Will my university hinder my chances of getting the job i want?

Kman2001

being brutally honest a 2:1 from Manchester Met is pretty weak in the eyes of an employer especially in the top accounting firms..I know people still stuck in temping and not being able to find consistent work for up to a year after getting 2:1s from universities such as Birmingham and Nottingham...You really need to work your @ss off and get a first to at least show you were a top candidate of your university..you will need to have shining references and good work experience..it definitely wont be as simple as if you were coming from a top 20-30 university and your A-level scores are also quite important...good luck..work hard and with some luck (hey we all need it) you can make your dreams come true

kittykat86

Unfortunately there is a big difference in whether you apply to a red brick uni or a met!

My sister went to Sheffield University and got a 1st in Finance and Accounting (which has led to her being employeed at Price Waterhouse Coopers - The #1 accounting firm!)... this is an amazing achievement as getting a first at any university or being recruited by the top firm is not easy. I did an Arts subject at Manchester University and whilst I don't pretend to claim I would have got a 1st in Accounting (she is by far better at maths than me!) only two people in the whole of my year were given 1st, and one of the cleverest people I know got 67.66 (If you get 68 you get a 1st) and the University didn't round his grade up to a 1st, although the rest of our grades were rounded up / down accordingly!

Now I have finally decided that I would like to be an accountant I am acutely aware that my degree subject (Religions and Theology) will hinder my applications compared to people who have done degrees such as Finance and Accounting. Luckily Manchester University is the best Uni to go to for Theology so my degree from there carries some weight and hopefully extra curricular activities will make my CV appealing to the top 5!

Degree classifications, subject choices and what University are essential choices when considering your future career. If you are doing a traditional subject such as maths, english, accounting etc ... go for the red brick universities as this will appeal more to employers (obviously as long as you work and get a good grade). If instead you want to do a degree in computing, sports, management, events, etc... newer tech/met universities offer more appropriate courses (and usually better facilities/resources) to give you the skills that employers want!

Don't mistake my post as claiming that students at met universities are less intelligent than people who attend red brick universities, I'm simply stating that to appeal to the best employers in your chosen area you have to attend the University that offers the best degree option for your career!

[Deleted User]

I think it depends on what you do at university. Manchester Metropolitan university are really good for social science degrees but are not so great for straight science. They do have one of the best schools of architecture in the country and a good law school. I am at mmu and I have several friends who have graduated from mmu and have had no problems in getting their desired jobs. Its not just about the grade or the university it is also about getting off you !!!! and finding the job you want.
Going to university of where ever or red brick unis can hinder your employablity on occasion. I remember an article about a graduate from university of manchester who got a first then did a masters. She was then unable to get a job. This was because she had no work experience and had done no extra curricula activities whilst studying. She was over qualified for the lower positions and not experienced enough for the better positions.
I personally plan to take a couple of years out after graduation get relavent work experiance then do the fast track post grad social work course. I will stay at mmu to do this because the support from the staff is far better than at University of Manchester.

melancholly

drinkupretty wrote: »

I think it depends on what you do at university. Manchester Metropolitan university are really good for social science degrees but are not so great for straight science. They do have one of the best schools of architecture in the country and a good law school.

I will stay at mmu to do this because the support from the staff is far better than at University of Manchester.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7483330.stm

i completely agree that MMU has a good reputation for some subjects and i'm quite sure that the support is better than at manchester if you read the guardian reports about things there. just read this BBC article earlier and thought you might find it interesting/scary - hope stories like that won't make things difficult for current students.

[Deleted User]

melancholly wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7483330.stm

i completely agree that MMU has a good reputation for some subjects and i'm quite sure that the support is better than at manchester if you read the guardian reports about things there. just read this BBC article earlier and thought you might find it interesting/scary - hope stories like that won't make things difficult for current students.

I did read this the other day, a friend of mine was in tears because she just finnished a computer science degree and was so pleased when she found out she got a first and now she wonders whether it was based on her performance or not.

bestpud

I think it is naive to assume the uni you attend has no impact at all.

If you think about it, the market is flooded with graduates and there is a lot of concern about the quality of the education they have received (rightly or wrongly - I don't want to get into that!) Employers are wary, and who can blame them?

The traditional unis have the advantage of history and reputation and therefore, the uni will form part of the selection procedure. How much of a role it plays depends on many factors, of course, and there is room for manoeuver. Employers are human and any who are completely blinded by the uni status are perhaps best avoided anyway - would you really want to work for someone with as narrow an outlook as that?

OP - don't dwell on the decisions you have made, and never apologise for them either, as that will hold you back. You are not doomed to failure - there is lots you can do and it's good you have recognised this now. Focus now on getting the best degree you can and enhancing your CV as far as is possible. Hold your head high and believe in yourself and I am sure you will be fine.

Grami

I've always been confused by this league table nonsense to be honest.
I mean a university is only as good as the lecturers teaching there and the students taking the course right? It could change year on year depending on who take the course and who teaches it.

Maybe I'm just being dumb but it's just odd.

Do-it.org is a great place to look for voluntary opportunities nationwide.

SuziQ

I think there is snobbery about Unis-my daughter is hoping to start English and Spanish Law degree in September,and the law firms in London are snobby about where you studied-difficult in her case as only 2 Unis do the exact course she wanst to do,luckiliy her first choice presently has a good reputation in the city.

I think rubuhoe's answer is very good advice though. You seem well mature in attitude,motivated and committed-that has got to be a huge plus in your favour with any porspective employer.

Frege

kyussmondo wrote: »

If I was an employer and I have 2 graduates come to me, one is from Cambridge with a 2:1 but never worked a day in their lives and one from Man Met, who has the same 2:1 but has work experience, then I would take the Man Met student any day.

...and thats why you are not in charge of recruitment.

Blacksheep1979

Grami wrote: »

I've always been confused by this league table nonsense to be honest.
I mean a university is only as good as the lecturers teaching there and the students taking the course right? It could change year on year depending on who take the course and who teaches it.

Maybe I'm just being dumb but it's just odd.

Do-it.org is a great place to look for voluntary opportunities nationwide.

Sorry but you are being a bit dumb - it does rely on the lecturers (which tend to stay similar for a while) and facilities, but has nothing to do with the students as one year might be excellent and 15% get 1sts 80% get 2:1's and the rest get 2:2's and another year may not be as good with say 1% getting 1sts, 9% getting 2:1's and the rest 2:2 and below - doesn't make the uni any less prestigous or the mark from there less worth because that years intake weren't as good.