Minimum 2:1 required

[lazystudent]

koolchris99 said:

your username is very apt

[BMWBen]

NobleGuy said:

Viperzs said:

You might find someone can get a 1st during uni by doing all assigned tasks etc however they might be completely dull, socially inactive and not at all creative.

Or maybe not
I'm sure you could find plenty of 2:1's 2:2's and below that are the same.

I got my first by not doing any of the assigned tasks if they weren't scoring, not attending lectures, but by working my ass off in the last 2 months of each year to learn the material.

With the exception of 1 or 2 modules which had some decent practical/lab work, and my dissertation which I worked on for most of the year.

It was mainly maths, and sitting in a lecture hall is not how you learn it. So I spent most of my time playing football, socialising and having sex with my girlfriend

What a degree result really tells you is if that person a) has the ambition to want to achieve something b) has enough of a brain on them to work out a plan to get it c) has the follow through required to execute the plan and achieve it.


Perfect indicator for whether or not you want them in your business.

EDIT: of course there are other ways of demonstrating a-c, but if you're applying for graduate schemes... The company I joined had a min 2:1 required. When I went to the HR induction with the other grads (about 20 of them in my particular area) where you have to bring your certificates etc I discovered that EVERY SINGLE ONE had a first.

So even meeting the minimum prob isn't enough.

Edited by BMWBen on Wednesday 28th September 17:50

Edited by BMWBen on Wednesday 28th September 17:53

[Tyson1980]

I know some people who graduated with 2:2 and thirds and went onto do postgrad quals such as CIMA and ACCA

Some of these guys are heading finance divisions across Europe and UK for multi billion pound companies..

If you are decent and have the right skills no reason why a Desmond should hinder you..

Companies refusing interviews with candidates who have 10+ years experience and a Desmond are misguided. iI know plenty of guys with good degrees who are thick as pigst

[crofty1984]

I got a third, got a job where the required minimum was just a degree or high HND, spent 4 years travelling the world with them, earnt quite a lot, spent it, lost my job and flat, got a job in the automotive indusrty with my experience, lost my flat again, working towards project management.

It can be done.

[John87]

I was in a similar position recently. I completed an internship with a big 4 accountancy firm before my final year and ended up with a job offer which was conditional on gaining a 2:1.

I missed out on a 2:1 by 1% and they completely refused to hire me despite having some experience of what I was like working with them.

After that I spent a whole year applying for every job I could, graduate scheme or not which I met the minimum requirements for and received a whole 2 interviews- neither successful. Most of the big firms seem to have automated online application forms which mean it is impossible to even pass the first stage unless you meet their degree requirements so I was getting nowhere.

Eventually I did as a few others have said here and found a uni who would take me on a MSc course. It's not as good a uni as I went to first time round and the course does repeat a lot of what I covered in my honours year but my theory is that, providing I do well, I will go from being at the bottom of the graduate pile to above those with even first class degrees. At that stage it is only experience which will separate the better candidates and I have more than most graduates even with just a 6 week internship to my name.

I'm hoping my plan works out the way I expect but its purpose is purely to get past that first filtering stage and get an interview where I can sell myself in person. Perhaps something similar could work for you? it is only an extra year at uni and I spent that trying to find a job with a 2:2 anyway...

[Viperzs]

Thanks for all these replies!

To those who have speculated as to the reasoning for my 2:2. I understand if they were aimed as hypothetical thoughts of a potential employer however if it was actually aimed at me then I will justy clarify that I did not spend my time at uni drinking and generally dicking about. I was well on my way for a 2:1 with a load of assignments coming back with 65+ % including one at 90%. I was badly guided through my dissertation and got screwed over on another assignment Sh*t happens though!

One thing I have considered doing is to send in a cover letter and a copy of my CV to companies that I am interested in and state that I am aware of their minimum requirements, but ask if they have any other availabilities that I could be eligible for, even if it were to be some sort of unpaid experience. How is that likely to be received?

With regards to taking on another qualification, I completely understand the benefits of doing that however I really do not feel like going back through all that.

[zaphod42]

Lefty said:

I know plenty of consultancies who will only take candidiates with 1st class degrees. It's the easiest way to filter 200 candidtaes down to 10.

The company I work for (consulting is one division), for grad intake, most had 1 yr good job experience and 80% had 1sts AND masters....

And they were filtering 3,500 applications to 16 spaces...

[blueg33]

Soovy said:

Viperzs said:

Secondly, what's so special about a 2:1?!

It's better than a 2:2.

Simple.


There are thousands and thousands of people with 1st and 2:1s. No one will bother with a 2:2. It indicates you couldn't be bothered.

It didn't in my day!

I think that so many people now go to Uni and get degrees that the degree has been devalued regardless of whether standards are higher, lower or the same. When I was at Uni only 5% of people went to uni and about 80% of those got an Honours Degree. (Approx percentages) Now I am sure many many more people get degrees, hence you need a better class of degree to be in the top 5%

TBH although I look for graduates with a Masters, I look just as hard at what they have done with the rest of their time in terms of gaining experience, and I don't mean a "Gap Yar", I mean proper voluntary work or paid work or signs of entrepreurial flair.

On the plus side the last Graduate I employed started on £25k and was on £45k by year two. Now 4 years in, he earns about £90k but he is very good and will end up on the Main Board

Edited by blueg33 on Thursday 29th September 08:16

[Cyder]

Viperzs said:

To those who have speculated as to the reasoning for my 2:2. I understand if they were aimed as hypothetical thoughts of a potential employer however if it was actually aimed at me then I will justy clarify that I did not spend my time at uni drinking and generally dicking about. I was well on my way for a 2:1 with a load of assignments coming back with 65+ % including one at 90%. I was badly guided through my dissertation and got screwed over on another assignment Sh*t happens though!

Amazing how it's always someone elses fault isn't it?

[Lefty]

Cyder said:

Viperzs said:

To those who have speculated as to the reasoning for my 2:2. I understand if they were aimed as hypothetical thoughts of a potential employer however if it was actually aimed at me then I will justy clarify that I did not spend my time at uni drinking and generally dicking about. I was well on my way for a 2:1 with a load of assignments coming back with 65+ % including one at 90%. I was badly guided through my dissertation and got screwed over on another assignment Sh*t happens though!

Amazing how it's always someone elses fault isn't it?

OP, don't take that attitude in any interviews - you'll juct come across as a .

[NobleGuy]

Tyson1980 said:

Companies refusing interviews with candidates who have 10+ years experience and a Desmond are misguided. iI know plenty of guys with good degrees who are thick as pigst

Yep, but they'll be weeded out by the interview process, keeping the ones with good degrees who aren't as thick as pigs**t.

[NobleGuy]

Cyder said:

Viperzs said:

To those who have speculated as to the reasoning for my 2:2. I understand if they were aimed as hypothetical thoughts of a potential employer however if it was actually aimed at me then I will justy clarify that I did not spend my time at uni drinking and generally dicking about. I was well on my way for a 2:1 with a load of assignments coming back with 65+ % including one at 90%. I was badly guided through my dissertation and got screwed over on another assignment Sh*t happens though!

Amazing how it's always someone elses fault isn't it?

Amazing. How does someone get screwed over on an assignment?

[Podie]

badgers_back said:

You have 2 options apply with the 2.2 and get binned or say you have a 2.1 and try your luck.

What?! The minute they ask for your degree certificate you'll be out anyway!

I interviewed someone last year who had put on their CV they had a certain qualification. Thankfully, I discovered at interview he did not, and I quote "well I sat the exam and didn't pass by 2%" - seriously don't waste their time, or yours.

[Viperzs]

NobleGuy said:

Amazing. How does someone get screwed over on an assignment?

It wasn't marked by the tutor who took me for the whole module. Instead it was marked by someone who marked me down for a load of things saying "I told my students not to do that"


Lefty, thanks. I would never come across like that in an interview though Interviews are for positive talking

[zaphod42]

NobleGuy said:

Amazing. How does someone get screwed over on an assignment?

My guess is that the final year project carried a significant proportion of marks. In many project orientated courses the years are weighted 1:3:5, so that everyone can mess about in their first year (sorry, adjust to the academic environment) but still achieve a high quality degree. A final year project/dissertation will often be worth 2-3 modules, or 50% of the final year, so a small % shift in it's result has a big weighting on the final result.

I went through something similar, appealed, and it turned out (I found out some years later) the lecturer was having a crisis of some kind and had low marked everyone. My project was corrected to the tune of +15%...

OP, did you consider appealing to the dept academic board, and then the main academic board?

[NobleGuy]

zaphod42 said:

NobleGuy said:

Amazing. How does someone get screwed over on an assignment?

My guess is that the final year project carried a significant proportion of marks. In many project orientated courses the years are weighted 1:3:5, so that everyone can mess about in their first year (sorry, adjust to the academic environment) but still achieve a high quality degree. A final year project/dissertation will often be worth 2-3 modules, or 50% of the final year, so a small % shift in it's result has a big weighting on the final result.

I went through something similar, appealed, and it turned out (I found out some years later) the lecturer was having a crisis of some kind and had low marked everyone. My project was corrected to the tune of +15%...

OP, did you consider appealing to the dept academic board, and then the main academic board?

Honestly, the one thing I've learned in life is that very few things are down to good or bad luck, and your experience is a perfect example. You had the chance to do something about it and you did.

As soon as someone says "I was screwed over" it starts to sound like bleating and excuses...

[stevieb]

The people we have coming through the grad scheme at my work are useless. They all want to be project managers and don't want to take responsibility for technical work.

My advice would be to work for 3 or 6 months for no money and the reapply with some experience in the field.

[Tyson1980]

In all honesty degrees aren't worth the paper they are printed on unless we are talking about the true redbricks. Competition is ridiculous out there. thousands of applicants for one job etc...

When interviewing for my team, i look at experience and then personality in the interview.

Personality is the biggy. If you cant fit in my team, you will probably not be very productive.

[Podie]

Tyson1980 said:

If you cant fit in my team, you will probably not be very productive.

[Soovy]

Podie said:

badgers_back said:

You have 2 options apply with the 2.2 and get binned or say you have a 2.1 and try your luck.

What?! The minute they ask for your degree certificate you'll be out anyway!

I interviewed someone last year who had put on their CV they had a certain qualification. Thankfully, I discovered at interview he did not, and I quote "well I sat the exam and didn't pass by 2%" - seriously don't waste their time, or yours.

Added to which lying on your CV and getting a job is a criminal offence.