Academic record for job interview

[Nerfherder]

Have you ever been required to submit your academic record for a job interview ?

I'm applying for one now where they want my high school and university academic records (apparently they have a minimum requirement)
Everyone always used to say that unless you got all A's no one really wants to know.

Issue for me is that I cruised through matric, worked hard at the end but like a university I struggled with exams.
I have always been better at practical things so working in the real world has not been a problem. Sitting exams has always been a problem... took me 6 years at university to work around that.

This could be a nice job but geez... if they want my academic record then what do they see me doing there ? professional rest writer ?
I watched a lot of people in my class graduate with some nice marks that couldn't really code and didn't have insight in to any of the technologies. Is this the candidate they are looking for ?
This is an investment company so I think in terms of their other positions academics are relevant.... but I feel like IT is not always reliant on academics.

 

[Vinia]

Never been asked for the academic records for a job interview, only the original diplomas or certified copies thereof.

The only time I needed to submit my academic record was when I was applying for my Masters, and the university requested my undergrad results. It is relevant in that case.

If you really want to get the job you're going to have to comply with the documentation they require. No use questioning why they want it.

 

[stixx]

I have been in the same situation as you with regards to marks at school and university.

Companies generally ask for marks to use as an indicator to your commitment and capability of working hard. Some companies also use marks as a requirement for employment (many consulting companies and investment companies do this, they want the 'best'. I think McKinsey does this). Marks however are not the end all and be all in these cases. If you have a strong CV with a lot of experience in the field they are looking for, they will consider you and possibly call you in for an interview. However you should structure your CV in a way as to show your practical capabilities as a developer and try to put less emphasis on your marks.

If they have a minimum requirement in terms of marks, they probably will only break that rule if they can see in your CV that you are the type of candidate they are looking for. In the end, put your application forward, it doesn't hurt to try

EDIT: Sometimes the company will not get any candidates that meet their academic requirements, they will usually go for the best that they can get. There are a lot of permutations but again, it doesn't hurt to apply and see what happens.

 

[Colin62]

Might just be a lazy way of checking that you actually have the degree - some guys might fake a degree but they'd probably not bother faking the academic record.

 

[CamiKaze]

The only company that I know of that wants your academic transcripts is OpenBox.
They basically want to see if you have been a star performer since birth...

 

[Nerfherder]

I have been in the same situation as you with regards to marks at school and university.

Companies generally ask for marks to use as an indicator to your commitment and capability of working hard. Some companies also use marks as a requirement for employment (many consulting companies and investment companies do this, they want the 'best'. I think McKinsey does this). Marks however are not the end all and be all in these cases. If you have a strong CV with a lot of experience in the field they are looking for, they will consider you and possibly call you in for an interview. However you should structure your CV in a way as to show your practical capabilities as a developer and try to put less emphasis on your marks.

If they have a minimum requirement in terms of marks, they probably will only break that rule if they can see in your CV that you are the type of candidate they are looking for. In the end, put your application forward, it doesn't hurt to try

EDIT: Sometimes the company will not get any candidates that meet their academic requirements, they will usually go for the best that they can get. There are a lot of permutations but again, it doesn't hurt to apply and see what happens.

This is also a financial company. I think it does make sense in that case.... but mostly for their numbers and business guys though.

I mailed the recruiter back and she wasn't too worried. The post has been vacant for a while... its just part of their policy to look at these results for their bean counters.

 

[Nerfherder]

The only company that I know of that wants your academic transcripts is OpenBox.
They basically want to see if you have been a star performer since birth...

I wonder how effective that is.

I mean, I studied with a lot of people who were very academic but they would never be able to code in the real world.
They just didn't get it.

 

[CamiKaze]

I wonder how effective that is.

I mean, I studied with a lot of people who were very academic but they would never be able to code in the real world.
They just didn't get it.

If we talking about degrees then I don't think that Computer Science graduates are properly placed as programmers.

I also wonder how the work place will be if everyone was a star performer.

 

[^^vampire^^]

I could maybe understand if you're fresh out of varsity but after a year or more I don't think your transcript details have much bearing; nothing a simple test couldn't illustrate with greater detail.

 

[patrick]

I had to do that straight after varsity when I applied for an Anderson consulting job. My records were average so I never got the job. I'm willing to bet they'd take me in a heartbeat now though...

 

[ice_cubes]

They want to be sure you didn't fake your degree

 

[Garson007]

What really grinds me gears is when they all use the same psychometric testing, irrespective of how experienced you are. Ten years experience? Nope still go to do that SHL **** anyone with half a brain could get dumps for.

 

[biena]

What really grinds me gears is when they all use the same psychometric testing, irrespective of how experienced you are. Ten years experience? Nope still go to do that SHL **** anyone with half a brain could get dumps for.

Simple reason for putting everyone through the same test. Nobody can then cry discrimination.