studying comp sci, getting low grades

Hi,

I got my first semester first year results last week and got 2:2 - pass grades in all modules. I was expecting to need to retake at least one exam so I was actually quite happy.

My question is, if I graduate with a pass grade, how will this affect my chances of employment? I am not driven by career/money. I just want an easy job that I don't need to carry home every night.

I was not motivated to study at uni, it was not my preferred choice so please do not judge and patronise me for my lack of enthusiasm. I just want to know that there are people working in IT with 2:2 or pass grades.

I don't want a pass grade to prevent me from getting a job that doesn't require a degree.

Reply 1

ichak

It depends on what you want to do however I would suggest from my experience that working in IT is not a 9-5 job that you can leave at the office, generally there'll be nights, evenings, weekends and sometimes you might be oncall 24/7.

As for your grade, well it could well impact on your getting certain jobs but in my experience it's far less what your grade was and far more where you got it and what experience you have. An internship or placement may well give you a chance of getting your foot in the door.

Reply 2

Binary Freak

Original post by kuklor

Plenty of people do.. Just get a job on a help desk or something.

If you're expecting there's a single job that you can expect not to carry home then you're misinformed. Even for entry jobs they want someone driven and someone willing to push the very best they can be. Not some second rate script reader. The only chance you have of getting close to this is supporting systems at a local college or school

Reply 3

NotJustAName

A computer science degree is highly sought after. You're specialising in something. We need people like you! A 2:2 is still a second class degree just like a 2:1 is! Not all employers care so much about grades; just think of Lord Sugar. :smile:

Reply 4

Iqbal007

Original post by kuklor

Whats important is that you know your languages........there are certainly a lot of demand for certain types of languages such as SQL, etc for databases. Computer science in my opinion fails to teach you enough to specialise within certain languages.

Reply 5

Push_More_Button

Original post by Iqbal007

Computer science in my opinion fails to teach you enough to specialise within certain languages.

That's the whole point in studying Computer Science.

You shouldn't be trained to be a master at certain languages, you should be taught to understand the key concepts that all languages use, thus making learning other languages simpler when it comes to it. You should study data structures, algorithms, architecture, operating systems, networking at the very least.

If you want to be taught to specialise in a certain language you should study Software Engineering.

Reply 6

Iqbal007

Original post by Push_More_Button

Well true.....I would say that a lot of students are kind naive....those that can program I found were those who were doing things extra things outside of class and even doing work relating to a certain language,

Reply 7

username1799249

I failed my second year at uni and only just passed the second time round. After a year in industry, I had a bit of focus for my final year, worked my arse off and managed to pull back a 2.2 which I am very proud of.

In my experience, degrees 2.1 and above make you stand out over many other grads, but it is not a limitation to getting a job. Sure, the big corporates can be choosy, but there are plenty of smaller companies keen to attract graduate talent. If you can show willing and get out there, do some coding or whatever and put that on your CV it will make you shine out like a beacon compared to the 1st degree candidates who are still wet behind the ears.

That said, your current attitude sucks. Employers are looking for the best candidates. That doesn't necessarily mean those with 2.1 or above, but someone who wants an easy job working a straight 9-5 is not what they are after. The world of IT is difficult, challenging and at times rather brain intensive. If you want an easy job where you can clock watch, I suggest you look elsewhere.

Don't give up though and good luck!

Reply 8

jacktrex

The number of options available to 2.1s is infinite in comparison to 2.2 but as someone who highly expects myself to get a 2.2 i was proactive and sought out 2.2 graduate jobs even in other areas i considered working other than technology. I have 3 assessment centre days coming up along with 3 other applications in the pipeline, only one of these requires a 2.1. Jobs are out there I just hope I'm good enough to land one.

Reply 9

username1799249

Original post by jacktrex

With all due respect, I am afraid you are just plain wrong. It may seem that opportunity is only reserved for 2.1 grads and above but in the real world, things are quite different. The reason companies (especially multinationals) specify 2.1 and above is because they can. They are swamped with applications that are all identical. In order to get them down to a manageable number, they simply raise the bar. And even then, so many grads have 2.1 and above it is difficult to distinguish between them which is why companies spend huge amounts of dosh running assessment centres.

So how do you stand out with all that going on? Well, there are a gazzillion and one smaller companies that can't afford to run glossy bullsh1t assessment days but who can still offer good prospects. They are not necessarily interested in generic 2.1 or above people, they are after people who will fit in with the team and who offer more than a CV boasting a 1st. If you want to get noticed, start beefing out your CV with proper experience. Create a website, write an app, contribute to an online community, answer questions on Stack Overflow, get yourself noticed. One of the brightest grads I have ever met didn't even have a degree. He was however a moderator on the Stack Overflow crypto section and gets jobs on pure merit.

All a 1st in Computer Science means is that you are good at passing exams and handing your coursework in on time. The real test is whether you can actually do the job. Don't give up heart. Hang in there, nail your 2.2 and then think about the next step but believe me, if you can do the job, no one gives a flying ***** what degree you got.

I have just started a blog sharing my thoughts about how to get a job. Have a look if you like
http://byeeek.blogspot.co.uk/

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 10

kieran101090

Original post by Iqbal007

Exactly, for instance in my first year we do lots of java with more than 4hrs of lab session whereas module like webdesign with javascript wer I m intetested in, we do only 1 lab session which I think is literally stupid.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 11

jacktrex

Original post by ByEeek

I'm not wrong, the number of jobs requesting 2.1 is significant compared to 2.2. That's a fact but it doesn't mean there aren't plenty of options available for those with 2.2 software development etc is a field in desperate need for candidates so the number of places available often exceeds the number of people able to fill them.

Reply 12

username1799249

Original post by kieran101090

It sounds to me as if you uni have their head switched on. Java seems to be the training language of choice these days. For me in 1995, it was Ada! But it doesn't actually matter. What is important is that you cover the basics of a modern software language. Functions, classes, loops, (dare I say pointers?), recursion, inheritance, scope, nesting and all that jazz. Once you have the basics covered, you can then transfer them to any language. All you have to do is learn the new syntax.

Javascript as a language is a bit noddy. There is not a huge amount to know about the actual language. The skill of web development however is knowing how to apply Javascript to the framework of delivering web pages. As a discipline, web development is but a small part of the overall world of software development and IT so 1 hour a week is probably about right.

If you feel your course is letting you down there will no doubt be many books on it in the university library. Failing that, there is the public library and failing that there is always Amazon. If you are serious about being a web developer, splashing out £30 on a book and spending your evenings and weekends learning to create funky websites seems like a good investment to me.