is 3rd class honors useful?

Second upper got plague that says 2nd upper mah.

Civil Service and PAP politicians - honours count.
Private Sector - less important.

I suggest you take the private sector route as they value your work attitude and efforts more and networking.
Civil service dont require networking because they simply toe the line, any brilliant EQ person will find that place stifling. 3rd class honours in civil service is not going to turn heads. In fact, think of the song, "killing you softly"...

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Civil Service and PAP politicians - honours count.
Private Sector - less important.

I suggest you take the private sector route as they value your work attitude and efforts more and networking.
Civil service dont require networking because they simply toe the line, any brilliant EQ person will find that place stifling. 3rd class honours in civil service is not going to turn heads. In fact, think of the song, "killing you softly"...

you can also consider upgrading yourself. If you have 3rd class honours, go for a Masters degree and get 1st class - that will help you as you can show your potential employers that you know your stuff well.

As a HR manager in an MNC who screens resumes, i have the following to say.

for fresh grads,

i look at the following in order:

1) relevance of degree

2) grades

The interviewees will be called for interview with the best grades first and lousiest grades last. Sometimes, before we call those with lousier grades to come for interview, we already employed the ones with better grades.

That's life.

[cslee]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

As a HR manager in an MNC who screens resumes, i have the following to say.

for fresh grads,

i look at the following in order:

1) relevance of degree

2) grades

The interviewees will be called for interview with the best grades first and lousiest grades last. Sometimes, before we call those with lousier grades to come for interview, we already employed the ones with better grades.

That's life.

Have something to stand out if your grades are behind e.g. possess relevant professional qualifications, professional blogs etc. Most local grads I met won't study again once they leave schools.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I agree. Some 2nd upper people are so cocky (not even first class!), and think their 2nd upper degree is EVERYTHING and overrides all their past bad grades.

I rather employ a 2nd lower/ 3rd class/pass than such cocky 2nd upper/1st class grads with bad alevel/olevel grades and low iq and eq; yet place themselves at a higher pedestal (probably like darrine ko, or through some connections/friendships with professors, or simply only studying and nothing else during their undergrad yrs), - all they hide it with the excuse that they're late bloomers who suceeded in the end (u can noe they're still mediocre in thinking, but just more preparation done for their exams; or using unethical *what they call street smart* means)

2nd lower and 3rd class is relatively useless in engineering. Why? Simply because the engineering cohort is too big. The number of 1st class & 2nd upper in engineering cohort can be as big as the faculty of arts. With so many 2nd upper, companies are spoilt for choice. If you are second lower in a competitive engineering especially (like chem eng), don't bother to apply for companies until your last semester. You're not going to get any replies or 'thank you for applying' replies. A general rule of thumb: If it is a career fair or talk organized by the school, your chances of getting an interview even is close to 0.

Even if you do, it is probably something that the 2nd upper and above people avoid like a plague.

[jobhunter1234]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

As a HR manager in an MNC who screens resumes, i have the following to say.

for fresh grads,

i look at the following in order:

1) relevance of degree

2) grades

The interviewees will be called for interview with the best grades first and lousiest grades last. Sometimes, before we call those with lousier grades to come for interview, we already employed the ones with better grades.

That's life.

Thanks. This info is really useful. Always wanting to know the screening process.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I rather employ a 2nd lower/ 3rd class/pass than such cocky 2nd upper/1st class grads with bad alevel/olevel grades and low iq and eq; yet place themselves at a higher pedestal (probably like darrine ko, or through some connections/friendships with professors, or simply only studying and nothing else during their undergrad yrs), - all they hide it with the excuse that they're late bloomers who suceeded in the end (u can noe they're still mediocre in thinking, but just more preparation done for their exams; or using unethical *what they call street smart* means)

Alot of students who had never really started working often have an inaccurate gauge of their own abilities. Having a PhD does not mean you have a super human intelligence... I had seen situations where a group of Masters and PhDs can't solved a technical glitch for 2 days, end up some poly graduate fixed the machine in half a day.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

As a HR manager in an MNC who screens resumes, i have the following to say.

for fresh grads,

i look at the following in order:

1) relevance of degree

2) grades

The interviewees will be called for interview with the best grades first and lousiest grades last. Sometimes, before we call those with lousier grades to come for interview, we already employed the ones with better grades.

That's life.

Just to add on.

Most of the time hiring managers already know who they want to hire just by looking at the resume. They just need to confirm whether he/she is a nice person or someone who is troublesome to work with through the interview. Of course, a handsome/pretty face helps a lot too. First impressions count and no one ever said that looks do not matter.

In fact sometimes the ones with lousier grades are called for interview because HR has already arranged an interview with them.