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What do employers care about most?

Do you think employers care more about the university you went to or the grade you got when you were at university? Just interested to see what people's opinions are. :biggrin:

Both.

If I were you, I'd just look for the university you'll enjoy studying at the most. Think about the course contents and which uni gives the best course for you.

Reply 3

joesharp

1

It's a bit of both I think, as some have said before there's little difference between a 2.1 from Oxbridge and a 1st from any other top 10 uni. But as first impressions go, I think that the uni you went to has the biggest influence, so I voted for the uni.

Reply 4

AT82

I would look more favourably on a Sunderland student with a 1st than an Oxford one with a 2:2 in the same subject. There could be a million reasons why the student didn't go to Oxford and it clearly shows you are good student if you can get 1st no matter where you go.

The university helps of course, but your grades, personal qualities and skills will probably be more important.

Reply 5

Comp_Genius

4

so its not easier to get a 1st at other univnersities?

Reply 6

Flicker

13

i think grades are more important, for similar reasons as stated above. also, employers do look at your actual mark as well as your class of degree, so they can see if you were a high or low 2:1.

it depends on what industry you're looking to go into as well, though.

Reply 7

john williams

15

Both will be important, however for competitive jobs, going to a good uni will show that you've worked hard throughout your school time e.g. GCSE's and A-levels and a 2.1 from Nottingham is going to be better then a 2.1 from Aston or Lincoln.

Reply 8

KingsComp

6

If its a top 20 uni then I would say that grades are more important, however below that there may be differences. For instance a person with a First from TVU compared with a person with a 2:1 from Oxbridge - I am VERY sure that the employer will choose the Oxbridge candidate (unless the TVU candidate has excellent work experience and extra curricular activities).
Thing is, if you want a city job you need it all. There is so much competition to get into top Law firms, Investment banks, Accountancy firms and Consultancy firms that employers can be very choosy, therefore they would want:

Good Univerisity
Good Grades
Excellent Work Experience
Extra Curricular Activities
Independent Travel
Foreign Language Skills

Some even want more!!! So my advice is to aim for a top 20 uni, work hard to get top grades, and once ur at uni, GET STUCK IN!!! Join societies (debating is a good one), do some foreign language study, apply early for internships and work experience and maybe also organise some independent travel.

Wish someone gave me this advice before I started uni, although I kinda did most of the above anywayz :biggrin:

Reply 9

shiny

12

PQ

IMO they care most about how good you'd be at doing the job you're applying for :biggrin:

i.e. how much money you can make for them :wink:

Reply 10

shiny

12

PQ

are you implying that employers have anything but the most generous of motives in employing employees :eek:

(I'm joining the union this weekend :cool:

"strike strike strike strike!")

*joins PQ on the picket lines* :cool:

Reply 11

kellywood_5

17

I voted for the uni, but I think 'both' should have been an option because both matter, eg if 2 candidates both go to equally good unis but one has a 1st and the other has a 2.1, the one with the 1st should get the job. Also it depends on the type of job you want to do and the firm you want to work for. The top city firms probably wouldn't be intersted in met/poly/ex-poly graduates no matter how high their 1st was.

Reply 12

RiceCrispie

To earn the big bucks its all about the experience! Not grades! Grades get your foot in the door to kickstart your career!!

Good grades = > good university ....IT stops THERE

Reply 13

ChemistBoy

16

Given this choice, the majority of employers would choose the grades. However, the 'big' graduate employers (such as PWC) are not in this majority.

Reply 14

Vitriol01

1

kellywood_5

I voted for the uni, but I think 'both' should have been an option because both matter, eg if 2 candidates both go to equally good unis but one has a 1st and the other has a 2.1, the one with the 1st should get the job. Also it depends on the type of job you want to do and the firm you want to work for. The top city firms probably wouldn't be intersted in met/poly/ex-poly graduates no matter how high their 1st was.

Bingo. How many Sunderland graduates do you know at Goldman Sachs, Accenture, Freshfields etc.?

Reply 15

john williams

15

PQ

how many oxbridge graduates do you know at mcdonalds, burger king, tesco, asda etc.?

Oxbridge graduates wouldnt be working at places like that, but top city firms.

Reply 16

AT82

john williams

Oxbridge graduates wouldnt be working at places like that, but top city firms.

I think you need to learn a concept called reality. I know graudates from all sorts, I know oxbridge graduates in top jobs, oxbridge graduates in crap jobs, ex poly in crap/top jobs etc.

What matters more than anything else about university is what you make of it, how well your personal skills develop, what you learn and what skills you can offer to an employer as a result.

Some of my lecturers who are experts in their field (my department is rated 5*) started their university careers by doing degrees at places like The University of East London.

They are now earning £35k+ as senior researchers.

Reply 17

john williams

15

AT82

I think you need to learn a concept called reality. I know graudates from all sorts, I know oxbridge graduates in top jobs, oxbridge graduates in crap jobs, ex poly in crap/top jobs etc.

What matters more than anything else about university is what you make of it, how well your personal skills develop, what you learn and what skills you can offer to an employer as a result.

Some of my lecturers who are experts in their field (my department is rated 5*) started their university careers by doing degrees at places like The University of East London.

They are now earning £35k+ as senior researchers.

yeah but the MAJORITY (if they want) will be much more able to get top jobs if they go to a top 5/10 uni, should they of course get a decent grade and all the rest of it. Sure there may be some examples of people having gone to a low ranking uni, but will be in there minority.

Reply 18

AT82

john williams

yeah but the MAJORITY (if they want) will be much more able to get top jobs if they go to a top 5/10 uni, should they of course get a decent grade and all the rest of it. Sure there may be some examples of people having gone to a low ranking uni, but will be in there minority.

Have you got any evidence of this such as statistics? If what you say is right how come some of the lower ranked universities have some of the highest paid starting graudates?

Reply 19

Jump

18

AT827

how come some of the lower ranked universities have some of the highest paid starting graudates?

Location is key, the top 6 highest starting earners consits of oxbridge and London uni's.

Plus at 'top end' uni's a larger proportion of the 1st/high 2.1 would go on to further studying.

What do employers care about most?

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