Degrees - What level means what to an employer?
Discussion
Hi guys,
Been trying to find a bit of information out about what level of degree means what to an employer but can't find that much out on t'interweb.
At the moment I'm in my second year of a degree as a mature (27) student and doing well, at the moment I'm on target to finish the year with an overall first which stands me in good sted for the 3rd and final year. I've come into uni with a good attitude to it and putting a lot of effort into my work such as getting assignments done as soon as possible, something I wouldn't of done straight out of school (I see this in a lot of our group, leave assignments to the last minute then sh*t their pants!
).
So what does a 1st class honours mean to an employer and my career prospects as opposed to a 2:1, 2:2 or 3rd? My aim at the moment is to graduate with a 1st, but a 2:1 is acceptable
Cheers
James
Been trying to find a bit of information out about what level of degree means what to an employer but can't find that much out on t'interweb.
At the moment I'm in my second year of a degree as a mature (27) student and doing well, at the moment I'm on target to finish the year with an overall first which stands me in good sted for the 3rd and final year. I've come into uni with a good attitude to it and putting a lot of effort into my work such as getting assignments done as soon as possible, something I wouldn't of done straight out of school (I see this in a lot of our group, leave assignments to the last minute then sh*t their pants!
). So what does a 1st class honours mean to an employer and my career prospects as opposed to a 2:1, 2:2 or 3rd? My aim at the moment is to graduate with a 1st, but a 2:1 is acceptable
Cheers
James
Muncher said:
It depends entirely on the degree and where you are studying it.
Agreed. Although virtually everyone I know got a 2:1 - so getting a first, from a credible university would be worth the extra touch of effort. Aside from the degree it sounds like university has taught you some useful skills with regards to organising yourself and not leaving things to the last minute - you'll find that invaluable once in a job.
Updating with the another question identified by others, I think the questions are:
1. What university?
2. What course?
3. What job?
Those are definitely the things I would look at.
You'll find the top graduate employers such as Accenture et al will be looking for a 2:1 Bachelors or better on a good course at a good University. I was fortunate enough to get a 1st Class MEng from the University of Sheffield and had no problem getting a job at Accenture. However, once you have a substantial amount of experience under your belt that comes more and more into the fore when going for jobs.
If you can get a 1st, really try to do so. The feeling of satisfaction is immense and it's really worth it as there still aren't that many around and it helps you to stand out. The same goes for a Masters degree, but only if you're enjoying university and it is useful I'd say.
Hope that helps.
Frik said:
1. What university?
2. What course?
3. What job?
Those are definitely the things I would look at.
You'll find the top graduate employers such as Accenture et al will be looking for a 2:1 Bachelors or better on a good course at a good University. I was fortunate enough to get a 1st Class MEng from the University of Sheffield and had no problem getting a job at Accenture. However, once you have a substantial amount of experience under your belt that comes more and more into the fore when going for jobs.
If you can get a 1st, really try to do so. The feeling of satisfaction is immense and it's really worth it as there still aren't that many around and it helps you to stand out. The same goes for a Masters degree, but only if you're enjoying university and it is useful I'd say.
Hope that helps.
A good degree will help you get to interview stage, especially with big corporations (e.g.accenture) - Having had to recruit many people you often have to filter down applications for a short list and degree level may be used as a filter.
Well worth the effort to get a 1st as so many more people taking degrees these days so helps to stand out.
Experience and outside interests are useful too though - at the end of the day, they are going to have to work with you!
However I know one friend of a friend who had a 1st maths degree from Cambridge which got him lots of interviews, but took ages to get a job as employers look for other skills and experience too - this particular person was technically fantastic, just had no social skills and employers did not feel he would fit in to the culture of the organisation.
As mentioned, once you have a few years experiance, the degree level will start to mean less than relavant experience but will undoubtedly help with 1st role (depends a bit on what job you are going for though...)
Well worth the effort to get a 1st as so many more people taking degrees these days so helps to stand out.
Experience and outside interests are useful too though - at the end of the day, they are going to have to work with you!
However I know one friend of a friend who had a 1st maths degree from Cambridge which got him lots of interviews, but took ages to get a job as employers look for other skills and experience too - this particular person was technically fantastic, just had no social skills and employers did not feel he would fit in to the culture of the organisation.
As mentioned, once you have a few years experiance, the degree level will start to mean less than relavant experience but will undoubtedly help with 1st role (depends a bit on what job you are going for though...)
Personally, having a Degree will tell me how committed you were to your course. The subject you studied will tell me whether it was something you studied in order to advance your career (maths, english, engineering etc.) or something you studied in order to get a good grade (media studies, knitting, cake decorating etc.)
Then, whether you can do the job will tell me if I should employ you or not.
Then, whether you can do the job will tell me if I should employ you or not.
As an Employer, I can tell you that a degree only gives me an idication of your level of intelligence.
My main criteria for employability are in this order:
1. Ability to perform the duties to an acceptable standard.
2/3. Honesty/reliability.
4. Intelligence.
I have employed graduates with excellent degrees that have been enirely useless in the real world.
My main criteria for employability are in this order:
1. Ability to perform the duties to an acceptable standard.
2/3. Honesty/reliability.
4. Intelligence.
I have employed graduates with excellent degrees that have been enirely useless in the real world.
...certainly if someone has a first I would look more carefully at them than if they got a 3rd or pass - bearing in mind that it is almost impossible to fail a degree then lower than a Desmond is pretty much out of the question.
I have employed several MSc students and to be honest at times this is the level that I am looking at because it shows a more serious intent to study
I have employed several MSc students and to be honest at times this is the level that I am looking at because it shows a more serious intent to study
Cheers guys
I asked this really as one of the tutors is very impressed with my work so far and has told me I can get a 1st if I keep pushing myself.
I'm studying Digital Media at Canterbury Christ Church University. I've been working in this sort of field for a few years before I went travelling for a year and decided I wanted to go to Uni to reinforce what I've already learnt as it should put me in a better position with employment oportunities further down the line. I've always been creatively minded and feel this course was the best way to express my abilities and I know this course is going towards the career I want to be in. Still wouldn't say the course is easy, still need to work hard to get the best marks!
Never understand why people study History then get a job with no relevence to the degree whatsoever, I have a friend who did IT and Business, he's now a Police man.
Like I say, I have a good few years of experience behind me, so this also benefits me at the interview stage... and I have common sense and can spell
I asked this really as one of the tutors is very impressed with my work so far and has told me I can get a 1st if I keep pushing myself.
I'm studying Digital Media at Canterbury Christ Church University. I've been working in this sort of field for a few years before I went travelling for a year and decided I wanted to go to Uni to reinforce what I've already learnt as it should put me in a better position with employment oportunities further down the line. I've always been creatively minded and feel this course was the best way to express my abilities and I know this course is going towards the career I want to be in. Still wouldn't say the course is easy, still need to work hard to get the best marks!
Never understand why people study History then get a job with no relevence to the degree whatsoever, I have a friend who did IT and Business, he's now a Police man.
Like I say, I have a good few years of experience behind me, so this also benefits me at the interview stage... and I have common sense and can spell
SlimJ said:
Never understand why people study History then get a job with no relevence to the degree whatsoever, I have a friend who did IT and Business, he's now a Police man.
Degrees teach far more than just the subject matter though - so even if you did a History degree the skills it would teach you could be ported over to many other careers. If you look in the City there are a huge number of people with Engineering and Maths degrees because the teach the core skills most required by that industry.
che6mw said:
SlimJ said:
Never understand why people study History then get a job with no relevence to the degree whatsoever, I have a friend who did IT and Business, he's now a Police man.
Degrees teach far more than just the subject matter though - so even if you did a History degree the skills it would teach you could be ported over to many other careers. If you look in the City there are a huge number of people with Engineering and Maths degrees because the teach the core skills most required by that industry.
And the other reason for studying a subject like History is that it is interesting entirely in its own right. If you are interested in a subject and have the opportunity to study it in some real depth, then you'd be mad not to grab the chance. There are plenty of other life-enriching, eye-opening passtimes like reading and travel. No one seems to think those ought to be focussed on expanding your career horizons. We do them because they enrich our lives. It's a pity we often fail to see education in those terms, i.e. as an end in itself.
One thing I do find is that people who don't have a degree care less about them when interviewing. I would always wants to see someone's academic qualifications and seem to share an outlook on this with ATG and drivin_me_nuts. I to have met people with great paper qualifications that have been useless in the real world, but the fact remains if I have two good candiates and everything is equal other than one has a really good degree and one doesn't, I'd choose the one with the good degree.
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