This summer saw thousands of undergraduate students turn into graduates. It has also seen nearly 60% of those graduates that still haven’t found a job yet, even those with Firsts and high 2:1s. Therefore, students that gained a 2:2 or a “Desmond� are worried that they are at even more of a disadvantage. They are not alone. Over the past 15 years the number of students with a 2:2 has been between 77,000 to 81,000, but does this mean employers won’t want you? Absolutely not. The media has created a seemingly bleak atmosphere with headlines suggesting that three quarters of employers will only hire graduates with a 2:1 and above. In this post I want to reassure those with a 2:2 of three very important things:

You have not failed

What companies do you think of when applying to graduate schemes? Coca-Cola? Deloitte? Most students think of the large companies first but In fact, only 14% of students go to work for them. The true driving force of the UK are the SMEs, as they hire a significant amount of graduates and rarely have the strict application processes of larger companies. The good thing about SMEs is that you have a great opportunity to place your unique stamp on the company with the increased responsibilities, therefore creating a big difference, something you might not have the opportunity to do in a larger company. In fact, a survey of 200 students found that 82% said they would be happier in their jobs at an SME and 92% felt they encourage more creativity in the work place.

The graduate job market is not closed to you

The media has portrayed the graduate job market as being particularly negative, especially for those with a 2:2, inferring that they did not work hard enough and are less likely to get a job as the result. However, many employers realise that a graduate is more than a grade on a piece of paper and are looking for candidates that have the right skills and experience. Most of all, companies want to make sure that candidates fit into their business. This is important, as it means you are more likely to stay in the company and perhaps go on to progress further in the business.

Media statistics are to be taken with a pinch of salt

Companies, large and small, have a set of competencies they want candidates to have – such as the ability to influence others and strong interpersonal skills. With this in mind, it is incredibly important that you are proactive whilst at university in order to gain experiences and build up your competencies. A recent survey states what skills graduate recruiters really look for, of which communication, teamwork and adaptability are on the list . The participation in clubs and societies provide good evidence to show recruiters that you are fully prepared for the workplace. . The more proactive you are at university, the more confidence you will gain, as well as building up the core skills companies look for. Additionally, you will have more to talk about in an interview situation.

Even by applying to internships, some companies will want to see evidence of you being proactive. On a personal level, when I undertook a Social Media internship, I was told that I was selected as a result of being very involved in my university societies and my part time job that related to the role. If you know what you are doing, do try to find opportunities to gain experience in that field as that will help although it is still very useful if you are unsure!

Overall, graduates should not assume they are not employable compared to others just because of their results. Employers are increasingly looking to hire graduates that hold certain characteristics, skills and experience over better degree classifications. The larger employers may still screen candidates with a 2:1 or above, but these jobs account for a minimal percentage of the total graduate market and there is still a large pool of jobs within SMEs that are keen to employ all kinds of graduates. Essentially, make sure you have a solid job search strategy and that you are doing as much as you can at university or while you’re searching for a job if you have already graduated. From experience, persistence always pays off!

This is a guest post by Graduate Jobs