How bad is a 2.2 Degree?

phoenix0250

More specifically a 2.2 Bess degree. If i get that, am I nigh unemployable?

dh0011

It is not a career ender by any means but if I was hiring and had to choose between a 2.1 and a 2.2 i would go for the 2.1 all things being equal

phoenix0250

dh0011 wrote: »

It is not a career ender by any means but if I was hiring and had to choose between a 2.1 and a 2.2 i would go for the 2.1 all things being equal

What would it take for you to change your mind and hire the 2.2? experience? hobbies?..nothing?

dh0011

depends on the job

Ravelleman

dh0011 wrote: »

depends on the job

Post of the century, right here.

dh0011

Ravelleman wrote: »

Post of the century, right here.

fairly obvious that if i had a job for a software developer and i had a **** hot programmer with a 2.2 and a decades experience or a lad just out of college with a 2.1 the lad with the experience would get hired.

I am sorry if what i assumed would be easily understood was not simple for some people.

longhalloween

Its not realy about what mark you have, more about what mark other candidates have. Getting jobs is like a competition and people with the best results and experience get the interviews.

Slutmonkey57b

dh0011 wrote: »

fairly obvious that if i had a job for a software developer and i had a **** hot programmer with a 2.2 and a decades experience or a lad just out of college with a 2.1 the lad with the experience would get hired.

I am sorry if what i assumed would be easily understood was not simple for some people.

bear in mind you're talking to people with 2.2 degrees. :-)

srsly78

dh0011 wrote: »

fairly obvious that if i had a job for a software developer and i had a **** hot programmer with a 2.2 and a decades experience or a lad just out of college with a 2.1 the lad with the experience would get hired.

You would be forced to hire the 2.1 guy because you can't afford the guy with 10 years experience.

ted1

Small whites lies never hurt especially when you have experience.

dh0011

srsly78 wrote: »

You would be forced to hire the 2.1 guy because you can't afford the guy with 10 years experience.

not if it is a software job. A lad with experience is worth about more than one recent graduate

Ravelleman

dh0011 wrote: »

I am sorry if what i assumed would be easily understood was not simple for some people.

There was never any question of me not getting what you said.

There was very little to be understood from your posts anyway - they were just banal. I mean, saying that you'd hire Mr. 2:1 over Mr. 2:2 and that it depends on the job isn't really answering anyone's question, is it?

As for the OP, it's not the end of the world. You might have to change your expectations somewhat but having a 2:2 won't necessarily stop you from going on to further study or converting to something more specific like accountancy or what have you.

In terms of getting jobs, you find a lot of it will come down to other factors like how you handle yourself at interviews.

People with 2:2s do get jobs and that's a fact. You might start on a lower pay level than someone who comes top of their class but eventually it will stop being a major factor.

Many postgraduate courses state that a 2:1 minimum is required but for some this is just to filter applications. A lot of course directors will still consider applicants with a 2:2 but might ask for writing samples or an interview first. If you get a 2:1 or a 1st in a masters then it all balances out. Remember that a lot of postgraduate courses have smaller numbers than in previous years (TCD suffered a major drop this year) so your chances of getting in are much better than maybe 5 years ago.

Ravelleman

Here are some links:

http://www.nottingham.edu.my/Careers/documents/Resources/Articles/WhattodowithaSecondClassUpper.pdf

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/mortarboard/2012/apr/17/what-students-do-if-their-grades-are-low

dh0011

Ravelleman wrote: »

There was never any question of me not getting what you said.

There was very little to be understood from your posts anyway - they were just banal. I mean, saying that you'd hire Mr. 2:1 over Mr. 2:2 and that it depends on the job isn't really answering anyone's question, is it?

As for the OP, it's not the end of the world. You might have to change your expectations somewhat but having a 2:2 won't necessarily stop you from going on to further study or converting to something more specific like accountancy or what have you.

In terms of getting jobs, you find a lot of it will come down to other factors like how you handle yourself at interviews.

People with 2:2s do get jobs and that's a fact. You might start on a lower pay level than someone who comes top of their class but eventually it will stop being a major factor.

Many postgraduate courses state that a 2:1 minimum is required but for some this is just to filter applications. A lot of course directors will still consider applicants with a 2:2 but might ask for writing samples or an interview first. If you get a 2:1 or a 1st in a masters then it all balances out. Remember that a lot of postgraduate courses have smaller numbers than in previous years (TCD suffered a major drop this year) so your chances of getting in are much better than maybe 5 years ago.

depends on the job was in response to a question
"What would it take for you to change your mind and hire the 2.2? experience? hobbies?..nothing?"

Having a 2.2 rules you out of doing a PhD unless you do a masters first so it does limit you.

fungie

dh0011 wrote: »

Having a 2.2 rules you out of doing a PhD unless you do a masters first so it does limit you.

Not true, I know people who entered phd's straight away with 2.2's

dh0011

Which university?

Justice!

dh0011 wrote: »

depends on the job was in response to a question
"What would it take for you to change your mind and hire the 2.2? experience? hobbies?..nothing?"

Yes it was a response, but as Ravelleman has pointed out, it possibly wasn't the most helpful post that could have been made.

Back to OP, there is nothing inherently WRONG with a 2:2, it's still a degree, but as others above have pointed out you will need to boost your application with extra stuff so as to get ahead of others. Any experience / internships would be ideal, but even just a whole load of interview practice would go a long way!

And if you're not totally sick of 3rd level then a Masters would be an excellent option too IMO

Grimebox

In my experience it will only hinder you getting your foot in the door for the interview. If you can show some extra-curricular work in the field you are trying to get into, that's even better than a bare 1st imo. If the interview was for a position as a professional student, then a 1st really matters. After your first job/internship, you might as well take your result off your CV entirely, experience is the only thing relevant from there on

fungie

dh0011 wrote: »

Which university?

Trinity

IRLConor

phoenix0250 wrote: »

More specifically a 2.2 Bess degree. If i get that, am I nigh unemployable?

I got a 2.2 the guts of a decade ago (scary to say that now!) and it has never been an issue. No-one has ever even asked what grade I got.

TBH, it's about as likely as someone caring how many points you got in the Leaving Cert.