What jobs can I find with a 2:2 degree?
By now, you’ll have an idea on the classification of your degree, whether you’ve already received it or not, and it’s crucial not to let a 2:2 result induce panic. It’s time to assess your skills and play to your strengths – one degree certification doesn’t define you as a person and what you bring to the table. While it’s true that some graduate employers ask for candidates with a 2:1 degree or above, there are a fair number of graduate schemes out there which accept a 2:2 degree in any subject as the most important part is that you can show you’ve completed a degree.
If you find yourself holding a 2:2, you might be questioning what this means for your career, it’s natural to feel a little defeated if you didn’t get the grade you hoped for. However, it doesn’t devalue the hard work you put into your degree and the skills you have gained over the last 3 years. Rest assured, there are still plenty of options open to you with a 2:2 degree, ensuring your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed or unutilised.
Your google history may look something like this:
- Do employers care if I’ve got a 2:2
- Will I struggle to get a job with a 2:2?
- How to get a job with a 2:2?
- Can I still enter the career I want?
While all are valid concerns, it’s important to recognise that your grade doesn’t define your potential or limit your opportunities. With the right approach and mindset, landing a fulfilling career is entirely within reach, regardless of your classification.
Reframing perspectives:
If you are feeling down about your grade, it’s time to reframe your perspective. Your degree, regardless of its grade, serves as a powerful testament to your capabilities. Take a closer look at your marks and identify areas of strength. Perhaps you received firsts for your presentation, demonstrating your oral communication skills and ease with public speaking. Perhaps you received a high mark in research projects, demonstrating your exceptional analytical skills. These accomplishments are invaluable assets that can be effectively showcased to prospective employers.
Put in practice:
Here is a job description from a typical graduate position in Marketing, and how you might highlight your experience.
- Experience in business-to-business marketing is preferred
“As Social Secretary and Treasurer of our University hockey team, I was responsible for securing sponsorship from local businesses to cover the costs of kit and transport, and to participate in charity fundraising matches.”
- Strong passion for digital marketing
“During Fresher's week, I was instrumental in a social media marketing campaign to recruit players for the teams via a campaign we ran to encourage new members. We made sure to highlight the days the freshers fair was running and where our stand would be to foster connections in real life. I also helped organise and promote events using Instagram and Facebook, including a range of themed socials that provided new and old members a place to bond with the team.”
- Excellent communication skills
“Throughout my degree, I had to ensure that both my written and oral communication was appropriate for essays and presentations. I achieved 2.1s and above in all of my oral presentation assessments.”
- 2.1 or above in any discipline from a top 50 university (Marketing degree is preferred though not essential)
“While my final mark was a 2.2, I earned 2.1s in all my oral presentations, and Firsts in the majority of my written assignments in my final year. I believe my passion for marketing and my dedication to hard work make me a perfect candidate for this position.”
Boosting credentials:
To enhance and boost your CV, consider supplementing your academic background with additional experiences. Internships, part-time work, volunteering, and mentorships offer a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in an industry and improve your soft skills. These are chances to show off and improve real work knowledge outside of the classroom. Customer service roles, for example, can enhance communication and critical thinking skills, while internships expose you to professional environments and foster adaptability. These can enrich your skill set whilst demonstrating your commitment to your personal and professional growth.
Discover placement and internships opportunities here
Crafting your narrative:
When writing your CV, emphasising your strengths and highlighting relevant work experience can help you stand out. Focus on both your soft and hard skills that you’ve acquired through your degree, internships, or extracurriculars. Explain how these attributes align with the requirements for prospective roles and position yourself as the best candidate for the role. Establishing a strong presence on LinkedIn can expand your professional network and enhance your visibility within your desired field. Ensure your work experience and qualifications are all up to date, writing a winning biography, and use the tool to your advantage.
Read our “How to write a graduate CV” guide.
Read our “How to write a LinkedIn profile” guide.
Embracing Opportunities:
Remember: while certain graduate schemes and positions may have stringent grade requirements, many companies prioritise attributes and potential over academic qualifications. Embrace opportunities where your passion, skills, and enthusiasm can shine. Your journey doesn’t end with a 2:2, it’s merely the beginning of a rewarding career path fuelled by determination and resilience. Often an opportunity that you didn’t originally consider can open more doors than you expect, joining a company in a different position can give you that foot in the door you need to move across to your dream role.
Here are just a few graduate employers that have a minimum degree grade of 2:2:
- KPMG
- MDS
- Enterprise Mobility
- EY
- FDM Group
- Nationwide
- Network Rail
- Mazars
- TPP
- Digital Futures
- Clarion Housing
- Pacific Life Re
- Milwaukee
- PWC
- Tesco
- Lloyd’s of London
- Mi5
Discover even more graduate employers here
Some employers require a 2:1 but that doesn’t mean that opportunity is completely closed to any exceptions. It is always worth contacting the employer (either by email or visiting them at a local career fair) to explain your situation and show your passion. There is a chance they will consider your application or let you know how strict the 2:1 and above requirement is.