Davitt Jones Bould, the largest specialist real estate law firm in the UK, have opened their Undergraduate Placement applications. They have written for us about their placement opportunities and provided some application advice too.
The placement is truly like no other as we deliberately don’t put you through a structured programme. Instead, you will be working in line with the real-time demands of the business, giving you experience of what running a business is really like.
You will work directly with a talented team of Davitt Jones Bould people, including colleagues in the Business Services Centre, lawyers based all over the UK and Davitt Jones Bould’s leadership team. You will be given responsibility straightaway for a wide range of tasks – some will play to your strengths, and some will challenge you to learn new skills.
You will be provided with dedicated on the job mentoring and training, as well as access to Davitt Jones Bould’s wider training programmes and courses.
Our current Undergraduate Placement student, Daniel Adams, shares his top tips on how to ace your applications:
During my university years, like many students, I dedicated significant time to applying for internships and placements. Through a mix of successes and setbacks, I gained valuable insights into what truly works in the application process and what pitfalls to avoid. I have spoken with hiring managers at many large corporations and compiled a list of what I have learnt to help you with your applications.
CV
The first stage of any placement application process is an online application consisting of a CV and cover letter. This is the stage where most people will be rejected. Although it seems simple, an attractive CV and appealing cover letter are harder to get right than you’d expect.
The key to excelling at this stage is to imagine you’re the recruiter who is assessing your application; it’s essential to consider what they would be looking out for, and what would impress them.
Most applicants submit the same CV to every role, but recruiters can easily spot a generic submission. Therefore, personalising your CV for the role you’re applying to is a simple but effective way to ensure your job application stands out. You can do this by ensuring your ‘skills’ section references the desired skills referred to in the job description. It is also beneficial to use recent examples of where you have utilised these skills if possible.
Tailoring your professional summary also shows effort has gone into the application. This is important as this is what recruiters will see first, and recruiters spend less than 10 seconds looking at each CV on average. Most people start their CV with a short overview of their experience, achievements and qualifications. Linking this to the company’s mission and making this clearly relate to the role you’re applying for can give you an advantage from the start.
Other CV tips
- Focus on relevant university projects: Mentioning these showcases your practical skills and how you’ve applied your knowledge. This is best when you have limited experience.
- Refer to a wide array of transferable skills: These skills are valuable across many roles and shows how your qualities can be applied to the role.
- Limit your CV to one page (or possibly 2): This allows assessors to review your application without feeling overwhelmed.
- Quantify achievements with numbers and figures: This adds credibility and makes your accomplishments more concrete and understandable.
- Showcase industry-specific interests: This signifies a genuine interest in the industry and can set you apart from other applicants.
The placement application process is challenging, but with preparation, professionalism, and the right mindset, you can succeed at every stage.
The most important advice is to do your research, maintain professionalism; and consider how things look from the recruiter’s perspective.
Stay in touch with Davitt Jones Bould
This blog is part of a series written by Daniel. Check back for more top tips blogs throughout November.
Further advice from the Careers Service
Get more support with your CV on the Careers Service website.
If you have any questions writing your application, interviews, assessment centres or anything else relating to careers, you can speak to us on live chat, or pop in to 5 Tyndall Avenue.
Small Business, Big Opportunity (SBBO)
SBBO is a new event series which will be running across the year which gives students the chance to meet local small to medium enterprises and network/secure future employment.
There is so much value in working for a smaller organisation and you can gain and develop so many skills which will kickstart your career. By going to these events, you can meet with smaller employers like Davitt Jones Bould, ask questions and find out more about the sector you wish to enter.
Look our for SBBO events on mycareer – there will be panels and presentations throughout the year.