Appealing university grades

Why are all you youngsters obsessed with grad schemes?

Why not get a job in your field?

I have a science degree, started out in a government dept, then went onwards and upwards in the private sector.

I've been turned down by so many normal jobs, I've turned to grad schemes. Can't get any interviews for gov agency work (fisheries, environment agency etc), so I'm turning to grad schemes to try to get any sort of work.

It seems all jobs out there in my sector want 2+ years experience in industry yet pay a fraction of what grad schemes do.
 
In what sector?

Engineering or biomedical stuff?


In what area of the country, London?

Lidl in Ireland offer grads €40k year in their grad scheme with a company car and benefits.

It's for IT, Finance, HR, Governance, Marketing and Supply Chain fields.

Most grad programmes offer an awful lot, but are highly competitive.
 
For people saying a 2:2 locks you out of all grad schemes, you would be wrong. I got a 2:2, due to being a lazy stupid thought-I-knew-It-all and messing up my exams. I have still managed to get several grad schemes interested in me despite their initial comments that a 2:1 is required.

Having a very well planned CV and excellent interview skills are really what you need, coupled with the genuine desire to follow the job you want. (but a 2:1 will help crap loads!)
 
In what sector?

Engineering or biomedical stuff?

IT, it might be a slightly biased opinion as its only from my course, but everyone whos on a grad scheme is on 30k plus. Employers being Cisco, BT, Capital One, GE and a couple others companies i cant remember. Then again maybe our year is just exceptional that way? :eek:
 
IT, it might be a slightly biased opinion as its only from my course, but everyone whos on a grad scheme is on 30k plus. Employers being Cisco, BT, Capital One, GE and a couple others companies i cant remember. Then again maybe our year is just exceptional that way? :eek:

It might be the norm for IT related grad schemes (I think your year is probably an exception rather than the rule though) but it's not necessarily normal for other grad schemes.

A 2:1 or above is likely to give you more options but a 2:2 isn't automatically the end of the world, it does however often mean you'll have to work that little bit harder to distinguish yourself from your peers who do have a higher degree classification. This might be no bad thing in the long run though because after a few years in a job you will hopefully have a more rounded CV and you'll have experience in areas which your contemporaries may not have.

Ultimately I'd look on a degree (or any formally accredited learning) as a tool to open the door - what you do after that is up to you and remember there may be more than one way to get past the door. A good degree won't make up for a lack of ability or application when you actually start working, it might initially put some people slightly higher up the hierarchy than they'd otherwise merit but over time things tend to find their level.
 
Why are all you youngsters obsessed with grad schemes?

Why not get a job in your field?

I have a science degree, started out in a government dept, then went onwards and upwards in the private sector.

Theres no difference between a job and a graduate scheme. Graduate schemes are just put in place because blue chips hire a lot of grads each year. So if you want to get your first job at large company you have no choice.
 
Yes, you can appeal your grade and live forever with the fact you only got your 2:1 because you were whiney whilst everyone else around you bothered to do decent work.
 
Yes, you can appeal your grade and live forever with the fact you only got your 2:1 because you were whiney whilst everyone else around you bothered to do decent work.

Better a live jackal than a dead lion.

Not to mention that after my first job, I don't intend on using my degree results again.
 
i haven't read every thing but are you literally just trying to get them to officially bump your grade up 1% still keeping your 2:2 ? are you planning on writing on your cv. 2:2 , 1% off a 2:1 or something ?
 
I've just finished my 3rd year, retaking 2 modules in July which is fairly annoying, I was 4 marks off being bumped up to a pass in one of my exams, and the main reason that went wrong was because my mind just went blank, but I had only really revised 1 out of 4 topics so can't complain, and my 2nd exam was a complete and utter failure, I did try really hard to revise for it, but when it came to the exam it just wouldn't happen...

This is Mechanical Engineering by the way, and as long as I pass my resits, I'll be on a 2:2. I'm pretty content with it, as that's whats needed to do a masters, so I can hopefully get onto it for September, then I can just write whatever grade I get in that on my CV :) I had thought before about what happens if I'm 1% or 2% off a 2:1, and you should just put you actual percentage on your CV next to your degree, e.g. Degree 2:2 (59%), as they'll most likely treat it as a 2:1 seeing as there was hardly anything in it!
 
1% can usually be given for free so i would appeal. What's the point in sticking you on a 2:2 when you are so darn close to a 2:1? Might as well give you the two one or at least have you revise an assignment to earn that extra 1%.

i think i was 1% away from a 2:1 well i calculated it myself and assumed so as the UNI gave me a 2:1.
 
I had thought before about what happens if I'm 1% or 2% off a 2:1, and you should just put you actual percentage on your CV next to your degree, e.g. Degree 2:2 (59%), as they'll most likely treat it as a 2:1 seeing as there was hardly anything in it!

Does anyone actually do this? I have never seen a CV with the percentage next to the degree classification.
 
Does anyone actually do this? I have never seen a CV with the percentage next to the degree classification.

Well I don't include them, but I've been asked by several companies to send them not only my final grades, but also my subject percentages. So it seems a few actually want that.
 
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