Jobs with 2:2 Degree?

NewsMeQuick

Have you or someone you know gotten a 2:2 in an honours degree and how did they get on?

A friend of mine who graduated last year has the same result and she's doing pretty well, got a big job in another European city and is very happy. We applied for the same internship programme but for different work. The thing is I notice a lot of jobs now saying 2:1 minimum. I see that this is increasingly used as a way to sift through candidates for programmes. I have no plans to do further study, I really want to work now and have applied for many internships awaiting more interviews. But still I need to hear what others know about opportunities with this result. The degree is a sturdy one, international business with a foreign language with a big college and it's still an honours result in an honours degree. Maybe I should try get the best job I can now, earn a few years good experience, then a 2:2 won't matter much?

I appreciate any advice from someone with experience themselves or someone they know with a 2:2.

(I just got my results yesterday and it's a 2:2. I notice there can be a lot of attacks on this result and I resent that - I worked very hard actually, I have obvious strengths and weaknesses as shown in my results. No one talks about ability only effort, assuming a 2:2 means you did nothing. I'm great at some things and terrible at others, that's that.)

starlit

Most jobs require a 2:1 but once you start gaining the work experience a 2:2 won't matter much. Though some jobs a 2:2 be the minimum but other jobs be happy enough with a 2:2 requirement plus extensive industry experience.
Its the work experience be more important than a 2:2.

Coming from someone who has achieved a 2nd class honours in my degree I have found it hard enough finding work with my 2:2 but with my work experience and having done further study having achieved a 2:1 has put me in a better position in finding work but my varied work experience but lack of enough specific work experience in areas such as IT/programming has gone against me despite qualifications so basically have to look else where. For me further study or going abroad if finding a jobbridge doesn't go my way.

You are coming from a an excellent degree I'd imagine and with business and foreign language you be in an excellent position to find work. The foreign language aspect will stand to you. Smaller companies be more interested that you gotten your 2nd class honours degree regardless of it being a 2:2 and that they be interested in your subjects/grades maybe but the bigger companies and grad programmes be looking for 2:1's though.

Some cut off the mark on leaving cert points which is a bit silly really. I think more ridged assessment beyond qualifications should come into it more so when eliminating people from the recruitment process. Not just a process of short listing for interview but what they can assess before hand like telephone interview, assessment day, presentation on a topic and psychometric/aptitude/personality test.

Research as best you can, there are companies and jobs out there that the minimum be a 2:2 but saying that not many jobs would have that requirement unless you have extensive work experience behind you though saying that once you have an honour in your degree and the degree you have will stand to you in the long run.

Have you looked into jobbridge? You have to really research heavily to find jobs with a minimum of a 2:2.

I was the same, I found there were certain subjects I was great at and not great at others, worked hard but a lot was down to the exam papers to be honest and how well our lecturer's prepared us not just the study and hard work we'd put in. I was close to getting the 2:1 but due to the odd project and two exam papers didn't go that well for me. One subject was only ok at at like but could have done better but couldn't have done much better but did very well in the rest of my exams and my other projects.

I think that would be the best way to approach it, get the best job you can, gain a bit of work experience, your 2:2 won't matter but your work experience will. The more valuable work experience you gain the less important your 2:2 will be just that you got an honours degree be enough. Its the work experience will stand to you in the long term.

NewsMeQuick

Thank you very much for your advice.

I know things will look hardest at the start and as I find more info. I'll find my way, but the first day of looking for work has been tricky. A lot of 2:1 specs. I'm expanding my horizons to find more opportunities. I would not have considered further study as so many have done, to add on with a higher qualification but I would consider that now. I'm sure I'll find things on the way, I don't give up, that's for sure.

starlit

No problem. Even to just look into doing a short term Professional Cert.short term course in relation to business or something else might be worth pursuing not necessary have to be a hdip or a masters!

Plenty of opportunities to pursue after a degree. Some paths is more direct others you have to go around the long route to get to your destination! A career path can vary for everyone and how they get through that path varies as well. Its something that has to be worked at.

Have you looked into setting up a company or set up a small business online? Even freelance might be worth considering if you were to go down the marketing road depending what area of business you want to pursue I suppose. Depends what path you want to follow really if you have decided on that, its half the battle in looking for work, know what you want to work in.
Plenty of opportunities with a foreign language you could go abroad or teach even!

Best of luck with your job hunt!

Bougeoir

Hey,

I did an international degree in French and Spanish in UCD and missed a 2.1 by a small margin, mainly due to my second year results. My third year results were high but I just performed poorly in second year and had a lot of difficulties. Anyway, what I'm going to do is work abroad for a year or two. I got offered a job giving oral classes of English in a school in France. I got it via the French embassy actually. Maybe you could try something like that? Léargas and education.ie offer these programmes. Unlike yourself, I want to pursue an MA in year or two. Luckily, the one I want to do accepts a 2.2. Like the previous poster said, work experience is crucial! Be happy, you got an honours degree and don't mind those fools out their who grill you for having a 2.2. My friend got a 2.1 but has had no luck since graduating due to her lack of work experience.

Mr. Loverman

Don't put your score on your CV and apply for jobs regardless of the 2:1 requirement. In my experience many job adverts are optimistic when it comes to requirements, and often times they have just copied and pasted someone else's requirements.

It is actually unlikely they will ask for your degree score in your interview. I got a 4.0 GPA in my masters and I am always dying to tell interviewers (notice how I slipped it in here) but am yet to be asked. So don't worry too much, it won't really hold you back.

Lux23

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Don't put your score on your CV and apply for jobs regardless of the 2:1 requirement. In my experience many job adverts are optimistic when it comes to requirements, and often times they have just copied and pasted someone else's requirements.

It is actually unlikely they will ask for your degree score in your interview. I got a 4.0 GPA in my masters and I am always dying to tell interviewers (notice how I slipped it in here) but am yet to be asked. So don't worry too much, it won't really hold you back.

I totally agree with this, apply minus your score and if it really bothers they will ask you. I think it's just one of those tick the box things that HR people use to make their life a bit easier.

x43r0

I came out with a 2:2 degree as well and the amount of 2:1 job specs sickened me. I had told myself if I got 2:1 or better I'd go job hunting and 2:2 or lower I'd go with further study, so did a masters and came out of that with a 2:2 :rolleyes:


But job hunting with the masters was simple in comparison to the year before. I got a job offer with an investment bank 7 months before I had completed the masters and the company didn't ask for my degree grades

Green Diesel

x43r0 wrote: »

I came out with a 2:2 degree as well and the amount of 2:1 job specs sickened me. I had told myself if I got 2:1 or better I'd go job hunting and 2:2 or lower I'd go with further study, so did a masters and came out of that with a 2:2 :rolleyes:


But job hunting with the masters was simple in comparison to the year before. I got a job offer with an investment bank 7 months before I had completed the masters and the company didn't ask for my degree grades

I know a lad who got a 1st in his degree (computer science) at UCD, then a 1st in his Masters (software engineering) at DCU and then did a PhD in Computer Science in Trinity. He applied to Accenture and they refused him an interview because he got under 400 pts in his leaving cert!

Stuck Cone

Ever thought of becoming a psychic?


http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056672706

Mr. Loverman

Green Diesel wrote: »

I know a lad who got a 1st in his degree (computer science) at UCD, then a 1st in his Masters (software engineering) at DCU and then did a PhD in Computer Science in Trinity. He applied to Accenture and they refused him an interview because he got under 400 pts in his leaving cert!

I shall take a guess that the HR person who made this decision had a sub 100 IQ.

x43r0

Green Diesel wrote: »

I know a lad who got a 1st in his degree (computer science) at UCD, then a 1st in his Masters (software engineering) at DCU and then did a PhD in Computer Science in Trinity. He applied to Accenture and they refused him an interview because he got under 400 pts in his leaving cert!

Yeah I knew accenture do that, it's a complete joke

Mr. Loverman

A friend of mine who had never had a job (4+ years unemployed after college) is now an Accenture consultant.

A ****ing consultant. What a joke.

I'm happy for him, but come on, what the hell.

starlit

A bit silly that they cut him off just cause he got less than 400 points for his LC yet got first's in his college courses and got a PhD he is more than well qualified to do a grad programme with Accenture. Silly that they have such a cut off point. If it were 200-300 points you'd say something.

freeze4real

x43r0 wrote: »

I came out with a 2:2 degree as well and the amount of 2:1 job specs sickened me. I had told myself if I got 2:1 or better I'd go job hunting and 2:2 or lower I'd go with further study, so did a masters and came out of that with a 2:2 :rolleyes:


But job hunting with the masters was simple in comparison to the year before. I got a job offer with an investment bank 7 months before I had completed the masters and the company didn't ask for my degree grades

The possibilty of that happeneing now especially in this current economics crisis is slim. Butit happens.

NewsMeQuick

I really appreciate the advice and insight, I'm taking it all into account.

amtw

I have been working since leaving school more then 35 years ago. I went back to college as a mature student. No one has ever asked me for a copy of my results. I would take anything in a job advert/spec as a guideline. They always ask for the ideal: minimum 2.1, 3 years experience, etc. I doubt they get any candidate who fulfills all of the criteria exactly. Don't worry about your grade, don't put it on your application. Look on the whole process as a challenge. How do I get an interview, that's what your aiming for initially, once there you sell yourself. Have faith, you got this far, you'll make it. Good luck.

Magenta

Work experience is far, far more important than your degree.
I have never been asked what grade I got in college for any job and I have worked for some major multinationals who look great on my CV. Just write Honours Degree on your CV- I've never even been asked for proof that I even have a degree and all the jobs I have had since graduating have required a degree to apply! Unless you are going for further study or you are going for a job where your course really matters, it doesn't make much difference.

allibastor

I had a very good friend of mine who got a 1.1 in his degree. he spent every waking hour in the library to get that result and tools great pride in it.

He went to work for 6 months and found that he was not able for it, as he needed time to study problems. if people wanted answers right away he was not able to give them. He did get a 1.1, but the amount of man hours he put in meant he had nearly memorized every bit of work in the course and as such was unable to make quick decisions in the real world.

Any recruiter who puts this down as a qualifying factor is a fool, the only main places i have seen this is ALDI and LIDL. most other places will require that you are clever enough to do the job. Just make a point to highlight this.

i got a 2.2 and it has never stopped me, though i now find it was in thee wrong field, never do construction management kids.

The Big BBC

I did my final year exams this year. I was lucky enough to land a job that I really wanted before I got my results. One of the conditions of this job is a min 2:1 degree.

I got my results last week and got a 2:2, I am due to start this job next week. I'm sure what to do here, the college is putting my results under review but I don't think they will award me with the extra pionts I need for a 2:1.

Any got any advice? I mentioned any of this to the employer as I'll wait for the verdict of the review first.

Lockstep

It varies by area I think. I applied for a few law jobs and they all wanted detailed info on my grades (by module and by year)

The job I'm in now, grades weren't exactly a prerequisite but having a 1.1 LLB degree definitely helped in their consideration of me.

NewsMeQuick

The Big BBC wrote: »

I did my final year exams this year. I was lucky enough to land a job that I really wanted before I got my results. One of the conditions of this job is a min 2:1 degree.

I got my results last week and got a 2:2, I am due to start this job next week. I'm sure what to do here, the college is putting my results under review but I don't think they will award me with the extra pionts I need for a 2:1.

Any got any advice? I mentioned any of this to the employer as I'll wait for the verdict of the review first.

I'm doing the same actually...I'm awaiting news on an appeal. Last I heard, if you were within 1% of the next grade they would consider you. I was 1.4% away and do have a few things to say to them. It may go nowhere, who knows.

Being in the same situation, I don't know any more to help but I wish you the best of luck.

p.s. it may be wishful thinking, but will they ask about your results now they've hired you? This will really show who asks us and who doesn't...

CiaranC

Are these gruduate programs asking for your results? Ive never been asked in any professional (IT) role in 10 years.

NewsMeQuick

Yes, unfortunately they are. Many of them say if you got less that 2:1 don't apply. So for some of them you don't get past the CV stage. I'm willing to try to get around that but I just don't want an backward situation where they give out that I overlooked the requirements.

starlit

I think the only way to go around this either to do another course either a level 8, hdip or Masters or a professional course (short term one). Otherwise complete a jobbridge.

Most grad programmes require a minimum of a 2:1 either in a degree and or postgrad. There are some that a minimum of a 2:2 will suffice but you really have to research them, not many grad programmes have minimum of a 2:2 very few do, vast majority its a 2:1 or higher minimum requirement.

If you got the relevant or three years work experience on your belt that put you in a better position if finding work where your degree/master result be irrelevant its the work experience that becomes more relevant in that case.