Graduate Jobs + UCAS points

MattandJet · 3 Mar 2009 at 22:03

Once again thanks for making this thread a useful one! I've always worked hard at my academic studies but during Year 13 I screwed up my maths a level, fortunately its alright though by the sounds of things!!

Sukh · 3 Mar 2009 at 22:05

My one pearl of advice about getting a job at one of the Big Four would be to apply on September 1st.

Mulder · 3 Mar 2009 at 22:08

Sukh said:
Im just talking from personal experiance, a friend got rejected from BarCap for not meeting UCAS points automatically via email. Especially when times are this tough, they are very picky.

I see what you're saying, and they will often reject you on the basis of not meeting the points criteria. I'm making the point that is not the best attitude to not apply anywhere just because you're 20 points below their criteria. If you've got other exceptional stuff on your CV, they'll overlook it.

AmDaMan · 3 Mar 2009 at 22:09

Where are you lot looking for graduate schemes?

Sukh · 3 Mar 2009 at 22:09

Mulder said:
I see what you're saying, and they will often reject you on the basis of not meeting the points criteria. I'm making the point that is not the best attitude to not apply anywhere just because you're 20 points below their criteria. If you've got other exceptional stuff on your CV, they'll overlook it.

Sorry to contradict you again, but jobs at big firms (from my experience) for Graduate positions are not decided by submitted CVs.

Automated online application forms, online tests and assessment centres.

Mulder · 3 Mar 2009 at 22:12

Sukh said:
Sorry to contradict you again, but jobs at big firms (from my experience) for Graduate positions are not decided by submitted CVs.

Automated online application forms, online tests and assessment centres.

HR will receive an automated form, compiled from the data you enter on the online form. Trust me, I got onto a scheme where I was short of the UCAS points and have worked for a accounting firm where they overlooked UCAS points where the candidate was otherwise exceptional. You're right that 95% of the time you will be rejected, but it's still worth applying if you're just short and have other stuff.

Sukh · 3 Mar 2009 at 22:13

Fair does, may I ask what scheme you got onto?

mattyj1085 · 3 Mar 2009 at 22:14

I always thought a graduate job was when you graduated from university, i.e went to a graduation ceremony. Or is when when you finish college with a BTEC, HND, HNC or can you 'graduate' from school with just a levels now?

w11tho · 3 Mar 2009 at 22:15

SlyReaper said:
Your degree should render your A-levels irrelevant. The fact that they want to know your UCAS points when they already know you have a degree is silly.

The quality of the University you get in to will have a close correlation with the standard of degree you sit, which is why companies are interested. Lectures pitched to a room full of AAA+ students are going to be massively different to lectures on a similar course pitched to CCC students, as with the exams. Anyone who thinks that the standard of [random subject] degrees is uniform throughout all universities is utterly delusional.

Mulder · 3 Mar 2009 at 22:15

Sukh said:
Fair does, may I ask what scheme you got onto?

Corporate banking scheme in London for a well known high street bank.

Sukh · 3 Mar 2009 at 22:16

Also accounting qualification performance is more closely correlated with A level performance than Degree performance.

Mulder said:
Corporate banking scheme in London for a well known high street bank.

Congratulations, good to see someone doing well in these hard times

Mulder · 3 Mar 2009 at 22:24

Sukh said:
Also accounting qualification performance is more closely correlated with A level performance than Degree performance.

Yeah I heard that too.

Sukh said:
Congratulations, good to see someone doing well in these hard times

Thanks

I think most grad scheme places are mostly at the capacity they were last year. It's the IB schemes that are slashing places that are heard/read about the most.

Sukh · 3 Mar 2009 at 22:29

From what I gather, this year the places are mostly unaffected, I know 4 people who got places in IBD, but they had placements so it was not unexpected.

The real push has been the fallout from banking filling places at the big four very early, as people think the places are not available in banking.

Ste · 3 Mar 2009 at 22:35

Deloitte wouldn't even consider me with 280 points despite having a 1st in economics.

Their loss =)

Sukh · 3 Mar 2009 at 22:42

Which University did you read at?

kenshinu · 3 Mar 2009 at 22:50

Sorry to ask but what is the "Big 4"?

MaX_PoWah · 3 Mar 2009 at 22:56

lol my a levels are terrible, i barely made it through 6th form, but i should get a 1st on my degree

Kraven · 4 Mar 2009 at 00:50

I will be graduating this year from uni, just wondering though can employers actually check ucas points you say you got? Ive got 280 but with key skills it pushes it to 300 or more, what stops me saying i got a slightly better grade than i did :confused:

Liefrich · 4 Mar 2009 at 00:56

Kraven said:
I will be graduating this year from uni, just wondering though can employers actually check ucas points you say you got? Ive got 280 but with key skills it pushes it to 300 or more, what stops me saying i got a slightly better grade than i did

How about honesty? They can ask for your certificates afaik, and even if they didn't and you lied....if they found out you're not going to look good, no matter how good you are at the job.

Mulder · 5 Mar 2009 at 11:34

Liefrich said:
How about honesty? They can ask for your certificates afaik, and even if they didn't and you lied....if they found out you're not going to look good, no matter how good you are at the job.

I think they can also just go straight to UCAS and get your grades.