Anxious about job application process and grades

LegacyUser

I finished a masters recently and finished my bachelors the year before. I only got a 2:2 in my bachelors, so I decided to go on and do a masters which I obtained a high 2:1 in. I don’t want to go into too much detail here about what particular areas my bachelors and masters were in but they were in pretty quantitative disciplines. This probably sounds like one of those clichéd excuses at this stage but I was very depressed and had bad anxiety throughout my bachelors and it really kept me back, but I improved during my postgraduate studies.

When applying for jobs, I left the results for my undergraduate off my CV and just had the results for my masters, because I thought that my undergraduate results would keep me back. I applied for a job with a reputable company in November and had an interview before Christmas. In their job advertisement, they asked for a minimum 2:1 degree in a quantitative discipline, but I applied anyway thinking [possibly wrongly and naively] that this wouldn’t be an issue if I got a 2:1 in my masters. In the interview, they never asked about what I got in my undergraduate – they never focused on any grades at all.

Yesterday, the company came back to me saying that I had performed well in the interview and that they were going ahead to the next stage. They asked for references and confirmation of academic results without specifying if it was for my bachelors or masters and that they’d get back to me in due course afterwards. I’m thinking about just giving them confirmation of my masters results alongside my references without giving them information about my bachelors results. But this has me worried for a few reasons:

Firstly, if in the event that they offered me the job and they didn’t ask me specifically for my undergraduate results at that time, and then later on they found out I got a 2:2 rather than a 2:1 in my bachelors, would I get fired or would there be any other consequences? Note that I didn’t tell them what my undergraduate results were at all, so I’m not lying directly, but the job advertisement did ask for a 2:1 degree, so I’m worry that this could technically be regarded as lying by omission. Secondly, I feel very guilty that if I did get the job I’d be taking it over someone who got better grades than me and that I don’t deserve it. Thirdly, should I just give them the results for both my bachelors and masters? I’m very anxious about all this now and I’m thinking about withdrawing from the application process for this particular job over this.

intheclouds

The masters supersedes the undergraduate so provide the detail for that and if anyone questions that just act surprised and tell them that as the masters supersedes the undergraduate you thought that's what they were looking for.

SinaWil

You're worrying over nothing.

sashafierce

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Black and Blue15

sashafierce wrote: »

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This. It's all about having experience and knowing the right people.

starlit

The most recent qualification usually takes precedence especially when you have completed courses at postgrad/Masters level. Experience counts for a lot. I was lucky to have work-placement in my last course but still finding it difficult to find a relevant job. You shouldn't need to worry. They would have already asked if they thought the Degree results were more important than the Master results. Having a 2:1 degree might have been a requirement but it is even better and stands out more to have a 2:1 Masters when you weigh up everything.

From my own experience, I have experienced in interviews as well that they just ask about the courses i've completed and projects done and so on giving examples. Some jobs require results details and to show proof of results/qualifications at graduate/entry level but it depends on the job some only require a 2:2 and you do assessments/presentations to get in as well as interviews. Interviewers rarely if ever asked about my results in the interviews i've done its usually down to experience I have and examples I can give them. I also only got a 2:2 in my Degree but due to some jobs they need to know sometimes I am being ruled out straight away for that reason despite achieving 2:1's in my other postgrad courses but they weren't Masters they were a hdip and a level 8. Any interviews I have had since college have been related to my most recent qualifications over the last few years.

You should be proud of yourself to have achieved a Masters! All the best in the job and the future!

Faith

I'm in a field where you can't get anywhere with a 2.2 degree unless you have a 2.1 or 1.1 in a masters. At that point, they 'forgive' the undergraduate grade because you have proved your academic ability suitably with the masters.

I doubt it matters whether you include your undergraduate results or not. The simple fact that you did well on a masters means you're academically capable, which is what they care abut.