Should I stick a 2.2 on my CV?

Should I stick a 2.2 on my CV?

Author
Discussion

photosnob

Original Poster:

1,339 posts

117 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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I've managed to get a 2.2 from the open university. I'm neither proud or ashamed of it. I realised I didn't enjoy the subject and had little motivation to work at it with a full time job.

Anyway - after the summer I'll be moving to London. So I need to get a new job. I'm not a youngster - I'm closer to 30 than 20, and I'm not looking for graduate jobs. My partner has a great opportunity so we are moving. Anyway - I'll be looking for sales roles, and am wondering if its worth putting it on there.

My logic is - without I can just say I wasn't interested in academia and wanted to make money, but with it on there they are going to think I'm just a bit thick. It's in Natural Sciences - Physics if that makes any difference.

So to anyone recruitment consultants or hiring managers on here - should I include it or not?

glasgowrob

3,232 posts

120 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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yes you ruddy well should especially having taken the time and effort to do it through OU

shows you've been willing to spend a fair whack of time and cash to better yourself regardless of outcome



2 sMoKiN bArReLs

30,230 posts

234 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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You should be very proud of that achievement

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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Yes. Just don't mention it was a Desmond. wink

bigandclever

13,750 posts

237 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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Of course you should, the OU bit vastly outweighs the 2:2 bit.

photosnob

Original Poster:

1,339 posts

117 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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Fair enough - I'll add it on. I'm not ashamed off it. I just didn't enjoy it. And was happier spending my free time taking photo's and doing stuff I like that reading some of the material. I just don't fancy answering questions about why I dind't get a 2.1 etc... My boss has already been at it... Telling me about his 2.1 etc... But it can't really hurt for none graduate roles I suppose.

Vaud

50,291 posts

154 months

Monday 25th May 2015
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As an employer and hirer - anyone working and doing a degree via OU scores highly for me and goes into the "grafting" pile of CVs. Congrats.

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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If you don't put the grade, a recruiter will think you got a pass or 3rd (unless you put BSc Hons and omit the grade in which case they definitely will assume a 3rd).

Du1point8

21,604 posts

191 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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Absolutely stick it on there.

I got a 2.2 and don't care if people know, however I now have 14 years experience to back it up, so people (most of the time) don't care about degree.

Think I was only turned down from one job, strange thing is I got an interview for the position above it the following week, strange company politics.

BoRED S2upid

19,643 posts

239 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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Definitely put it down with or without the 2:2 bit it's still a degree and you can always tell them the grade at interview if they are bothered.

PorkInsider

5,877 posts

140 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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I would put it on the CV without the grade.

I've also got an OU Desmond and to be honest I've never been asked about the grade, although I haven't publicised it either. As mentioned above it seems to be very well respected just because it's so tough to get through a degree while working full time. People seem to know that OU degrees aren't given away, too.

We've disagreed plenty on various PH threads but many congratulations on your achievement. I know how hard it will have been.

photosnob

Original Poster:

1,339 posts

117 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
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Thanks to everyone - I honestly didn't expect to get such kind words from you all. Especially those who I have clashed keyboards with on other parts of the forum. I didn't do the course for career reasons - I wanted to finish of something I started a long time ago. When I started I had the idea in my head that it would be getting a degree by watching videos (like the old late night OU BBC programmes) and I was certainly proven wrong. It was one of the hardest things I have done - looking back right now I am slightly proud of it. I definitely think I could have got a 2.1 - but paying the bills and work came first. More importantly I realised just how boring and monotonous physics really is.

I'll take the advice on board and list it on my CV. I am not expecting to get graduate jobs - so I can't see it being used against me. If anything is mentioned I'll tell the truth and say I worked hard but that was all I was capable off with a full time job and adult life.

I plan on sticking in sales. I'll probably end up in London being a recruitment consultant or something of that ilk. That's fine - if I was destined to talk rubbish until retirement I can live with that. I am just looking forward to focussing on the things I really love now, travelling, photography, reading and generally looking on wikipedia and the like at rubbish.


PorkInsider

5,877 posts

140 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
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photosnob said:
Thanks to everyone - I honestly didn't expect to get such kind words from you all. Especially those who I have clashed keyboards with on other parts of the forum. I didn't do the course for career reasons - I wanted to finish of something I started a long time ago. When I started I had the idea in my head that it would be getting a degree by watching videos (like the old late night OU BBC programmes) and I was certainly proven wrong. It was one of the hardest things I have done - looking back right now I am slightly proud of it. I definitely think I could have got a 2.1 - but paying the bills and work came first. More importantly I realised just how boring and monotonous physics really is.

I'll take the advice on board and list it on my CV. I am not expecting to get graduate jobs - so I can't see it being used against me. If anything is mentioned I'll tell the truth and say I worked hard but that was all I was capable off with a full time job and adult life.

I plan on sticking in sales. I'll probably end up in London being a recruitment consultant or something of that ilk. That's fine - if I was destined to talk rubbish until retirement I can live with that. I am just looking forward to focussing on the things I really love now, travelling, photography, reading and generally looking on wikipedia and the like at rubbish.
Well I'd be more than 'slightly proud', myself, but that's up to you.

When you say you're not expecting graduate jobs, is that because you're already well beyond that stage or because you don't think you'd get them with your degree? If it's the latter I'd speak to people about that before assuming.

I do think you might be underestimating the value employers will put on a physics degree from the OU and you should definitely be able to open some doors with it whichever direction you choose to go in. In a sea of graduates (not all, I know) who only ended up with a degree because they were either pushed into it or they fancied another 3 years tossing around instead of grafting, you will stand out.

Since I finished my OU degree, around 10 years ago now, I've never had anything but very positive reactions to it from senior people in large organisations.

I know I'm droning on about it but I can't stress enough just how much it should help you, however you choose to use it.

MissChief

7,095 posts

167 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
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Echo the above. The fact that you've taken it upon yourself to do a degree in your own time shows some endeavour on your part. Absolutely put it down!

photosnob

Original Poster:

1,339 posts

117 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
Porkinsider - the simple reason I can't see myself using the degree for works reasons is because I don't want to go onto a graduate scheme, and I don't have enough management experience to use it at a senior level. So I will probably continue career wise as I was. If employers like it then that is nice. But I did it for me. I just wished I'd done it in something I had a bit more interest in. Ironically - I'd have really enjoyed engineering. I like the practical side of things, but spending hours deriving formulae rather than using them wasn't my idea of fun.

Troubleatmill

10,210 posts

158 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
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photosnob said:
Porkinsider - the simple reason I can't see myself using the degree for works reasons is because I don't want to go onto a graduate scheme, and I don't have enough management experience to use it at a senior level. So I will probably continue career wise as I was. If employers like it then that is nice. But I did it for me. I just wished I'd done it in something I had a bit more interest in. Ironically - I'd have really enjoyed engineering. I like the practical side of things, but spending hours deriving formulae rather than using them wasn't my idea of fun.
Put it down. It is an achievement.

Don't lie about it though.


You live in a world of social media - and you will be forever found out if caught.

And you have a long long time to be earning an income.

Ynox

1,702 posts

178 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
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Chuck it down.

I got a desmond too (9 years ago this year - time flies!).

Realistically getting a 2:2 did affect me in initial years. Once you get a couple of years of experience people don't really seem to give a toss though (software development).

0a

23,879 posts

193 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
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As someone who regularly does the old CV sift, a 2:2 doesn't bother me. A missing grade does though as it means you are trying to hide something from me.

And congratulations, it's really tough to complete such a think while working - especially if you found you didn't particularly enjoy it.

HiAsAKite

2,345 posts

246 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
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bigandclever said:
Of course you should, the OU bit vastly outweighs the 2:2 bit.
This......

No mean feat at all to complete an OU degree

HannsG

3,031 posts

133 months

Tuesday 16th June 2015
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I got a 2:2 and failed my A-levels.

Work in Investment banking now - Middle Office