Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be upset about ‘university blind’ recruitment

788 replies

Newname576 · 17/05/2023 19:31

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?

OP posts:
kitsuneghost · 17/05/2023 20:45

I have found over the years that a lot of people that haven't had part time work while at uni get a little bit of a shock when they start.
I work in a lab and they expect perusing data while pottering about and get full on high pressure and deadlines.
Unfortunately most of these type are from the higher rated universities. (though it is getting more common)

Digitallis · 17/05/2023 20:46

“To some extent” yes. But the %’s speak for themselves that it is only ‘to some extent’.

TheMoops · 17/05/2023 20:49

Digitallis · 17/05/2023 20:46

“To some extent” yes. But the %’s speak for themselves that it is only ‘to some extent’.

Of course. It's a multi faceted issue with the biggest barrier being getting people from less advantaged backgrounds to apply to elite universities in the first place!

This was the focus of my PhD so I could go on for hours!!

Tiddlypomtiddlypom · 17/05/2023 20:50

what the hell is the point of going to a top Uni if no one will know about it

For the quality of the education? The networking? The beautiful surroundings? The opportunities while there? 😳

You can always get a bumper sticker and some merch if you want to make sure everyone knows. Plus they’re not really university blind, anyway. Prejudice, positive and negative, runs deep.

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 17/05/2023 20:51

bluebeck · 17/05/2023 20:24

Honestly OP, it’s pretty much bollocks.

Once anyone gets to the interview stage, I will have their entire application aside from disability info. I’m certainly going to recognise that a degree from Cambridge is worth more than one from various other unis (trying not to upset anyone by naming any!) That’s not to say that would bear more weight than them being a good team fit though.

Your DS will be fine. Relax.

Exactly. Bar eligibility to apply for the role, it's pretty much utter nonsense. Just ticks a diversity box and means that they have more low calibre applications to sift through which is easily done, and worth it because it means that they come across as modern and forward thinking.

shmivorytower · 17/05/2023 20:51

I am still absolutely flabbergasted at some of the attitudes here. It’s silly to pretend that nothing happens to the A* student during their time at Uni. They are going through development and education. it’s what the TEF (Teaching Excellence Framework calls ‘value added’)

Also Universities do not all teach the same things even in the same degree. Learning Outcomes, though having to keep Subject Benchmark Statement in mind, will have variation. Teaching modes might vary. Support might vary. Marking might vary. This is why external examiners exist!

We know even have the TEF to measure how good teaching is at a Uni. Some lesser known Unis do fantastic at the TEF and it will show in their graduates. Top unis have to also demonstrate the value they are adding.

It is not unkind to say that some teaching is better than other teaching. Just like it would not be unkind to say that food at one restaurant is better than at another one.

Tiddlypomtiddlypom · 17/05/2023 20:51

Does he care as much as you, OP? He’ll have a wonderful time, hopefully, and he’ll be set up for a cracking start to his career.

SummerLover01 · 17/05/2023 20:53

I recruit across all levels in my organisation including graduates and the source of the degree rarely influences me. Most graduates I see are all very capable and have lots of academic success.

The differentiator is in their enthusiasm, engagement, communication, work experience, personal ambition, asking questions, having an opinion on things going on in the industry...... That's what gets people jobs, not the name of the institution on the top of your certificate!

Solonge · 17/05/2023 20:57

RandyMiceDavies · 17/05/2023 20:41

Have you got a source for those figures? The Econ article above agrees with @BonjourCrisette

You're also wrong about the "old school tie". Academic staff at Oxbridge are generally not ex public school and have no interest in accepting disproportionate numbers of their kids- in fact, they are trying extremely hard to recruit more state applicants. The issues are that a higher proportion of privately educated children achieve the necessary grades and perform well at interview, which is due to a combination of better resources at school and the fact that a higher proportion of private schools than state schools are academically selective.

Another one talking nonsense which only helps to put off potential state applicants.

Show quote history

Well you would say that wouldnt you? this is a BBC article Oxbridge 'over-recruits from eight schools' - BBC News not where I got the figures from but will seek that out later.
The crux of my original comment is that blind interviewing should be the norm, which is pretty easy if you are interviewing John Brown, a little more difficult if you are interviewing George Windsor or Wilfred Rees Mogg.

Oxford University

Oxbridge 'over-recruits from eight schools'

More Oxbridge places go to a handful of private schools than 3,000 state schools put together.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-46470838

eggsbenedict23 · 17/05/2023 21:00

@Newname576 congrats to your DS. The Big4 are university blind yes. But the really prestigious consulting firms (McKinsey Bain BCG) do have a heavy Oxbridge bias when recruiting. Your DS will be fine. Also he has the Cambridge alumni network to help him.

themonkeysnuts · 17/05/2023 21:01

so are you expecting him to be shortlisted/walking straight into a high earning job just because of getting a degree from Cambridge
when someone from a 'lesser' uni may fit better

MightyFishwife · 17/05/2023 21:02

So it’s not enough that your precious lambie goes to an elitist university and rubs shoulders with all the toffs there; you feel hard done-by because he can’t flaunt it further?

Optionshighlights · 17/05/2023 21:03

@Newname576 this won’t have any impact on your DS in the long term.
It is an amazing privilege and achievement to attend Cambridge and I would have loved it. I also did well at (an ex-Poly) Uni and have become very successful.
Please remind your DS to see this is an amazing opportunity, he has worked hard and will make a good future for himself regardless of blind interviews.
When I interview, I look for whether the person can do the job and are qualified and have no interest whatsoever in which university they studied at.

YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 17/05/2023 21:04

Newname576 · 17/05/2023 19:39

But all degrees aren’t equal @NeverDropYourMooncup - someone who gets a 1st from Cambridge has covered a lot more than the equivalent degree from uni of Hertfordshire!

My ex London poly University lecturer also lectured at Cambridge and I got a 1st. Where does that leave me OP?

poetryandwine · 17/05/2023 21:05

OP,

The moral here is that your DS hasn’t arrived at his destination. He is beginning his journey.

If he makes good use of what Cambridge can offer him, he will do well. Students who think that having arrived at Oxbridge means they can rest on their laurels don’t particularly deserve to.

Congratulations and best wishes to him

YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 17/05/2023 21:07

I also recruit people. I never look at their university - it means nothing to me or my industry.

2bazookas · 17/05/2023 21:08

what the hell is the point of going to a top Uni if no one will know about it!

The point, is the depth of education they'll receive from brilliant teachers (a lot of personal tutoring) and the facilities provided by the huge wealth of the university.

JaninaDuszejko · 17/05/2023 21:09

I work in Pharma, HR don't hide which Universities applicants went to but in my experience the University makes little to no difference and we certainly don't recruit based on University. We tend to recruit from local (northern) universities and someone from a working class background who is the first in their family to go to uni who went to the local ex poly is just as likely to be a good employee as someone from a middle class background who went to a Russell Group university. University mainly reflects class.

Of course there are plenty of careers that are more classist than science (Nobel Prize winner Sir Paul Nurse has talked about how science felt more accessible than the humanities as a working class child because cultural capital didn't matter so much) where going to the right school or university will matter more so I suppose it depends what your son's degree will be in.

Mirabai · 17/05/2023 21:10

This is a U.K. thing though if he applies for jobs abroad they will see his uni.

MaggyNoodles · 17/05/2023 21:15

What's wrong with Man Met?
I bloody hate educational snobbery.

Pottedpalm · 17/05/2023 21:16

Firstttimemama · 17/05/2023 19:44

As a hiring manager, I don’t care about grades/degree outcome/university attended. I rarely even look at these on an application other to check they have the required C at maths and English GCSE. Students are better off getting a job and building up their employment experience

I don't think the OP has careers in mind which require only a C in maths and English..

jeanne16 · 17/05/2023 21:16

Actually only a few of the grad schemes recruit ‘blind’. Most still ask for the uni. My DS graduated recently from Cambridge and certainly found Cambridge a help in the recruitment process.

Nowfeeltheneedtopost · 17/05/2023 21:16

Newname576 · 17/05/2023 19:39

But all degrees aren’t equal @NeverDropYourMooncup - someone who gets a 1st from Cambridge has covered a lot more than the equivalent degree from uni of Hertfordshire!

Please provide evidence for your assertion.

bottleofbeer · 17/05/2023 21:17

I worked soooo much harder than peers at other universities.

Maybe that's because you needed to, to get similar grades?

So much snobbery! I am so much more intelligent than yewwwwww because I got into an elitist uni. Are you though? Are you really? Does it make you a better candidate for a job, for no other reason than the place you got your degree? Really?

Swipe left for the next trending thread