Graduate jobs for students with a 2:2

Students working

Beginning job hunting during your final year can be pretty daunting, especially if you aren’t on course to achieve a 2:1 or above. However, it is worth remembering that whilst securing a 2:1 or higher can mean job hunting is a bit easier if you do not achieve the grades it isn’t the end of the world!

There are a lot of graduate recruiters who are starting to look beyond grade classifications. Grant Thornton were one of the early adopters who looked at the whole picture and not just at A-levels and degree. Now the Big 4 accountancy firms are following and have started to be a bit more flexible towards grades. The Civil Service Fast Stream also accepts 2:2 in some areas including generalist and Diplomatic Service.

Target Jobs have written a really interesting article about applying for graduate jobs with a 2:2 in different areas and Debut have listed over 30 graduate jobs you can still get with a 2:2 degree.

The best thing you can do is to make the most of the opportunities the University can offer you whilst you are still here. Take part in clubs and societies, go to the Careers Fair and take part in all the other fantastic events the Employability Festival can offer you. The School of Economics and the University’s Careers Service will also be offering a variety of other employability activities throughout the year so make sure you attend as much as possible. We will be holding our annual Working in Finance talk on Tuesday 16th October in KLT1 and also running our alumni networking evening in the Spring term, which will give you a great opportunity to speak to alumni who may have been in this situation.  Why not also book an appointment with our Social Sciences Careers Advisor, in the Careers service to talk through your options.

Another thing to think about is making the most of the contacts you have and use them.

It is definitely worth thinking beyond the traditional graduate scheme.  The Durham University Careers website sums it up nicely:

It is also worth noting that graduate schemes, primarily with large, blue-chip organizations, constitute only 20% of the graduate job market. The wider graduate job market is difficult to define but consists of graduate trainee posts and entry level roles, often with small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). In this context academic performance is important but there is not necessarily the same rigidity in respect of entry requirements.

The main point is that getting a 2:2 won’t mean you won’t be able to get a graduate job, it just takes a little bit more time and effort. Good luck with your applications!