straight C+ student, what's in store for you?

[play_b3yond]

just a ba degree, nothing more

so what jobs can you get beside flipping burgers at burger king?

[chen0289]

straight C's in generals arts? maybe you were better off in college

[nalababe]

just a ba degree, nothing more

so what jobs can you get beside flipping burgers at burger king?

what ever you want.

Higher grades may help you with a foot in the door, but after that, it is performance in the job that keeps you there. I have probably read several hundred resumes (I don't do the first scan through, so I get only the narrowed down candidates) over the past few years, and not once did I care 1) where they went to university or 2) their grades in university.

Show me performance in the job. Achieve ME to EE on performance reviews, hit targets if you have them, Spot awards....all of these things will be far more important. After that, interview well and you are fine.

[play_b3yond]

straight C's in generals arts? maybe you were better off in college

heh, truth hurts :(

[brownman87]

BA wont go down well..
i dont know about the person not lookin at ur uni or ur marks, that is not the case for big companies.

ie. microsoft sets higher priority for waterloo grads.
lots of other things factor into the equation, also your experiences, and references ie. like a reference from your prof or biggies in politics could do well i suppose..


im not too sure, ill keep an eye out for other suggestions myself, i am kinda like in ur place, im in second year doing a business degree, but like many others, its highly competetive, every other joe is doing business.

[Bazooka Joe]

"University to get an education, college to get a job"

Otherwise, go for the "we'll take anything with a degree" jobs. RCMP, CSIS, military officer, etc.

[harry131]

There are a lot of options.... For example: I have two friends who were doing BCom... One of them was a C student and dropped out. The other was worse and got kicked out of the program.

What they did was they went to the "temp" employment companies like Randstad, Accountemps, Kelly, Groom & Associates. Did ~2 years of temporary small-time accounting and administrative jobs. They pay decent $13-16/hour.

The advantage with that was that they were exposed to multiple big companies for a stretch of 3-10months each. They worked hard, got a few good references.

The experience and references helped them get permanent positions in mid-sized companies. Now they have a permanent job with title's like accounting clerk/assistant. They make ~$35-38k...doing a 9-5 desk job, they started permanent work 1 year ago.
It might not be the best paying job, but I think considering that they screwed up their undergrad... they are doing pretty well. Although, for almost all such jobs one might never get over the $45-50k barrier... even with 15years experience.

p.s.: Those agencies have jobs in various fields and not just accounting. And Don't worry about experience, these "temp" placement agencies have many jobs that require no experience. Besides, when something comes up last minute they just pick a good candidate even if he/she does not have experience.... All you have to do is score good in their internal test of very-very basic math etc...

[nalababe]

BA wont go down well..
i dont know about the person not lookin at ur uni or ur marks, that is not the case for big companies.

ie. microsoft sets higher priority for waterloo grads.
lots of other things factor into the equation, also your experiences, and references ie. like a reference from your prof or biggies in politics could do well i suppose..


im not too sure, ill keep an eye out for other suggestions myself, i am kinda like in ur place, im in second year doing a business degree, but like many others, its highly competetive, every other joe is doing business.

Actually, I work for a top 30 Global Fortune 500 company. Again, we primarily do not hire new grads. We would rather hire someone with one or two years experience and will pay for that experience. At that point, we could care less what they did in University.....much like a grad school looks at the last two years, we want to see how you perform in the real world...not the safe protected world of university.

FWIW, I took a fifth year (to complete a second Major, this time in Mathematics and Statistics). Due to personal issues, I ended up with 0 - 15% in all of my final year courses. It did not hinder me one bit. I got a job in my field within a year (Biology so it is harder as there are less jobs), had my first 100k year before being 30 (though I earn less now as I have no desire to spend more than 37.5 hours a week a work) and have survived 3 mergers/aquisitions.

[play_b3yond]

thanks for the input guys, i'll remember to look at this thread in 2 years when i graduate (hopefully).

[UrbanPoet]

heh, truth hurts :(

its okay.... I only made it half way through university due to financial constraints.
I was able to get a full time job @ a bank. Im continuting to take courses p/t so i can eventually get my degree, but i'll most likely get it @ a crawl... But im pretty confident that with my skill, work ethic, and ability to talk my way into things i can get ahead.

[rfdrfd]

thanks for the input guys, i'll remember to look at this thread in 2 years when i graduate (hopefully).

Then you still have hope. Work your a$$ off the remaining years to achieve a higher grade. 2 yrs is a long time.

[teufel-man]

straight C's in generals arts? maybe you were better off in college

C+ is the average for the majority of courses at university, at least in my school.

Therefore he is just a average student.... not a poor student, just not a good student....

Are you saying that all student who get the class average or lower should not even bothered to go to university? If this is the case then according to you, university enrollment should drop by approx. 50%

doesnt make much sense to me

[IceBlueShoes]

Actually, I work for a top 30 Global Fortune 500 company. Again, we primarily do not hire new grads. We would rather hire someone with one or two years experience and will pay for that experience. At that point, we could care less what they did in University.....much like a grad school looks at the last two years, we want to see how you perform in the real world...not the safe protected world of university.

FWIW, I took a fifth year (to complete a second Major, this time in Mathematics and Statistics). Due to personal issues, I ended up with 0 - 15% in all of my final year courses. It did not hinder me one bit. I got a job in my field within a year (Biology so it is harder as there are less jobs), had my first 100k year before being 30 (though I earn less now as I have no desire to spend more than 37.5 hours a week a work) and have survived 3 mergers/aquisitions.

It's things like this that REALLY annoy me. (not your success that's cool)
Companies don't want grads, but grads have no experience. So what we're being told essentially is that unless you're in co-op, or start up your own business or have good hook-ups you're SOL.
I often pose this question to the people at job fairs. Why are you at a student job fair if you want people with experience? I have yet to get a good response.

OP: don't worry about your average. In the end, their's more to life than marks. I'm going into my 4th and final year of university and my overall average is a high 60. I'm doing an honours program so it's really coming down to the wire for me. Although in my case my majors requirements have to be at a B- min.
But if any employer asks me for grades, I'm moving on. Seems to me that it's a company that will treat me as # and not an individual and I don't want to work in a place such as that. My degree (physical degree) and/or letter of graduation should be enough. I also have a college diploma though so it does help.
Their are plenty of jobs out there.
Get involved in extra curricular activites, make contacts through work (if you can) and pick up good references.
One of my college profs said "It's not what you know, but who you know" which is true.
Good luck.

[skeletor]

I often pose this question to the people at job fairs. Why are you at a student job fair if you want people with experience? I have yet to get a good response.


+1

[mathewvc]

One of my college profs said "It's not what you know, but who you know" which is true.

quote ftw

[MS_Project]

Quick question.

In University, I'm getting mostly low C's to B- and a few A's and B's once in a while.
Will this affect my job opportunity when i apply for a job?
Thanks

[dealguy2]

Realtor?

[Alvito]

its okay.... I only made it half way through university due to financial constraints.
I was able to get a full time job @ a bank. Im continuting to take courses p/t so i can eventually get my degree, but i'll most likely get it @ a crawl... But im pretty confident that with my skill, work ethic, and ability to talk my way into things i can get ahead.

I have hook ups at bay st when u get to that level.

[Ebola]

If you get your degree, your job prospects are pretty much just as good as anyone else with a degree.

Why? Because if you all have Bachelor degree's, it will be everything else that determines who gets the job. Ie. experience, skills, presentation etc etc.

There are very few fields which give a **** about marks in university.

[UrbanPoet]

I have hook ups at bay st when u get to that level.

My aunt works for TD Water house, got another @ CIBC woodgundy... But to tell you the truth, i find working @ the branch level pretty comfortable. Probably gonna chill out here for a while before committing to a job w/ more responsibilities and stress. =\

[nalababe]

. So what we're being told essentially is that unless you're in co-op, or start up your own business or have good hook-ups you're SOL.
I often pose this question to the people at job fairs. Why are you at a student job fair if you want people with experience? I have yet to get a good response.

.

Why attend job fairs. The reason is that with any university you have immediate access to undergraduate, graduate and professional program students--sometimes you're there for people other than the undergraduate degrees. It is also a way to work on getting internships, summer placements and making contact for some exceptional students thay may not have considered your company. Remember the cost for them attending is next to nothing.

The other reason is, of course, advertising. You are being seen. Take the big four accounting programs, why would they atttend. With a bigger booth or more people the image created is that we're better then the next tier down. This leads to demand, hype and in the end a more students to choose from for possible positions.

Along the same lines, they may attend because they cannot afford not to attend. This is the same type of justification we have to debate when deciding to attend of not attend a conference.

[IceBlueShoes]

Why attend job fairs. The reason is that with any university you have immediate access to undergraduate, graduate and professional program students--sometimes you're there for people other than the undergraduate degrees. It is also a way to work on getting internships, summer placements and making contact for some exceptional students thay may not have considered your company. Remember the cost for them attending is next to nothing.

The other reason is, of course, advertising. You are being seen. Take the big four accounting programs, why would they atttend. With a bigger booth or more people the image created is that we're better then the next tier down. This leads to demand, hype and in the end a more students to choose from for possible positions.

Along the same lines, they may attend because they cannot afford not to attend. This is the same type of justification we have to debate when deciding to attend of not attend a conference.

That would be a valid excuse, except for the fact that the job fair I'm talking about is promoted as a job fair for students. Hence when I'm asked about what experience I have (which I now have almost a year of experience working as an admin. asst.) and it's not considered "enough" I ask, why are you at a job fair for students.
You can't get a job w/o experience, and you can't get experience w/o a job. This is almost as stupid and illogical as someone that comes from another country with experience and is told that can't get a job because they don't have any "Canadian experience" While this would make sense if the job was specific to the Canadian market, in many cases it's not. And I don't mean people from 3rd world nations, but Canadian grads that lived overseas for a few years or people from other 1st world nations. Check out "Why Mexicans Don't Drink Molson".

Anyways job hunting is the most stressful thing I find! I'm starting early this time around! 2 semesters should be plenty!:evil:

[play_b3yond]

does being in clubs really make a difference?

I mean, is joining 1 or 2 enough or u gotta join 5 clubs @ uni to make your resume stand out.

[ngold]

Don't worry most students are C students. The doors are wide open for you.
You can be...say...the President of United States. Not a bad position.

Clubwise, just joining clubs won't help. You gotta take leadership roles. I recommend you join 5 clubs, then see which club needs new execs, and take on some exec roles.

[BadDrafter]

Didn't we see this thread a week ago with a different grade?

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=588741

[the_fm]

Quick question.

In University, I'm getting mostly low C's to B- and a few A's and B's once in a while.
Will this affect my job opportunity when i apply for a job?
Thanks

not at all unless you want to be a CA. most employers don't look at grades. it's all about being able to sell oneself

[Tereno]

Don't worry most students are C students. The doors are wide open for you.
You can be...say...the President of United States. Not a bad position.

Clubwise, just joining clubs won't help. You gotta take leadership roles. I recommend you join 5 clubs, then see which club needs new execs, and take on some exec roles.

Yeah it's not the number of clubs that you join but what role you took at the club. If you're just a member probably not going to give you much credibility. But if you were the social director and organized all the events, that'll give you some good points. It shows that you can organize events and execute them hopefully flawlessly.

[Whiplash7828]

If you get your degree, your job prospects are pretty much just as good as anyone else with a degree.

Why? Because if you all have Bachelor degree's, it will be everything else that determines who gets the job. Ie. experience, skills, presentation etc etc.

There are very few fields which give a **** about marks in university.

I agree with this statement.

[rogeryen]

quote ftw
professor quote eh....
"You arrogant, little infant."
"You know exactly what I am capable of":lol:

[IceBlueShoes]

does being in clubs really make a difference?

I mean, is joining 1 or 2 enough or u gotta join 5 clubs @ uni to make your resume stand out.

I would say yes, because you make contacts. I mean it depends on the club too, if you join a political club you'll have dif contacts compared to joining an anime or chess club.
Also if you're an exec it makes a dif too. I'm an exec for my club. It's taken a while to climb up, but now that the old regime is gone, we can finally make some changes!:cheesygri
I wouldn't recommend joining a club for the sake of doing it. Do stuff that interests you.
Their's more to life than grades. Enjoy university! I actually feel sorry for 1 of my past roomies. He NEVER went out. All he did was study. But hey, to each their own.

[Rehan]

just a ba degree, nothing more

so what jobs can you get beside flipping burgers at burger king? It depends on why you get the C+ marks. Is it because you're simply mediocre in whatever you do? or because what you're studying now is not your passion? or because you're too busy with other activities outside school?

Someone who's mediocre in the wrong field at school could still be a superstar when he discovers his passion...

[nalababe]

That would be a valid excuse, except for the fact that the job fair I'm talking about is promoted as a job fair for students.


One important real world lesson is that things are not always as they appear. You have no idea why they are at the fair. They could indeed have no intention of hiring anybody. They could be there simply to say look at us, they could be there due to contractual obligations, they could be there to train new HR people.

Anyway, for people in the sciences, the best recommendation I can make is to get to know the sales, support and service and support people for the products you use. When I was working with a DNA sequencing/Applications company, a good chunk of the Technical Support staff were taken from sites that were currently using our equipment....even if you don't get to work for them you are making industry contacts. When a rep comes in...ask questions. Don't forget (or if you did not know), many companies pay finder fees to their staff to locate potential candidates...if hired the finder can earn 1000-5000 or more.

[play_b3yond]

He NEVER went out. All he did was study.

wow! i bet he got straight As.

[IceBlueShoes]

wow! i bet he got straight As.

Their's more to life then grades...

[geronimo]

It depends on why you get the C+ marks. Is it because you're simply mediocre in whatever you do? or because what you're studying now is not your passion? or because you're too busy with other activities outside school?

Someone who's mediocre in the wrong field at school could still be a superstar when he discovers his passion... But what if it is your passion and you are still getting C+ marks?

I know 100% that I loooove business! This is the only thing for me, there is nothing else that I would actually be interested in studying and enjoy spending the rest of my life working with. I have loved the subject ever since the middle of grade 8 and I spend my free time watching the business news, reading Forbes and Fortune, etc. Unforunately, in university I have learned that I do not like certain aspects of business, or at least not how they are taught at my school. Sometimes school and the real world are completely different. I do not like accounting, economics, or statistics, and unfortunately I am required to take many of those courses. Quantitative courses just don't seem to be my thing. I am also required to take 5 courses from outside my program including 2 in the Humanities department, and many of these elective courses I have taken haven't been as interesting or easy as I thought they would be.

[play_b3yond]

But what if it is your passion and you are still getting C+ marks?

I know 100% that I loooove business! This is the only thing for me, there is nothing else that I would actually be interested in studying and enjoy spending the rest of my life working with. I have loved the subject ever since the middle of grade 8 and I spend my free time watching the business news, reading Forbes and Fortune, etc. Unforunately, in university I have learned that I do not like certain aspects of business, or at least not how they are taught at my school. Sometimes school and the real world are completely different. I do not like accounting, economics, or statistics, and unfortunately I am required to take many of those courses. Quantitative courses just don't seem to be my thing. I am also required to take 5 courses from outside my program including 2 in the Humanities department, and many of these elective courses I have taken haven't been as interesting or easy as I thought they would be.

at least you found your passion, me on the other hand ...

[brownman87]

But what if it is your passion and you are still getting C+ marks?

I know 100% that I loooove business! This is the only thing for me, there is nothing else that I would actually be interested in studying and enjoy spending the rest of my life working with. I have loved the subject ever since the middle of grade 8 and I spend my free time watching the business news, reading Forbes and Fortune, etc. Unforunately, in university I have learned that I do not like certain aspects of business, or at least not how they are taught at my school. Sometimes school and the real world are completely different. I do not like accounting, economics, or statistics, and unfortunately I am required to take many of those courses. Quantitative courses just don't seem to be my thing. I am also required to take 5 courses from outside my program including 2 in the Humanities department, and many of these elective courses I have taken haven't been as interesting or easy as I thought they would be.
lmao... u read me completely bro
thats me

but i suck totally in some subjects..... when you the thing is i find such courses as hmmm like. studying about things such as politics in business and business law boring, but i find accounting pretty okay, i like micro economics but hate macro, i somewhat like accounting once i get the hang of it, ...
im sure real life business world wont be as stupid as this, cuz it not that the courses are hard, it just so damn friggeen boring that i cant even focus.

[geronimo]

seriously, what kind of business are you into then? what business or organization doesn't have to deal with the above. its great that you have a "passion" for business but you still need to be able to "do the job", like it or not, business is not just about management such as ordering people around and being in charge or at the top.Business is MUCH more expansive than just those three subjects. I know they are three key areas, and are important, but not every businessman or businesswoman is an accountant, economist, or statician. I actually do like those areas in theory, but I do not like all the math crap that we do in class. I love learning about unemployment, the business cycle, the balance of trade, etc interesting real world concepts, mostly macro-economics. But unfortunately the course is all math and I suck at math. Who knows, maybe I do like economics, maybe I just don't like the way it's being taught. Do economists even do math all day long? Same with accounting, I doubt accountants do math all day long. That's a bookkeepers job. Accountants should do the interesting stuff like analyzing a business plan or proposal. For example, I do like it when we do case writing in accounting. To me that is real accounting and that is interesting. Statistics are great too! I am also on the Internet during my free time reading stats on sites like NationMaster.com, City-data.com, Hoovers.com, Wikipedia, etc I'm like a walking encyclopedia full of trivia, statistics, and figures. But I do not like doing the math stuff we do in class, and it's not only me. Statistics is a perenial favourite to hate, everyone hates that class!!