The Perfect Degree: Is there such a thing and should this worry you?

Is there such a thing as the perfect degree?

Today I thought I would discuss a question that often dogs my mind: is there such a thing as the perfect degree?

In a single word, no.

I’m conscious that it’s that time of year where many of you will be graduating and bracing yourselves for hunting for your first job; as a graduate myself, I feel a responsibility towards you all to share the often brutal realities of this.

I have created a dedicated post all about my graduate experience from graduation to landing my first job in marketing.

Graduate realities

I have to be honest that just because you finally make your break and get a foot in your dream career, doesn’t mean that’s it; often it takes another move or two to land yourself in the right role, in the right place. But this is okay, it’s how you build your experience and work out what you want.

When I was at university there was never a doubt that we would all land great jobs but what they fail to tell you is that this might not be straight away. Universities make a lot of noise about how a degree is the key to your success and while there’s truth in that, to be successful takes so much more than a university education.

Yes you learn great skills writing essays and doing presentations; managing societies and representing your class and or school does look great on your CV, but this doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be snapped up straight away.

Was my degree course the right one?

In my head I still sometimes debate if my degree in media communications was the right one. I never doubt the subject, but I do doubt the course. University was a very last minute decision and I didn’t have much time to carry out thorough research in how a degree in communications would differ from place to place.

Also, a lot of my drive to go (to university) was for the experience overall and therefore location played a huge part. That being said, I do not for one minute regret going to Bath Spa university and I do not regret my degree.

Going for interview

It’s only when in interview that you are sometimes questioned and challenged on your choices and you can come out a bit battered and left wondering if you did after all, study the right thing and your perfect degree may not be so perfect anymore.

At the end of the day, as I have proven, it doesn’t matter how much you think you have prepared yourself to be the top possible candidate for a job, ultimately it comes down to a whole load of criteria.

Some employers have a list of desired graduates -what they studied, where they studied and grade achieved etc., and some will hold out for that ultimate all singing all dancing graduate. But if you ask my opinion, I don’t think these are the employers to aspire to work for; their standards are so impossibly high that working for them wouldn’t be that fun or that fulfilling.

The personality and culture of a workplace, and the people you meet and work with during your career speaks volumes and will ultimately be the decider of your success, not your degree.

Also, a little note about grades. Please do not worry if you do not get your desired result; it does not define you. Of course you will be gutted, I was a bit gutted about the overall mark for my dissertation and I was hoping to pass my degree as a whole with a higher score than I did. But has it hindered me at all in the real world? no. Attitude and passion is everything, so keep your chin up, strive for what you want and go get it!

Do you think the perfect degree exists?

Until next time x

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