what to do with a BSc - Business management and economics 3rd class !

[2512BC]

That's it really what can my son do - he is only just sitting on a 2:2 - he is waiting for 2 more results which in total he needs 98 - to keep the 2:2 - realistically and going by his past grades it is very possible he will drop to a 3rd - he wanted to go into recruitment but they all want a 2:1 - he has worked in shops all through his studies but doesn't want to continue this -He has had lots of interviews for recruitment in the past couple of weeks - but no success. As they feel his work experience and responses to tasks / questions don't make up for the grades as obviously it's quite competitive. Even agencies want experience. Uni careers office is not much help to be honest - he shows them his cv before showing me and they approved it and sent it off for jobs although he had used incorrect terminology in some areas. How do you get an entry level job in an office these days without previous experience.

I think this is very difficult because very many of the roles suggested do want people with a 2:1 and people with lower barely get a look in. I think he may have struggled with his degree as he has no Maths A level. This is often required for Economics so a CCC is really low for this type of degree.

Internships will be very, very difficult if he has not acquired the skills and educational attainments required. Again, people with AAA and likely to get a 2:1 or above will get the gig. He will have to demonstrate he is super good to get above them. That will also go for HR. That is in no way an easy ride for people with 2:2 or a 3rd. My friend's DD had to wait a year to get into HR and she has a 1st.

A University careers office is no substitute for self motivation and accuracy. He should be able to write an accurate CV. Make sure you check everything he sends off.

However, if he can, volunteer or do a lower level job and accept a graduate entry job is possibly beyond reach at the moment. I agree that reinventing himself is a good idea. Look at the CAB - he will get good people skills with them and will feel he is useful. That may be a good platform for work.

Further qualifications will cost money if there is no employer to pay the fees. This may not be a good solution. He will probably have to accept his choices are limited at the moment, but taking time to see what he can do by volunteering could really help.

Thirds seem like a disaster at the time but you are right get him a job and he will go from there - any sort of admin or office work will do for now and apply for the roles he wants from there - tell him to check out Personnel and HR type qualifications and see if he can't start doing some of those in the mean time to show willing. If I am honest I am not sure recruitment isn't a shorter term career whilst younger (its sort of sales & HR together) and longer term he might want to look at HR. He still has plenty of time and the key thing is to get out and get working asap

I would say that getting a 2.2 or 3rd in his uni degree is probably the right grade for someone with CCC at A level. So he should be pleased with his achievement. Unfortunately that does not mean he will be rewarded with degree level jobs. He should apply for anything available to get a foot in the door and try to work up from there.

The degree will still earn its keep from the second or third job onwards, though.

At that point he'll be able to show experience and mention his degree leaving all mention of classification off of his CV. It will be far less important by then.

I hope he's googled for examples of successful people who took thirds

Recruitment is quite sales focused. If I were him I'd be looking to do some sales training courses from the Institute of Sales and Marketing Management to compensate for the 3rd.

There's also lots of trainee recruitment positions out there that don't specify a specific degree classification, www.indeed.co.uk/jobs?q=trainee+recruitment&l= its worth applying to as many as possible.