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Anyone got some advice for a 2.2 gradute?

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AHA-Lambda

AHA-Lambda

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I graduated in chemical engineering with a 2.2 Honours degree, and I'm sure many of you know a 2.2 isn't exactly the most desirable result. I have a graduate job right now, but it's awful and I'm gaining no significant experience to overcome my result so I'm looking for something else.

I'm looking to try out something outwith engineering, particularly banking, but I don't see anything that isn't a 2.1. Help?
 
You're probably not going to want to hear this, but the fact you've got a job at all isn't bad. Maybe stick it out for another six months or so and see how you feel. You'd struggle to get a graduate banking job with a 2:2, I think.
 
Edit: something I quoted disappeared. How odd.

Stick with it OP. I'm placement hunting atm and I keep getting turned away at application stage because my UCAS points aren't great. It's a joke.
 
The fact that you have a graduate job is a hell of a lot better than a lot of other people, including those who got a better grade of degree. Maybe the job isn't perfect but you should be pleased with yourself for getting one, congrats.
 
I graduated with 2.3gpa in electrical engineering 8 years ago. Now, I'm making 100k+ year and obtain my Professional Engineer license. Like you, I was uncertain of my future due to my low gpa, and figured I wouldn't get hired due to the low grades. However, I was able to get a job as a low entry level engineer at a small company, and basically work there for 3-4 years to build my experience up, and then jump to a larger firm. After you have so many years of experience on your résumé, a lot of companies will overlook your college gpa and will based their hire on how you interviewed and what skillset/value you can bring to their company.

My best advice is to stick with your current job, gain some experience to offset the gpa and after a couple of years, look for a better job. However, if you feel that the engineering field is not for you, then that degree alone should still give you other opportunities.
 
AHA-Lambda said:
I graduated in chemical engineering with a 2.2 Honours degree, and I'm sure many of you know a 2.2 isn't exactly the most desirable result. I have a graduate job right now, but it's awful and I'm gaining no significant experience to overcome my result so I'm looking for something else.

I'm looking to try out something outwith engineering, particularly banking, but I don't see anything that isn't a 2.1. Help?
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Masters? Maybe sell the fact you did a degree that most likely required more work than someone who did say history? Also you g8t a job, there was a gaffer with a 2.1 that couldn't find a job.
 
Unless things have changed, most decent places at graduate level give more consideration to a 2.2 in engineering, maths, physics, etc. than a 2.1 in arts. Have you taken a look at a number of graduate schemes?

Not to mention once you've worked for a year or so, nobody will give a damn what degree you got.
 
I'm sorry to say that you won't find a banking job with a 2.2, I don't know of any graduate schemes that accept lower than a 2.1 or a 2.2 if you have a masters in maths or physics.
 
As one who is not an engineer, I would think work would be available in western Canada/USA where the oil business is booming. I'd bet just doing sampling or quality control would pay nicely right now.
North Dakota in April 2012:
"From Minot, N.D., west to Sidney, Mont., and on down to Dickinson, N.D., few workers are available to fill thousands of job openings in a range of industries, from oil and construction to health care and food service. Last December, the unemployment rate in the Williston area was 1 percent, and job openings outnumbered the jobless 10 to one. "
 
ezekielpacman said:
Unless things have changed, most decent places at graduate level give more consideration to a 2.2 in engineering, maths, physics, etc. than a 2.1 in arts. Have you taken a look at a number of graduate schemes?

Not to mention once you've worked for a year or so, nobody will give a damn what degree you got.
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It seems to me that alot of graduate schemes looking for any discipline state they want a 2.1 and it would appear to me that regardless of degree if it isn't a 2.1 they're not interested. I may be wrong in this line of thought though.

zomgbbqftw said:
I'm sorry to say that you won't find a banking job with a 2.2, I don't know of any graduate schemes that accept lower than a 2.1 or a 2.2 if you have a masters in maths or physics.
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ouch :(

electricshake said:
Have you thought about doing a Masters? Should make it easier to go somewhere than with just a 2.2.
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I wanted to do a masters but my uni wouldn't let me due to getting a 2.2 in my 4th year.
 
AHA-Lambda said:
It seems to me that alot of graduate schemes looking for any discipline state they want a 2.1 and it would appear to me that regardless of degree if it isn't a 2.1 they're not interested. I may be wrong in this liin eof thought though.
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Hmm, that sucks. Not sure where you live so this might not apply, but a quick search yields a few opportunities... http://www.careers.lon.ac.uk/blog/library/index.php/2012/06/a-22-is-a-worthless-degree/

Don't get too hung up on graduate schemes though, they're mostly overrated. Focus on getting some key experience and that will count for much more (appreciate that is difficult based on the OP though).
 
GPA's irrelevant in the face of experience. Should have been getting internships and whatnot in college.

At any rate, just keep doing what you're doing. It's funny, though - one of my friends makes more money now than he ever would with his chosen degree. So keep working and keep looking.
 
verbum said:
As one who is not an engineer, I would think work would be available in western Canada/USA where the oil business is booming. I'd bet just doing sampling or quality control would pay nicely right now.
North Dakota in April 2012:
"From Minot, N.D., west to Sidney, Mont., and on down to Dickinson, N.D., few workers are available to fill thousands of job openings in a range of industries, from oil and construction to health care and food service. Last December, the unemployment rate in the Williston area was 1 percent, and job openings outnumbered the jobless 10 to one. "
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What about people with backgrounds in epidemiology? Would it be better if I upsticks and moved to N.America.
 
This might hurt so I will spoiler it-

A 2:2 unfortunately, fairly or unfairly will signal to a graduate employer that 60%+ of grads are more intelligent than you and will almost certainly send your cv to the bin without consideration (well at least at the big firms) given that there is an abundance of well qualified people with 2:1's and above.

How are your A levels? You could always look to get onto a college leaver scheme which I know many firms operate and work your way up. Once you're in, your destiny is in your hands but it's the getting in that's hard.

Alternatively stick with your job, prove your worth but working like a donkey, once you are skilled, look for a professional level job elsewhere so you don't need to jump through hoops to get onto a grad scheme.
 
Conor 419 said:
Where, which subject?
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Glasgow uni. Uses a 22 point scale where 18.0+ gives you a first. 18/22 = 81% If you are borderline (17.1-17.9) it is possible to get upgraded to a first based on performance in a viva/a few other factors.

Applies to the whole uni, but I just got one in life sciences (parasitology specifically).
 
electricshake said:
Glasgow uni. Uses a 22 point scale where 18.0+ gives you a first. 18/22 = 81% If you are borderline (17.1-17.9) it is possible to get upgraded to a first based on performance in a viva/a few other factors.

Applies to the whole uni, but I just got one in life sciences (parasitology specifically).
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Odd.
 
electricshake said:
What about going to another uni? Most of the time a 2.2 is good enough for a Masters. PhDs generally need a 2.1.
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Yeah, that is a possibility. I hated my time at uni so I would see it as a last resort but I'm not against the idea.

Ash_69 said:
How are your A levels? You could always look to get onto a college leaver scheme which I know many firms operate and work your way up. Once you're in, your destiny is in your hands but it's the getting in that's hard.
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My Highers (Scottish equivalent of A Levels) were excellent, so this could be a good option.
 
I thought 1st class was 85+.. In Australia perhaps, I've been out for a while

anyway work sucks right out of uni but you gotta start low
 
dmann said:
I graduated with 2.3gpa in electrical engineering 8 years ago.
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JokerOfSpades said:
GPA's irrelevant in the face of experience. Should have been getting internships and whatnot in college.

At any rate, just keep doing what you're doing. It's funny, though - one of my friends makes more money now than he ever would with his chosen degree. So keep working and keep looking.
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Wrong country.

electricshake said:
Depends on the uni. Mine is more like 80+ for a first.
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70+ for a First is definitely the norm. 80+ is very high, not envious of that at all.

Conor 419 said:
Also I'm pretty sure in many arts subjects 80+ isn't even possible.
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Very rare. For me, in Law, 80+ is a sign that your coursework is on par with published works in academic journals.
 
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