Degrees - What level means what to an employer?
Discussion
Frik said:
Isn't that the case with all parts of the process?
A degree will get you a job, A-levels get you into university, GCSEs get you into college. After that they're just useless pieces of paper.
A degree will get you a job, A-levels get you into university, GCSEs get you into college. After that they're just useless pieces of paper.
Out of interest, do you have a degree and if so what uni/subject/result if you don't mind me asking?
Unfortunately I am not up to industry standard to be a stylist but I am good enough to work elsewhere in the sector, with aero experience etc. roadsweeper said:
Frik said:
Isn't that the case with all parts of the process?
A degree will get you a job, A-levels get you into university, GCSEs get you into college. After that they're just useless pieces of paper.
A degree will get you a job, A-levels get you into university, GCSEs get you into college. After that they're just useless pieces of paper.
Out of interest, do you have a degree and if so what uni/subject/result if you don't mind me asking?
Sure. Cardiff Uni, 2:1 Mech Eng.
Why?
In my current emplyment a first degree will only help you get through the 1st interview. The division of the company i work for are now looking for second degree graduates only and still thats no 100% job offer at the end of it.
Personally i would say that it is purely down to the industry where you want to work. what career do you see yourself doing?
Personally i would say that it is purely down to the industry where you want to work. what career do you see yourself doing?
Frik said:
roadsweeper said:
Frik said:
Isn't that the case with all parts of the process?
A degree will get you a job, A-levels get you into university, GCSEs get you into college. After that they're just useless pieces of paper.
A degree will get you a job, A-levels get you into university, GCSEs get you into college. After that they're just useless pieces of paper.
Out of interest, do you have a degree and if so what uni/subject/result if you don't mind me asking?
Sure. Cardiff Uni, 2:1 Mech Eng.
Why?
I was just interested. As per my previous post I find people who put least weight behind degrees tend not to have done them themselves and vice-versa.
Personally I don't see them as a worthless piece of paper at all. As I mentioned previously, they can be useuful in helping to estalish levels of intelligence, drive and ability to learn new things even years after they have been obtained. However, I'd never employ someone on the strength of their degree alone - see our Careers page for 'evidence'.
"Excellent academic and/or professional qualifications are an advantage, though this is a complement to, rather than a substitute for, a sustained and proven record in the IT/Consultancy industry. We will not usually employ graduates except where the applicant can prove exceptional potential and practical application of skills."
This might be a load of C**p but I was told by a university lecturer that degrees before 1995/6 are seen as better degrees.
The guy I was talking to happens to meet with industry and with other educational establishments....I guess it does make some sense. Everyone is going to University and getting degrees and even my younger cousins who really are thick as **** came out with 2.1's from mediocre universities. Also my wife who got here articles (LPC) from One of the top two universities in the UK - swears that the course is easier her aunts' that done the same course 10 years earlier ?!?!
The guy I was talking to happens to meet with industry and with other educational establishments....I guess it does make some sense. Everyone is going to University and getting degrees and even my younger cousins who really are thick as **** came out with 2.1's from mediocre universities. Also my wife who got here articles (LPC) from One of the top two universities in the UK - swears that the course is easier her aunts' that done the same course 10 years earlier ?!?!
IceBoy said:
This might be a load of C**p but I was told by a university lecturer that degrees before 1995/6 are seen as better degrees.
The guy I was talking to happens to meet with industry and with other educational establishments....I guess it does make some sense. Everyone is going to University and getting degrees and even my younger cousins who really are thick as **** came out with 2.1's from mediocre universities. Also my wife who got here articles (LPC) from One of the top two universities in the UK - swears that the course is easier her aunts' that done the same course 10 years earlier ?!?!
The guy I was talking to happens to meet with industry and with other educational establishments....I guess it does make some sense. Everyone is going to University and getting degrees and even my younger cousins who really are thick as **** came out with 2.1's from mediocre universities. Also my wife who got here articles (LPC) from One of the top two universities in the UK - swears that the course is easier her aunts' that done the same course 10 years earlier ?!?!
agree thats why employers are looking for people wih second degrees.
A pass rate for a undergraduate degree is 40% and anyone who bothers to turn up to the lectures can pass. MSc's and PhD all have standard to keep up and are at a higher pass mark 65% for a pass.
The grading system is to blame for more people getting degrees in much the same way it has inflated the pass results for GCSEs and A-levels.
Edited by stevieb on Monday 12th February 19:40
I'm doing Economic History at LSE - I've no idea what sort of career path I want to go down. Looking at the business I work in, I can see a lot of potential. I'm just not sure if I should really go and become my own boss at such a young age - or go down the financial services route first for some years then go for the business.
I have to ensure I get a 2:1 - but I feel with some motivation I can get it up to a First.
I have to ensure I get a 2:1 - but I feel with some motivation I can get it up to a First.
I have just turned down an applicants with GCSE English language grade C, A level English Lit grade C, and a degree in English with another subject, because, you guessed it, their English was too poor (and I mean 30+ spelling erors in a 4 page application).
I think degrees and their grades matter when the selector knows the course or university and can make a considered judgment and are a cheap way of sifting applicants otherwise. A first says to me: 'may have worked hard or be very talented' but I need to know that wasn't at the expense of other qualities , like being able to get on with others in a workplace?
I think degrees and their grades matter when the selector knows the course or university and can make a considered judgment and are a cheap way of sifting applicants otherwise. A first says to me: 'may have worked hard or be very talented' but I need to know that wasn't at the expense of other qualities , like being able to get on with others in a workplace?
Edited by Leftie on Tuesday 13th February 08:21
Leftie said:
I have just turned down an applicants with GCSE English language grade C, A level English Lit grade C, and a degree in English with another subject, because, you guessed it, their English was too poor (and I mean 30+ spelling erors in a 4 page application).
I think degrees and their grades matter when the selector knows the course or university and can make a considered judgment and are a cheap way of sifting applicants otherwise. A first says to me: 'may have worked hard or be very talented' but I need to know that wasn't at the expense of other qualities , like being able to get on with others in a workplace?
I think degrees and their grades matter when the selector knows the course or university and can make a considered judgment and are a cheap way of sifting applicants otherwise. A first says to me: 'may have worked hard or be very talented' but I need to know that wasn't at the expense of other qualities , like being able to get on with others in a workplace?
Edited by Leftie on Tuesday 13th February 08:21
Sorry but if a english graduate made the fundamental error of not copying the application and completing it in draft first and then check for errors is not worth employing in my book. My English is poor to be honest, but at least i know to check and double check stuff that i do at work that is submitted to clients.
It is almays going to be difficult choosing between peoples and truth be said many degrees are so much-of-a-muchness. Having employed people in the past for highly paid jobs in IT (SAP) Connsultancy I have had peoples from all kinds of backgrounds, from Classical Civilization through to a Ph D in Mathematics. Does the qualification level matter? In some way yes it does because it shows the commitment level that the propoective employee showed. To commit to a higher degree shows me two things:
Firstly, that the person actually has a passion about the subject and simply put they were not just in University for the 'experience' - that they were actually committed enough to study.
secondly, that they willing to put their own education and learning above the demands for the filthy lucre
Now the second point may be my own personal employer prejudice creeping in to the selection process but in essence for me it's down to the individual putting themselves (as in their need to gain knwoledge) before other demands.
Equally though I have also employed peoples with no Degrees and little by way of formal education - some have proved to be totally sound people but then again some have not. But that's also true of the degree holding employees as well.
Firstly, that the person actually has a passion about the subject and simply put they were not just in University for the 'experience' - that they were actually committed enough to study.
secondly, that they willing to put their own education and learning above the demands for the filthy lucre
Now the second point may be my own personal employer prejudice creeping in to the selection process but in essence for me it's down to the individual putting themselves (as in their need to gain knwoledge) before other demands.
Equally though I have also employed peoples with no Degrees and little by way of formal education - some have proved to be totally sound people but then again some have not. But that's also true of the degree holding employees as well.
I think that because so many people have got good A-levels and upper second degrees unfortunately people who may be very well suited to a particular job may not even get through the initial stages if they left school at a young age without A-levels, which is quite frankly very sad.
Edited by mc_blue on Tuesday 13th February 10:48
mc_blue said:
I think that because so many people have got good A-levels and upper second degrees unfortunately people who may be very well suited to a particular job may not even get through the initial stages if they left school at a young age without A-levels, which is quite frankly very sad.
Edited by mc_blue on Tuesday 13th February 10:48
Very true. Mrs Letie is as bright as a button but left school at 16 to follow some boyfriend in a relationship that lasted a short time.
She applied for a job recently when we moved up north in a local college working in the admin ofice as she doesn't drive and it was 100 yards away from home. She wasn't shortlisted and when she asked why not (she had worked in the post grad office of a university and been PA to a CEO in the city) it was because she didn't have a degree!
got a 2.2 in environmental protection and not doing anything related to the degree, mostly due to not having any experince in anything connected to the course...
doing a similair job to what was doing before degree, but with better company who does not want to screw me, get work in advance and if finished in the month, it not matter when or in what order it is done
got some job related stuff like nebosh now, that would be asked for...
2.2 is minimum, 2.3 ? is like you were on the course, but not doing much, like one guy who spent all his time working for greenpeace who promptly dumped him when he graduated with nothing worthwile to show for it
doing a similair job to what was doing before degree, but with better company who does not want to screw me, get work in advance and if finished in the month, it not matter when or in what order it is done
got some job related stuff like nebosh now, that would be asked for...
2.2 is minimum, 2.3 ? is like you were on the course, but not doing much, like one guy who spent all his time working for greenpeace who promptly dumped him when he graduated with nothing worthwile to show for it
I got a Desmond, and it does cause problems with some of the larger companies who want a first / 2(i). That said, it won't always stop you from getting an interview, and once you have work experience in a sector that is far more important.
I'm planning to do an MSc in the next couple of years though (specific to what I do) so hopefully that should help make my CV look more attractive, and also benefit my current employer.
If you're planning on paying for one, I wouldn't recommend doing a masters straight after a first degree...but each to their own.
I'm planning to do an MSc in the next couple of years though (specific to what I do) so hopefully that should help make my CV look more attractive, and also benefit my current employer.
If you're planning on paying for one, I wouldn't recommend doing a masters straight after a first degree...but each to their own.
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