It’s widely considered by graduates that a 2.2 classification means that your entire university degree has been a massive waste of time and money. Receiving the 2.2 “grade of doom” can feel like all the doors to great graduate careers are closing in your face. But this really isn’t the case and if you’re in this position you shouldn’t be disheartened.
There are plenty of excellent opportunities available to graduates with a 2.2 degree and with the right attitude and ambition, you can out-perform many of your “academically superior” counterparts in the future.
While some of the biggest, crazy-competitive graduate schemes can demand a 2.1 or above, the vast majority of employers are interested in much more than academic grades. What’s often more important is whether your skills, experience and personality suit the role that they are recruiting for.
So if you’ve got a 2.2 degree, or feel that you are on course to achieve one, here are 4 things that you should know:
You should still include your 2.2 degree mark on your CV. If you don’t you’re likely to be asked what grade you achieved during the application process anyway. There’s no point trying to cover it up or imply that you have a better grade, it’s best to be honest and state it outright. Not having your grade on there will simply bring more attention to the fact that you didn’t get a 2.1 and it can be frustrating for employers if it is not included.
You should reflect on why you got a 2.2 and have an answer ready if employers ask the question. If there were mitigating circumstances it’s ok to say so, or if it just wasn’t the course for you then explain why. You should be able to show an employer that you understand what the problem was, have learnt from it and know what you would have done differently.
Always remember that there is so much more that you can offer an employer than just an academic grade. Emphasise your activities outside of education and demonstrate what skills you have acquired from these in your CV and at your interviews.
There are certain skills that are valued by all employers and if you can focus on developing these you’ll boost your chances of job success. Try to gain examples of where you have used skills like teamwork, customer service and problem-solving. You can then highlight these in your CV and be confident in talking about them in an interview situation.
Gaining work experience is a challenge in itself, so keep in mind that you can also develop key skills by participating in extra-curricular activities and by volunteering.
A 2.2 degree shouldn’t stop you from having the career that you want and it also doesn’t mean that you can’t apply for jobs that state a requirement as a 2.1. If your skills and experience are a great match for the role then an employer is likely to consider your application anyway.
The vast majority of graduate employers that we work with are more than happy to consider graduates with a 2.2 degree. You can take a look at and apply for our current graduate jobs here.
The bottom line is employers consider much more than your academic grades when assessing your application. If you’re a great candidate then they would be foolish to rule you out solely because of a 2.2 degree grade.
