Application deadlines explained

Virtually all major firms recruit for their vacation schemes and training contracts using a fixed application deadline.

However, only some firms will wait until after this deadline to start reviewing applications and offering places on assessment centres and vacation schemes or even giving out training contracts. Other firms recruit on a rolling basis. In other words, if you apply early weeks before the deadline and your application is successful, you could have a tactical advantage over a candidate who is just as good but applies later and therefore faces increased competition for fewer places.

Therefore, make sure you find out if the firms you are applying to recruit on a rolling basis. If you find some on your target list do, prioritise getting those in as soon as you can and before you submit your applications to the firms who only start reviewing/sending out interview invites after the deadline.