Graduates:
What to do with a 2:2 degree CANDIDATE SUPPORT
November 2016
FINANCIAL SECTOR RECRUITMENT
What to do with a 2:2 degree?
What to do with a 2:2 degree? Getting a first or 2:1 degree classification is often seen as the “golden ticket” to the best graduate programmes and jobs. Last year the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), reported that 70% of graduates obtained either a first or 2:1 degree, putting those that earned a 2:2 or below very much in the minority. Julia Patience Consultant Interim, Temp & Contract
With so many candidates to choose from, the 2:1 degree has become the minimum default grade for most graduate programmes. But what if you didn’t quite make the grade? In such a competitive job market, what do you do if you have a 2:2? Here are five tips to help you put your 2:2 behind you.
1. Don’t panic Within the context of a long career, leaving university with a 2:2 should be viewed merely as a blip. Over time, experience will trump your degree. However, if you’re a graduate and trying to get your first step on the career ladder this can be hard to appreciate. But if you have the ambition and drive to succeed, don’t be despondent – you may just have to take a slightly more elaborate route to get there.
2. Honesty is the best policy Be upfront and transparent from the start. State your 2:2 clearly on your CV. There is no benefit in hiding it. Don’t be tempted to withhold your classification in the hope you will have the opportunity to explain at a later stage.
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What to do with a 2:2 degree?
On paper this can seem like a good idea, but in reality you will be wasting your own time and the employer’s. With more and more companies now performing background checks, it’s unlikely to go unnoticed. Moreover, by leaving out your classification it may appear you are ashamed of your result. Be proud. You dedicated three or four years to your chosen subject and will have built up a lot of knowledge. Lastly, don’t lie or “exaggerate”. If caught, the employer will more than likely withdraw any job offer and it will have a damaging effect on your own reputation.
3. Employer attitudes are changing Unfortunately, a 2:2 will exclude you from a number of large graduate programmes. Understandably, with so many applications to choose from, degree classifications are often used as filtering criteria to narrow down and speed up the selection process. However, some employers, particularly within the financial sector, are changing their approach and not considering degree classifications or even university institutions. Instead, they are selecting on the basis of aptitude tests. This is arguably a less biased approach. For graduate programmes that do require a 2:1 degree or more, you should think carefully if it is worth your time applying at all. Applications can be highly time-consuming. However, if a 2:1 is described as “preferred”, this could be a great opportunity. Apply and include all of your other strengths and skills including your degree result. Some graduate job boards even have specific sections for programmes and roles which considers 2:2s, saving you valuable time during your search.
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What to do with a 2:2 degree?
Small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) and other sectors should also be considered. Despite so many graduates applying to large corporate programmes, SMEs employ the majority of graduates. A role within an SME can have the added benefit of offering you wider exposure to different departments and the chance to take on more responsibility earlier.
4. Relevant experience If you are still seeking employment several months after graduating, focus on gaining some relevant work experience to separate yourself from the crowd, either through an unpaid internship or a full-time temporary role within your sector of interest. As previously discussed in our article “Graduate Jobs: Benefits of Temporary Employment�, this can be another viable way to securing a permanent long-term role within a successful organisation. Regardless of where you are applying, make sure to highlight the skills and experience you have gained beyond your degree. Whether work experience, volunteering or hobbies, it’s important not to focus solely on educational achievements. Emphasise what you have learned and accomplished outside of your degree. Remember, having a degree will only get you a seat at the interview. You still have to turn up and demonstrate that you are competent and able enough to make a beneficial contribution. Your degree grade is only part of the professional makeup, along with your skills, experience and personal characteristics.
5. Positive mindset You might regret not getting the grade you wanted, but move on quickly.
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What to do with a 2:2 degree?
A 2:2 can be more of a psychological burden for candidates than it needs to be. Identify what you have learned, what you would do differently and then put it behind you. There will be some people for whom a 2:2 degree is an extraordinary achievement, having battled through adversity and hardship to get there. Everyone’s individual circumstances are unique. The biggest determinant of success is not academic grades. It is ambition, determination and a continued taste for professional learning. It is also resilience and the ability to bounce back from defeat. Julia Patience Consultant Core-Asset Solutions t: 0131 718 4600 e: julia@core-asset.co.uk
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About Core-Asset Consulting We are an independent recruitment company dedicated to asset management, accounting & finance, asset servicing, legal and the wider financial services sector in Scotland. A specialist recruiter, our expertise extends across permanent, interim, temporary and contract positions, as well as preemployment vetting and on-boarding services. Working in close partnership with clients to tailor the most effective recruitment strategies, we have the resources to target exceptional candidates - at home or overseas - and match them to roles that encourage them to excel. To do so, we put people before profit, service before sales and ethics above all.
High expertise, engagement and value Initially we made our reputation within Scotland’s asset management sector. But the success of our model has allowed us to expand rapidly. We have developed into the wider financial services market, built an accounting and finance team, established an interim, temporary and contract division, launched a vetting and onboarding service, and expanded into the legal sector.
Helping your business grow Whether you’re wishing to fill a specific position, keen to find out about the latest market trends or just looking for advice, we’re here to help. For more information about the services we offer, please get in touch: +44 (0) 131 718 4600 edinburgh@core-asset.co.uk www.core-asset.co.uk
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CORE-ASSET CONSULTING 37 Melville Street Edinburgh EH3 7JF t: +44 (0)131 718 4600 w: core-asset.co.uk