US
CityHopeful123
Hello Guys,
I unfortunately missed my A2 psychology exam which i couldn’t re-sit due to the syllabus being changed that year. I am now left with 270 UCAS points which is fairly below the requirements needed for any investment bank :(
I am currently in my last year at Anglia Ruskin University, and I’m on course for a 1st class honours in Business Economics – however i still haven’t managed to gain financial experience.
Is their still a glimmer of hope and chance? if not can i create chances? or should i just give up the dream and focus on something else?
Thanks in advance
The fact that you messed up an exam when you were 18 has no real bearing on your potential future in the city. The fact that you are in the final year of a Business Economics degree and don’t know the answer to this question is more worrying. You must have been to career fairs and recruitment events over the past few years; did you not discuss your UCAS points with the graduate recruiters?
Companies need to differentiate applicants and rightly or wrongly this is done on academic achievement, but there is massive flexibility in the recruitment process.
Talk with grad scheme recruiters, ideally in person at career events. Get Business cards from the grad recruitment team, submit your application and then email the recruiters you have met explaining that you don’t meet the minimum requirements but that when we spoke at ??? event you told me that I should submit an application regardless. Explain that you underachieved at A-Levels but that you worked bloody hard in university to get a 1st, while simultaneously being the captain/member of ??? team, and the treasurer of ??? society, and working three nights a week in a bar to support your studies.
Network, Network, NETWORK! Get out there and meet people, show that you are driven and determined.
“My A-level results do not meet the basic requirements, but I have the skills necessary to excel in the IBD. When speaking to Joe Bolgs (MD equity trading) at your career event in Cambridge recently I ……. ”
I would be more concerned that you are studying at an unheard of university. I assume it was an ex polytechnic. I dont even recognise it amongst the bottom group of universities in league tables. I use to work in the front office and use to be involved in hiring for my team. Two things that members of the hiring team usually immediately dislike are middle office/back office experience and universities outside the general top ten. We then look at experience, course and grades. We will also look at secondary schools attended.
My advice is to forget about it unless you have some strong connections.
@Exfr0nt0ffice – It would seem that your spelling and grammar has deteriorated somewhat since you stopped working in the front office. It is “used” and not “use”… perhaps those halcyon days will one day return. Until then, perhaps you should refrain from discouraging young people from trying their luck ?