To be upset about ‘university blind’ recruitment

[Newname576]

DS has overcome so many challenges and has an unconditional offer from Cambridge after achieving 4 A star last year. He has worked so hard and we are so proud of him! But I was upset to learn that so many companies are recruiting “university blind”now - what the hell is the point of going to a top Uni if no one will know about it! My younger child says she will apply to Manchester Met and have a ball even though she too is predicted stellar grades as there is no point going to a top Uni

AIBU to be sad that companies are recruiting blind?

For all the internships my DC has applied for, they know perfectly well where they went to uni because they have to supply their stamped / officially headed exam transcripts (with a breakdown of grades), references from tutors. Things like referrring to the degree as ‘the tripos’ on transcripts would make it obvious it was Oxbridge. As would any personal statement about why you were applying for the role. Obviously, if you’ve been involved in societies at Cambridge, held any positions of responsibility etc etc, this is all in the CV - eg. Jesus College Enterprise Award 2024, or St John’s Choral Scholar or Peterhouse Student Rep 2023 or whatever. It’s obvious where they went, without naming it. Also, they get an MA, even if it’s STEM (it’s not an actual MA, just what they call it). I know some Scottish unis do this too, but you can generally tell where someone went to uni, just from all the other stuff that will be included in their application.

Going to Cambridge will give your son many incredible advantages which will benefit him hugely in life. The name recognition of a prestigious university is only one of those advantages, so while it may seem like he’s losing a string from his bow with this policy, he will still have the other benefits associated with a world class education.

It sounds like he has done brilliantly to obtain his place, and you must be so proud of him. It’s natural that you want future employers to know how impressive his achievement is. But have faith that the skills and talents which got him his place, along with the wonderful education he will receive, will set him in good stead for finding employment one day, even if in the first instance prospective employers don’t know where he went to university.

It is also helpful to consider that very few employers truly care where a person went to university. I work for a professional services firm which is one of the top three in the country. I have colleagues who studied at Oxbridge and colleagues who studied at universities which aren’t in the Russel Group and aren’t prestigious. It’s no indication of their abilities and talent for the job. It’s only one very small part of the reasons they were hired.

Your son’s Cambridge education is a wonderful achievement and will be an incredible experience in and of itself. It doesn’t diminish the value of his education that some employers won’t immediately know where he got his degree.

In blind recruitment applications you are supposed to tailor your CV so that you do not include titles of the sort you mentioed, or similar types of identifying information.

The MA stays, obviously, but it’s just
Enterprise Award 2024, Scholarship 2023, Student Rep 2023, etc. People doing blind recruiting have written either upthread or elsewhere on the Board (it’s been a while since I’ve read on the topic) how annoying it is when candidates try to sneak their Oxbridge credentials onto their CVs.

I know how you feel - I went to Oxford University in the 1990s having been to a very ordinary comprehensive school.

That was obviously a huge achievement esp back then.

Now everyone is University blind!

But I don’t worry as I know I can compete and do well even without that on my cv.

@Newname576 if it's any consolation, lots of employers aren't doing this and won't do this 😂 particularly the top ones!

Is your DS going to Cambridge because he believes it will provide him with a world-class education in a field he is passionate about, access to the leading experts in that area, opportunities to take advantage of incredible resources both academically and recreationally, and a network of talented contacts with similar interests, or is he going to Cambridge because he thinks having "Cambridge University" on his CV will make him look clever?

Just the entire Civil Service, any local government jobs and a swathe of major international firms. 😂

So you're blessed enough to have a child who did so well, and has a place at Cambridge and instead of feeling happy you're whining and complaining. I mean for gods sake OP, as we say round here, you don't know you're born. Stop being so entitled and negative.

And btw do you really see no point in going to Cambridge if you can't use it as leverage for a job? What about the LEARNING that will take place there, the life experiences and everything else?!

And this recruiting blind thing...I guess that's to get the best person for the job which might or might not be Oxbridge. So what?!

This sounds so unnecessarily bitter and mean-spirited.

He can volunteer or work at Cambs based places and put on his CV

If I was doing blind recruitment I would immediately bin any application that went against the ethos of blind recruiting.

I think it’s a good thing. Why should going to Cambridge mean you then always get your own way?
Employers want who is right for them, and don’t want to be pressured in to picking someone just because they went to Cambridge.

I think it really depends on the type of thing they’re going into. Certainly, for any Master’s programmes, they will want to know where they did their undergrad - not only that, but they will require the transcripts from all 3 years. A lot of academics in certain disciplines are aware of each other anyway, so they will know of the academics writing the references.

In terms of job opportunities afterwards, yes I’m sure blind recruitment is a thing in some sectors and that’s fine. In other sectors, it’s the opposite, as far as I can see right now. Certain employers or recruiters come to networking events, offer all kinds of opportunities. It’s like one minute they’re chatting to someone and the next they’re being flown to Boston for an interview. I really don’t think Oxbridge students have anything to complain about. If their application anywhere is strong, it will speak for itself. Nobody is owed anything and they all need to think flexibly, regardless of what they studied and where.