A Levels - How important are they?

[va1o]

How important are A-Levels compared to a degree? Do they mean much on your CV at all?

Interested to know what people on here think... thats all

[ShadownINja]

I find it an odd question with so many possible answers. They're less important than a degree, obviously. Can you give a context for your question?

[shirt]

i'd assume a degree supercedes them in the eyes of an employer but some may look at them. also might be questioned, say, if you got 5 A's at A level then only got a third in your degree - what went wrong etc. things like language A levels could also help distinguish you from other candidates.

[V8mate]

I'd say that 'A' levels are only useful if you want to go to University.

If you don't want to go to Uni, you'd be much better off going doing a vocational Further Education course or going for an apprenticeship.

There used to be proper openings for post-'A' level students but most of these are now snapped up by graduates who can't find proper graduate-level jobs. (Because there are too many graduates in the market)

All IMO, of course.

[edc]

I think the answer depends to some extent how old you are, what experience you already have, what career path you are looking to take.

[va1o]

Sorry should have been more clear. I am at university.. but when I finish the degree, will my A-Levels (that other than the subject I am taking at university where pretty poor) be important in an employers eyes?

Edited by va1o on Tuesday 19th May 17:08

[V8mate]

va1o said:

Sorry should have been more clear. I am at university.. but when I finish the degree, will my A-Levels (that other than the subject I am taking at university where pretty poor) be important in an employers eyes?

Edited by va1o on Tuesday 19th May 17:08

A lot of comapnies which employ graduates will look to earlier examinations for indications of your capability over a longer period so, yes, your grades will be important to them. Some companies will go right back to your GCSEs and will want to see sparkling grades from 16 right through to graduation.

[shirt]

some grad schemes specify the number of ucas points you need to have or some may go so far as to require certain grades. others simply go by your degree mark. other may have certain rules that are actually ridiculously flexible when the right candidate appears.

in any case, once at the interview stage i would doubt they'll be questioned - recruiters assume everyone from that stage onwards has the neccesary qualifications.

all IME of course[from both sides of the recruitment process].

[va1o]

Hmm interesting. My GCSEs are quite good as it happens but I didn't think they would be of any relevance later in life.

[V8mate]

Depnds on your choice of career/employer to some extent.

[va1o]

Would be in IT
ETA: I realise that is very vauge but to be honest I don't really know what specific career I would want etc.

Edited by va1o on Tuesday 19th May 17:27

[Who me ?]

va1o said:

Sorry should have been more clear. I am at university.. but when I finish the degree, will my A-Levels (that other than the subject I am taking at university where pretty poor) be important in an employers eyes?

Edited by va1o on Tuesday 19th May 17:08

Mate - fast forward 40 years and ask the same question - and which will any employer be likely to take interest of .

[Diablo SVTT]

Being someone who's applying for graduate jobs, I can tell you that almost everything requires a certain number of UCAS points. However I'm sure that if you feel you're suitable for a position which you don't have enough UCAS points for then try to speak to the people in charge of recruiting because there is some room for manouevre

[V8mate]

va1o said:

Sorry should have been more clear. I am at university..

O/T

I had no idea you were student scum; had you down as proper grown-up, mid-forties etc.

Not sure if that's a compliment or insult

Shows how wrong we can be with assumptions about people online!

[va1o]

V8mate said:

va1o said:

Sorry should have been more clear. I am at university..

O/T

I had no idea you were student scum; had you down as proper grown-up, mid-forties etc.

Not sure if that's a compliment or insult

Shows how wrong we can be with assumptions about people online!

Haha, maybe I shouldn’t have told you that judging how the other ‘student scum’ get talked to on PH :P

[okgo]

And just to bring you back down to earth , I though you were younger than me

I think thy are important, but not as important as work experience and placements etc.

Friend got into Magic Circle law firm with worse GSCE's than me.

[Mr POD]

va1o said:

Sorry should have been more clear. I am at university.. but when I finish the degree, will my A-Levels (that other than the subject I am taking at university where pretty poor) be important in an employers eyes?

Edited by va1o on Tuesday 19th May 17:08

The fact that I screwed up my A levels getting a D in Design, and E in Physics and an O level pass in maths meant that I could just about get on a HND, but made me work my balls off to survive, which meant that at the end of year 1 I was asked to transfer to year 2 of the honours degree, but I was so scared of failing I worked my balls off and ended up with a DESMOND. It's a good talking point at interview and breaks the ice too. Cause I can say "I discovered beer women and motorbikes, but it showed how dangerous complacency can be" I reckon it's help me get at least one job.

[Scraggles]

went to uni as a mature student as left 6th form after finding chemistry too hard going, seems to have worked out ok in the end, for youngsters, it will be hard to get to uni with no a-levels

[shirt]

Diablo SVTT said:

However I'm sure that if you feel you're suitable for a position which you don't have enough UCAS points for then try to speak to the people in charge of recruiting because there is some room for manouevre

definitely. i know how our group HR works and even degree mark requirements are flexible. a strong CV - by which i mean demonstrable skills, relevant work experience & internships etc. - will win out over UCAS points any day of the week. speak to recruiters at graduate fairs, show interest & potential ability and you may find your name is flagged when you apply.

i know a guy who got C's at A level a 3rd in his degree. no real graduate opportunities for him post uni so he went cad monkeying for BAe and is now a weapon systems engineer at the same management level as guys on our course who started there with first class degrees.

[Dupont666]

I find it weird and messed up in the job world at the moment... Im being asked for the 35k (lowest I will go to) jobs.

Must be from red brick uni 2.1 and have good alevels (B+) to be considered.... have actually been refused on more than one occasion.

This for a junior to mid role... Most dont even get a second look in as im sorry but alevels I finished 12 years ago and degree over 8 years ago are more important than working at a top company for the past 8 years and being more experienced than the job needed...

Yet when I go for the standard jobs 45-70k I dont get asked for grades, I talk about my experience and get interviews...

In fact found out on one application that one job I was refused for not being academic enough, I was then accepted and got through to the final set of interviews as the lead developer of the other role in the same company and would have been the line manger of the role I wasnt academic enough for.... Crazy world.