WHAT TO DO WHEN GRADUATE WITH A 2.2 OR BELOW
GRADUATED WITH A 2.2 OR BELOW? HERE'S WHAT TO DO
From networking to
maximising your day job, experts give their advice on finding a job when your
degree didn’t meet your expectations
Ripping
open up the envelope to see you’ve received a 2.2 or below may not be how you
envisaged starting life as a graduate, but don’t be disheartened: a lower
degree classification doesn’t mean you’ve hindered your chances of securing
your dream career, whatever that might be.
But for those unsure of what next step to take, it’s
worth dedicating time to exploring what kind of career you’d like. Think about
what interests you and what your passions are. “If you need help, find out if
your university careers service can still support you,” says Laura Hooke, a
careers consultant working at Lough borough University London. “They may be able
to talk to you by phone, Skype or email if you are no longer in the area. See
if you can access any useful resources on their website to help you consider
the type of work that you want to do.” Visiting the career planner on the
Prospects website might also prove fruitful, she says.
Maggie Stilwell, managing partner for talent at
Ernst & Young, echoes Hooke’s point about thinking seriously about what
kind of the graduate role you’d like. “It’s so important that you think about
what you are interested in and what you think you want to do,” she says. “It
can be too easy to get a role without valuing yourself and what is going to
make you happy and satisfied longer term. When you know that, you can then work
out how you get your foot on the ladder – it may not necessarily be something
overtly badged as a graduate job or a graduate scheme.
For those in jobs to pay the bills while they pursue
their graduate career, remember to maximise your current role – whether
waitressing or working in a shop. “Don’t dismiss the work that you are already
doing as you can be building up great work experience,” says Helen Alkin, a
recruitment manager at Marks & Spencer. For example, working as a sales
advisor is no easy role, and you will already have built up useful skills, says
Alkin. Ask to see if it is possible to find some work experience within your
current employer – at their head office for example, she says. “We would
definitely always look to support internal requests.”
It’s also worth trying to develop skills that are
valued by all employers. “Reflect on what you are doing on a daily basis and
the skills that you are applying,” says Hooke. “Team work? Customer
service? Problem solving? Make a note of some of the significant things that
you have handled well, for example a particularly difficult customer query or
complaint. These may become useful examples to talk about in future job
applications.
Of course, you can start applying for graduate
schemes as many major graduate recruiters now accept
people who have a 2.2. But remember, says psychologist Denise Taylor, there can
be many routes into your future career, “and it doesn’t have to be a graduate
scheme”. It’s worth applying for jobs at medium and small-sized businesses and
progressing there before joining a major company, if that’s preferable.
Alkin advises graduates to identify five or six
organisations that they really want to work for and focus their efforts on
understanding what they are looking for and tailoring applications. “You can
also practice any of the ability-type tests used so you are familiar with how
questions are phrased and asked,” she says.
Another great way to get an in somewhere is through
someone you know. Taylor suggests building contacts, perhaps trying family
friends – and trying to wangle a 20-minute meet with someone. If that’s not a
viable option, “perhaps volunteer at an event or find people on LinkedIn”, she
says.
When applying for jobs, Taylor says CVs should be be
focused on the job you want and the needs of the organisation, and what they
can offer a company. She advises graduates to showcase “key personal qualities
alongside any relevant experience.
Above all, don’t feel disillusioned. Thousands and
thousands of people with a 2.2 or below and have gone on to achieve great
careers. As Ball says: “You are likely to have a long working life ahead of
you, so don’t feel pressured to get that ‘perfect’ job right away. Take one
that you can live with and you may be able to grow it into something that is
ideal for you.
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