[RollandGarros]

will they be rejected automatically?

So let's say somebody has moderate GCSE's compared to the rest of their education, and the job says "Minimum A in GCSE Maths and English" - they have A* in Maths, and some other subjects, and lots of As, but a B in English.

Then in A-level they go on to get A*AAB or something equivalent with A* in Maths.

Then get a first from one of the big 4 unis in UK (Cambridge, UCL, Oxford or Imperial) in Maths or Maths-related subject; Econ, Engineering, Statistics, etc.

And apply for a Financially-related Graduate job. Will they be automatically rejected even if they have good work experience, good CV, exceed all the grades but they only missed one single 'minimum requirement' at GCSE, will they be rejected?

As an example, I will quote HSBC Website:

"Who can apply?

You’ll need to be an undergraduate in your first or second year of study, on a three or four-year degree course. There is no restriction on the discipline you’re studying, but it is vital that you achieved a minimum of ‘A’ grades in both Mathematics and English (Language or Literature) at GCSE (or equivalent).

We are looking for people who have held positions of leadership or responsibility at school or university. You should also have some form of demonstrable customer service experience, either paid or voluntary.

It is essential that you have the right to work in the UK."

[sammy-lou]

I really highly doubt it. No sensible employer is going to discount someone who has shown in more recent years consistent academic success on the basis of one slightly less than desired GCSE grade.

[manners20]

(Original post by RollandGarros)
will they be rejected automatically?

So let's say somebody has moderate GCSE's compared to the rest of their education, and the job says "Minimum A in GCSE Maths and English" - they have A* in Maths, and some other subjects, and lots of As, but a B in English.

Then in A-level they go on to get A*AAB or something equivalent with A* in Maths.

Then get a first from one of the big 4 unis in UK (Cambridge, UCL, Oxford or Imperial) in Maths or Maths-related subject; Econ, Engineering, Statistics, etc.

And apply for a Financially-related Graduate job. Will they be automatically rejected even if they have good work experience, good CV, exceed all the grades but they only missed one single 'minimum requirement' at GCSE, will they be rejected?

massive claim there that cambridge, UCL, oxford and imperial are the 'big four' unis. For maths and economics maybe but they're not the 'big four' for everything...

[RollandGarros]

(Original post by sammy-lou)
I really highly doubt it. No sensible employer is going to discount someone who has shown in more recent years consistent academic success on the basis of one slightly less than desired GCSE grade.

But aren't rules, rules for a reason?

[RollandGarros]

(Original post by manners20)
massive claim there that cambridge, UCL, oxford and imperial are the 'big four' unis. For maths and economics maybe but they're not the 'big four' for everything...

Well my question wasn't about media studies or film production at brunel or oxford brookes so jog on and go to bed...

[Arekkusu]

No, they will be fine. The A-level grades alone should mitigate it, a first would not be necessary. For serious shortfalls in the distant past you can simply put a positive spin on it elsewhere in the application, you have shown self-reflection and practical implementation by improving your grades.

[RollandGarros]

(Original post by Arekkusu)
No, they will be fine. The A-level grades alone should mitigate it, a first would not be necessary. For serious shortfalls in the distant past you can simply put a positive spin on it elsewhere in the application, you have shown self-reflection and practical implementation by improving your grades.

Personally, I would let the candidate off, but will HSBC, or JP Morgan, or Goldman Sachs, etc?

[sammy-lou]

(Original post by RollandGarros)
But aren't rules, rules for a reason?

Rules, in this situation, are merely guidelines, no matter how it is phrased. B in GCSE English is not going to wreck your employment prospects.

[RollandGarros]

(Original post by sammy-lou)
Rules, in this situation, are merely guidelines, no matter how it is phrased. B in GCSE English is not going to wreck your employment prospects.

I quote HSBC Website:

"Who can apply?

You’ll need to be an undergraduate in your first or second year of study, on a three or four-year degree course. There is no restriction on the discipline you’re studying, but it is vital that you achieved a minimum of ‘A’ grades in both Mathematics and English (Language or Literature) at GCSE (or equivalent).

We are looking for people who have held positions of leadership or responsibility at school or university. You should also have some form of demonstrable customer service experience, either paid or voluntary.

It is essential that you have the right to work in the UK."

Could said person in OP apply to this?

[M1011]

At the companies discretion. Doubt a person would filter that candidate out, but an automatic checking processes might well do (i.e. online application forms).

(Original post by RollandGarros)
Well my question wasn't about media studies or film production at brunel or oxford brookes so jog on and go to bed...

That hardly covers every subject now does it.. Try not to be rude. Evidently you've claimed 'big 4 uni' status as you're at UCL/Imperial and didn't feel 'top 10' covered it, but don't be surprised that others have a different view.

[sammy-lou]

(Original post by RollandGarros)
I quote HSBC Website:

"Who can apply?

You’ll need to be an undergraduate in your first or second year of study, on a three or four-year degree course. There is no restriction on the discipline you’re studying, but it is vital that you achieved a minimum of ‘A’ grades in both Mathematics and English (Language or Literature) at GCSE (or equivalent).

We are looking for people who have held positions of leadership or responsibility at school or university. You should also have some form of demonstrable customer service experience, either paid or voluntary.

It is essential that you have the right to work in the UK."

Could said person in OP apply to this?

Can 'said person in OP' just apply for the job and see what happens?

Yes, it does seem to say that you need to have an A. But 'said person in OP' has already gained far higher qualifications which show a lot more than a GCSE does. For this reason, I'm saying it's highly improbable that the B alone will put you out of the running. But if it really, truly does matter that much, there will no doubt be a very quick system by which your application would be rejected when it is found that the A is not present.

Just do the application and wait to hear back.

[RollandGarros]

(Original post by sammy-lou)
Can 'said person in OP' just apply for the job and see what happens?

Yes, it does seem to say that you need to have an A. But 'said person in OP' has already gained far higher qualifications which show a lot more than a GCSE does. For this reason, I'm saying it's highly improbable that the B alone will put you out of the running. But if it really, truly does matter that much, there will no doubt be a very quick system by which your application would be rejected when it is found that the A is not present.

Just do the application and wait to hear back.

Lol, do you realise how long and boring the application is, just for a person to be rejected after 20 minutes for not meeting the minimum requirements?

[sammy-lou]

(Original post by RollandGarros)
Lol, do you realise how long and boring the application is, just for a person to be rejected after 20 minutes for not meeting the minimum requirements?

In that case, you may be better advised to contact the employer directly and ask if you can consider yourself a likely candidate. You're not going to get a certain answer here.

[RollandGarros]

(Original post by sammy-lou)
In that case, you may be better advised to contact the employer directly and ask if you can consider yourself a likely candidate. You're not going to get a certain answer here.

Plenty of students on here must have applied for graduate jobs or internships, so actually it's quite likely to hear a success story from one who didn't meet the minimum and got in, or didn't meet the minimum and hence didn't get in

[Bill_Gates]

Just do it mate. You will be fine.

[sammy-lou]

(Original post by RollandGarros)
Plenty of students on here must have applied for graduate jobs or internships, so actually it's quite likely to hear a success story from one who didn't meet the minimum and got in, or didn't meet the minimum and hence didn't get in

yeah, you'll hear anecdotal evidence to support or refute the idea, but you won't get any certain answer until you contact the company concerned.

[im so academic]

(Original post by RollandGarros)
Plenty of students on here must have applied for graduate jobs or internships, so actually it's quite likely to hear a success story from one who didn't meet the minimum and got in, or didn't meet the minimum and hence didn't get in

But not necessarily with that HSBC scheme and it may even depend on the competition year-to-year.

Couldn't you just make a call to HSBC and ask?

[ForKicks]

Call HR

[ProStacker]

They said 'vital' so they are placing some importance on this. From that, I would take it that this is minimum entry criteria. Have a punt but don't get upset if they reject you because of it. Nobody here works in their HR department so we don't know their rules.

[biffyclyro27]

not necessarily, I've applied to some grad jobs recently that requested 300 ucas points. I only have 240, but I still got all the way through to final interview stage. It really depends on your previous experience and how well you present yourself on your CV.