee's reputation.
Feedback: The candidate makes the setback that they experienced immediately clear to the recruiter. For emphasis, they could have mirrored the wording of the prompt and explained why the setback they described in their answer was the biggest one they had experienced thus far. Nonetheless, the candidate does well to outline the “action” they took in order to overcome the aforementioned setback and explain the thought process that preceded it; in doing so, they highlight their ability to think critically under pressure, as well as their decision-making style. To take their answer to the next level, the candidate could have asserted the “result” of their “action” in a more forceful, impactful manner by providing the recruiter with precise details and/or figures in relation to it rather than simply stating that it “impressed the students [and] upheld the committee’s reputation”.
Word count (max. 250 words):
Please tell us about a challenging situation you have found yourself in and what you learnt from it.
I had encountered a challenging situation when taking on the role of the [redacted] Society Chair. The society had always been small, with few members attending sporadic events. With more active members, I knew I could make larger and more successful events that would fuel the growth and reputation of the society. But I had to obtain promotional materials to do that first, with no money in the account.
[Feedback: Once again, we recommend employing a STAR or CAR structured answer for this kind of question. This is a very good ‘context’ paragraph. The candidate clearly states that they were the head of a particular society and gives some necessary background information concerning the society’s size and their own motivations. Finally, the candidate succinctly explains the problem that they needed to overcome.
This is a good example for you to follow in your answers. If you adopt a CAR structure, ensure you include the same kinds of information that the candidate has in their section, including:
You should use this candidate’s answer as a guide as to what such a section should look like but remember to make the answer your own and include or exclude information as you require for your specific scenario.]
Obtaining a sponsorship deal for £500 with the Embassy of [redacted] in London was ground-breaking. The money was used to buy a variety of high-quality promotional materials, such as banners and hoodies. In order to secure the deal, I had to use an array of skills to produce a high quality sponsorship proposal. I improved my commercial awareness when negotiating the amount of money needed and arguing my case for promoting [redacted] culture. It required a meticulous attention to detail with compiling dozens of evidential documents, including invoices and bank statements. The task also involved a professional demeanour when communicating with the Embassy.
[Feedback: Broadly speaking, this answer contains many of the right traits and ideas. The candidate employs some good detail in their answer. They specified the amount of money they received, the particular embassy, and an idea of some of the things they did to secure the deal. The candidate also does well to refer to some of the competencies they employed as part of their actions. Competency questions often invite a discussion of more than one skill or trait. Teamwork, for example, often involves a degree of organisational ability. Hence, you should note how the candidate mentions several competencies to good effect, including commercial awareness, negotiation, attention to detail, good communication and professionalism.
To improve this answer, the candidate could have structured their answer better. The difficulty with this answer is that the candidate appears to have written it backwards. The candidate leads by simply stating they obtained a sponsorship deal and how that money was used. They then go on to explain how they achieved that deal. Although it is clear to the reader what occurred by the end of the section, it is not easy-going. Therefore, we would recommend restructuring the answer as follows:
Overall, we believe this is a clearer structure that would lead the recruiter through the answer. You should focus on guiding the recruiter through your examples and arguments. By jumbling the chronology of events, you risk the recruiter becoming distracted or disinterested, which ultimately harms the persuasiveness of your answer.
Finally, the candidate could have been more specific with some of their descriptions. You should avoid making generic statements and instead use specific examples. For instance, the candidate states that they ‘required a meticulous attention to detail’; however, they would have been better off stating that they required good attention to detail in order to do something. The candidate writes that they compiled bank statements, but they could have gone one step further and said what their attention to detail was required for with respect to such statements. You should always contextualise and evidence your claims where possible.]
Resilience was a key skill I learnt to overcome the challenge when the process of producing a contract and collecting evidence for reimbursement lasted for three months. By pressing on and not giving up when new requirements were added, I managed to complete the deal. As a result, the reputation of the society grew, as was clear when the Society won third place at the Food Fiesta and was nominated for the Society of the Year award.
[Feedback: In this paragraph, the candidate addresses the element of the question that asks what the candidate learnt from the experience and describes the results of their actions.
The candidate does well to select a competency that they improved upon. Clearly, resilience is a very desirable trait, and the candidate gives a good explanation, with evidence, as to how they fostered such an attribute. You should also note that the candidate goes on to show the further effects of their achievements. Whilst the candidate could have ended by saying they achieved the money, they also described what that meant for the society. This is excellent and shows that the candidate has reflected on the experience and knows the true weight of their actions.
The only point of improvement is that the candidate could have been more specific when describing the ‘new requirements’. You should try to show the recruiter what you mean rather than telling the recruiter. The candidate could have simply added ‘such as [insert requirement here]’ at the end of the sentence. This would have added more flair to their response and elevated their answers just that bit more.]
Tell us about a challenge you have had to overcome (250)
I was born in England to a Dutch mother and an English father. At six months old, we moved to Gabon, Africa. After four years, we returned to England for a further two years, before moving to the Middle East for six years.
I found this constant change of environment challenging. I attended five schools in three separate countries, and it became apparent that no one person thinks the same, works the same, and that everyone has a different story.
I remember thinking, how am I going to fit in here? Will I make friends?
Feedback: As a rule of thumb, we recommend that candidates lead paragraphs with a summary of their answer. However, despite not doing this, the candidate’s answer states the issue clearly in a manner that is highly personal and engaging for the reader. The level of detail included lends credibility and strength to the challenge stated, making it an impactful read.
Over time, I found that being approachable and finding common interests was a fantastic way to make friends. For example, I joined the school swimming club, where I met three of my closest friends. Moreover, every time I made new friends; I became increasingly confident in my ability to bring value to other people's lives. I soon thrived on meeting new people, learning new ways of doing things and experiencing different cultures. What used to frighten me now excites me, and I look forward to bringing this attitude to Taylor Vinters.
Feedback: The candidate makes use of the PEEL method here by stating their point, providing evidence, then explaining how this helped them overcome the challenge, which links their answer back to the question asked. The candidate also does well to demonstrate they have developed interpersonal skills (e.g. approachability and relationship-building), which are key skills that are required of successful solicitors.
I have also found that moving around every few years builds up one's confidence and resilience. During each move, I interacted with different people, adopted different practices and acclimatised my own ways of working to fit into new and challenging environments. I hope to bring these skills to Taylor Vinters where it is paramount to bring a positive, progressive and forward-thinking attitude.
Feedback: Apart from demonstrating adaptability and initiative, which are important skills to have in a commercial law firm, this last paragraph doesn’t add much to the overall strength of the answer. First, gaining confidence is alluded to above (‘I became increasingly confident in my ability to bring value to other people's lives’) while the candidate’s resilience was already implied. Instead, the candidate could have provided alternative examples of different practices or methods they used to fit into challenging, novel environments or specific examples which demonstrate the skills they say they have developed. Secondly, the candidate could have used the remaining word count to link the skills that they have developed back to Taylor Vinters more specifically. Why is it “paramount to bring a positive, progressive and forward-thinking attitude to Taylor Vinters”? What is it about Taylor Vinters that makes this necessary? This looks like an assertion without evidence, which makes for a weak argument.
Describe a time when you had to be particularly well organised to meet a challenging deadline. (250 words)
Prior to climbing Mount. Kilimanjaro, I also had a target to meet a fundraising deadline of £3000 for Meningitis Research Foundation in the summer. However, in addition to this and my studies, I also balanced two part-time jobs and a leadership role at university.
[Feedback: This paragraph provides the necessary context to answering the question. The candidate contextualises when the experience took place (prior to their climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro) and gives a good amount of detail as to the objective (raising £3,000). Of particular note is the candidate’s mention of all the other activities they were involved with, which further explains the need to be well-organised.
To improve this paragraph, the candidate should have provided some dates. As mentioned in an earlier comment, you should not assume that the recruiter has read the rest of your application form. You should answer each question in isolation. Hence, the candidate should have provided dates to contextualise better when events took place (especially considering that the question demands an answer that focuses on a ‘challenging deadline’). For example, the candidate could have written: ‘In [insert month and year ], I had a target to raise £3,000 for Meningitis Research Foundation by [insert month and year].’.
You should remember that dates are instrumental when describing events that happen sequentially or when answering a question that involves a discussion of a deadline. If the candidate had included dates, they could have considered mentioning what happened or what they did each month to give a more vivid chronology of events.]
To achieve my target, I planned ahead in advance by setting monthly, personal goals throughout the year. I began by conducting bucket collections in different cities during my weekends. However, I quickly realised I was not raising enough to meet my monthly targets. Thus, I considered alternative methods to fundraise. I sought sponsorship from local organisations; I contacted their executive members and organised meetings to explain my objective. As a result, I raised over 60% of my total through this method in a shorter time frame, whilst exceeding my target of £3,000 with a total of £3,393.
[Feedback: This paragraph focuses on the actions the candidate took to achieve their objective. Overall this is a strong answer. The candidate explains how they set about the task. They demonstrate good organisational ability via the setting of various goals. Furthermore, they showcase their resilience by raising money via ‘bucket collections’, a time-consuming and challenging activity.
What is of particular note is the candidate’s ability to notice when things were not working well. They describe how they realised that they were not going to meet their objective and, subsequently, how they adapted their actions. This is excellent and is the hallmark of a strong answer.
The candidate employs a decent level of detail by mentioning the percentage of money that they raised via the alternative strategy and by the exact amount that they eventually raised. However, to further improve this answer, the candidate could have included some more specific information. For example, the candidate could have specified how much they aimed to raise per month and by how much they were missing their goals before they adapted their strategy. Additionally, the candidate could have mentioned some of the names of the organisations that they contacted and described how they persuaded them to sponsor them.
You should remember that whilst an answer may be strong, you can always improve it by the inclusion of additional detail and specific facts and statistics. The inclusion of these details impresses upon the recruiter the magnitude of your achievements and may sometimes persuade them to overlook a minor discrepancy or silly mistake elsewhere in your application form (although you should remember that the best way to mitigate such mistakes is not to make them in the first place!).]
I believe my strategy to organise my fundraising plan in advance proved to be highly beneficial. Firstly, I was able to structure my time more effectively and ensure my wider commitments received the appropriate amount of attention and time. In doing so, I also made sure to have time dedicated to fundraising. Additionally, focusing on the smaller targets allowed me to adapt to any difficulties that arose during the process more easily; if I did not have targets to track throughout the process, the amount that needed to be raised close to the deadline could have amalgamated into a bigger sum, making it difficult to ultimately meet my goal.
[Feedback: This section focuses on the candidate’s reflections about their experience. The paragraph serves as a nice end to the overall answer. The candidate has clearly considered why they were successful and what the result of their actions was. Although these responses may seem overindulgent, the recruiter is actually looking for you to write such paragraphs. The recruiter wants to see whether you know why you were successful and, subsequently, you would behave the same in a working environment.
Nevertheless, the candidate could have improved their answer by making it more specific. As it stands, this paragraph is a nice end to the answer but is quite broad and vague. For example, the candidate writes that they ‘ensure[d] [their] wider commitments received the appropriate amount of attention and time’. However, they do not go into any detail as to how that was the case other than by saying they organised their time well. An example of how they kept up another commitment whilst fundraising would be helpful here.
Furthermore, the candidate could benefit from slowing down their analysis and walking the reader through their argument step-by-step. For example, the candidate writes, ‘if I did not have targets to track throughout the process, the amount that needed to be raised close to the deadline could have amalgamated into a bigger sum, making it difficult to ultimately meet my goal’. It is not particularly clear as to what the candidate is trying to communicate. Splitting this sentence into multiple shorter sentences would have helped the candidate to explain slowly and calmly exactly what they mean. Additionally, you should not split your infinitives: ‘to ultimately meet my goal’ should be rephrased as ‘to meet my goal ultimately’.
You should avoid rushing the end of your answers. Many candidates get flustered due to the limited word count. We would recommend drafting your answers in full (even if they go over the word count). At that point, you can slowly pare back your response to fit within the constraints. By working this way, you can ensure that the key points of your answer are not lost, and it all continues to make sense when read from start to finish.]
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