Minimum 2:1 required
Discussion
eyebeebe said:
Viperzs said:
eyebeebe said:
I assume that is supposed to be ironic?
I assume you're referring to the Northumbria/London Met comment?I checked the league tables before I commented so I wasn't just making assumptions.
otherman said:
Well I work for a footise company and I got involved in the grad recruitment this year. I would certainly not think of restricting to top half grads only. We did on-line assessment first, which removed a lot. Then we did telephone interviews which ruled about another 60%. I spoke to several people who hardly seemed able to talk on the phone at all, let alone have sensible answers - and this included first class honours grads including an oxbridge one. Others were clearly well prepared and sailed through this section. Finally we had an assessment day and got offers out to some quality candidates.
As a barrister who moved into headhunting and the procurement of sales and senior management personnel, this is an approach I would suggest is (finally) appropriate. At a world class executive search firm we do similar testing (CV screening, first round interview screening, psychometric testing of candidates' ability and personalities) before we even submit a shortlist to clients.
Many of my friends who got firsts were utterly useless, and spent their entire time studying. Ditto many of the 2:1's out there. Conversely some of the finest minds got thirds (not me though) and went on to become awesome successes. Lord Denning (MR) wouldn't have got anywhere these days, but he was awe inspiringly brilliant. Indeed two of the best lawyers I know both got thirds.
What I would say to those who got lower degree classifications - go and do something brilliant, or the best you can manage.
I worked with a printing firm in their commercial department for 9 months sorting out their legal and purchasing issues, and driving their firm through the British Retail Consortium's Global Packaging Standard - meaning I added over a million a year in sales to their bottom line. I did this getting zero non-conformances to the standard as opposed to the standard average of 5 non-conformances for even firms re-applying for certification.
My director recently placed a candidate on a salary of £500,000 who didn't have a degree at all, leading to him billing a firm for £55,000 for what was a month's work. Do well enough, and bill or expand sales or do something brilliant, and your career can take off. My cousin works for one of the larger investment banks and is earning considerably more than I am with none of my professional qualifications.
Qualifications don't matter. They are just another way of judging people if you don't have the time to take a proper look at candidates and their abilities and their experience.
Edited by TomJS on Saturday 8th October 02:08
read this today...
The number of university leavers vying for relatively well-paid jobs has almost trebled in just three years, it has emerged.
Among investment banks, some 232 candidates are applying for each position, while an average 188 graduates are competing for positions in energy or utilities companies.
The disclosure – in data published by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) – underlines the extent to which the jobs market has failed to keep pace with the expansion of university places in recent years.
Candidates leaving university without at least a 2:1 are likely to miss out, as almost three quarters of firms say this is a minimum requirement.
It suggests thousands of graduates are likely to be forced onto the dole queue or take up low-paid work in bars, supermarkets and building sites to make ends meet.
But the study, in a survey of around 200 top companies, revealed that the overall number of graduate vacancies was up this year and salaries had also improved.
The poll also asked about graduate salaries, and found that while there was there was stiffer competition for jobs the average starting salary had increased slightly to £25,500 - the first rise since 2008.
AGR chief executive Carl Gilleard said the data indicated that the graduate recruitment market is beginning to overcome the impact of the recession: "I am cautiously optimistic about today's findings. Not only have starting salaries increased, albeit slightly, the number of vacancies continues to increase which can only be seen as a good sign.
He added: ""My advice for graduates is to make sure you reflect on what you have learnt - both at university and in an extra-curricular capacity - and be able to articulate it in your applications and at interviews; think about what transferable skills you might've gained and how you'd apply your knowledge and experience to different situations.
"If you are able to get into that mode of thinking, you will be immediately more attractive to employers."
Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of vice-chancellors' umbrella group Universities UK, said: "This is encouraging news. While the recession has been very hard for the whole jobs market, there are signs that things are improving for graduates.
"Competition for some graduate positions remains intense, but the predicted rise in the number of graduate vacancies is positive. It's also good to see that average starting salaries have increased slightly during these turbulent few years. UK graduates are still highly valued by employers.
The number of university leavers vying for relatively well-paid jobs has almost trebled in just three years, it has emerged.
Among investment banks, some 232 candidates are applying for each position, while an average 188 graduates are competing for positions in energy or utilities companies.
The disclosure – in data published by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) – underlines the extent to which the jobs market has failed to keep pace with the expansion of university places in recent years.
Candidates leaving university without at least a 2:1 are likely to miss out, as almost three quarters of firms say this is a minimum requirement.
It suggests thousands of graduates are likely to be forced onto the dole queue or take up low-paid work in bars, supermarkets and building sites to make ends meet.
But the study, in a survey of around 200 top companies, revealed that the overall number of graduate vacancies was up this year and salaries had also improved.
The poll also asked about graduate salaries, and found that while there was there was stiffer competition for jobs the average starting salary had increased slightly to £25,500 - the first rise since 2008.
AGR chief executive Carl Gilleard said the data indicated that the graduate recruitment market is beginning to overcome the impact of the recession: "I am cautiously optimistic about today's findings. Not only have starting salaries increased, albeit slightly, the number of vacancies continues to increase which can only be seen as a good sign.
He added: ""My advice for graduates is to make sure you reflect on what you have learnt - both at university and in an extra-curricular capacity - and be able to articulate it in your applications and at interviews; think about what transferable skills you might've gained and how you'd apply your knowledge and experience to different situations.
"If you are able to get into that mode of thinking, you will be immediately more attractive to employers."
Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of vice-chancellors' umbrella group Universities UK, said: "This is encouraging news. While the recession has been very hard for the whole jobs market, there are signs that things are improving for graduates.
"Competition for some graduate positions remains intense, but the predicted rise in the number of graduate vacancies is positive. It's also good to see that average starting salaries have increased slightly during these turbulent few years. UK graduates are still highly valued by employers.
koolchris99 said:
Among investment banks, some 232 candidates are applying for each position
I can believe that..! Trying to find a graduate job at the moment is a nightmare especially in IB, even coming from a target university. Can't imagine what it's like trying to find a grad job with a degree in media studies from some crap uni...lazystudent said:
I can believe that..! Trying to find a graduate job at the moment is a nightmare especially in IB, even coming from a target university. Can't imagine what it's like trying to find a grad job with a degree in media studies from some crap uni...
I wouldn't of been surprised if it had been higher than that. wiffmaster said:
Nice. Did the job app. specify 2:1 or higher? Because if it did, you must have some amazing ECs and work experience!
Haha nah the job didn't request a specific degree classification so it was all good. It turned out that the MD at where I am now knew the MD at the place I have been offered the job so I assume there was a huge bribe paid out to get rid of me 
Jimslips said:
Congrats. What job have you been offered?
Thank you!I have been offered Assistant Product/Brand Manager at a firm fairly local to me so it should be great!
Start in 2 weeks. I wonder how long it is until they realised they made a mistake. hahaha
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