How should I ask for application feedback?
updated on 23 April 2024
Dear Oracle
How should I ask for feedback after a vacation scheme or training contract interview?
The Oracle replies
Reading time: two minutes
If you receive feedback from a law firm after being unsuccessful at a training contract interview, for example, it’s important to accept the law firm’s decision. Don't try to convince recruiters that they’ve made a mistake.
If you don’t receive feedback, you can email the recruiter to ask for some. They might provide it over the phone or via email (or not at all – some firms just don’t have enough time to provide tailored feedback to everyone). Firms receive thousands of applications, so many provide feedback only to those who make the interview stage. If you’re fortunate enough to receive some, make sure you’re polite and grateful for the person's time and take on board their comments. For example, if the recruiter said that they needed to see more evidence of commercial awareness, you should get to grips with the commercial aspects of the firms you’re applying to ahead of making any further applications or attending interviews. This involves:
- researching their recent deals;
- reading our Commercial Question section; and
- keeping up with legal and business news via LCN’s News section.
Read LCN’s guide to commercial awareness for more on developing this crucial skill.
If you received a rejection at the application form stage, a great way to assess the quality of the application is to take a copy to your university’s careers service. They’ll likely offer you some pointers for your next application and help you to identify any strengths and weaknesses that might need addressing.
This article explains in more detail how you can get the most out of your careers service.
Receiving feedback is also not always about finding that you did something wrong or didn’t have the right experience/knowledge. The competition for training contracts and pupillages is incredibly fierce, so in some cases you can be unsuccessful simply because another candidate was slightly more suited to that particular employer – that isn’t a reflection on you. If you performed well in an interview and didn’t get the offer, don’t let it put you off – keep applying. It might be that you’ve just not found the right law firm yet.
For more advice, head to LCN’s Application hub.
