27 November 2008 Law Ain’t Stopping Me
I should preface this by saying I’ve never been an outstanding university student. My results usually range from average to okay, occasionally I’ll manage a decent mark if it’s something I’m interested in (here’s hoping for an HD in Electronic Marketing!).
Anywho, I got my results for this semester. Failed a law subject.
I think most other students would be a little concerned about this. It’s a permanent black mark on my Academic Transcript. Yet I am not nearly as worried as I suppose I should be.
When I threw out my resume, I threw out my Academic Transcript too. Anyone who asks to see it I think is asking the wrong questions. And even then, I think I’m better off focusing on other non curricular activities like this blog.
But it doesn’t really matter what I think. Potential employers could be reading this blog, so why not tell me, have I hurt my employability? Have I made it even worse by admitting in this public space?
Daniel Oyston
Posted at November 28, 2008 7:46am, 28 NovemberIf my experience is anything to go by then you have zero to worry about. I actually got kicked out of uni at the end of my first year (a story for over a beer) and I am quite open and honest about it.
At the time I was so embarrassed I actually hid it from my family and spent the start of the first semester the following year pretending I was still at uni until I had to come clean.
It was a while ago now but I have reflected on it and learnt from my mistakes. It also drove me to return and do better and I think that experience has helped me get to where I am today.
Most employer’s won’t even ask to see your actual degree or any official documentation let alone your transcript. I recon most employers would prefer to hire someone who has learnt some mistakes and has some personality and practical experience rather than someone who concentrated on getting HD’s … well in the marketing sphere anyway.
Your Law fail is such an insignificant blip it isn’t worrying about … hindsight is a wonderful thing, especially when you gamble, and you will look back on this in 10 years time and wonder what you fussed about.
Matt Granfield
Posted at November 28, 2008 9:34am, 28 NovemberIt’s a good question Zac. I failed a subject at uni too (a film one), only because I didn’t give a skid mark about it and didn’t do any work – other than than my GPA was pretty high. Failing a law subject ain’t so bad, but it does raise an eyebrow. Keeping a blog is one thing, it shows you’re smart and have some nous, which counts for a hell of a lot, but an employer, like myself, is going to want to know that you’re a committed, dedicated employee. When you’re going for your first real proper marketing job a uni record that isn’t above average and includes a fail is going to raise question marks about your attitude when you have to do something you don’t neccessarily want to be doing. I’d be trying to get a few HDs in some relevant subjects to counteract the fail. But that’s just me!
classymarketing
Posted at November 28, 2008 9:39am, 28 NovemberI don’t think grades should matter – yes it is important not to be a complete idiot, but as long as you can demonstrate that you are switched on and that you know what you are talking about, I don’t think a silly university grade should affect your employability – especially when the uni education system is outdated anyway.
PS Have you done the Electronic Marketing subject yet? I missed out on it cause my uni phased it out
Lincoln
Posted at November 28, 2008 10:19am, 28 Novembermate, dont worry. I failed law once, economics once and accounting twice (surf was good hahah) just as long asyou stay passionate with what your focused on, the results will come..
looks like your doing a good job mate, keep it up.
I look forward to reading more posts.
Lincoln
Morgan Coudray
Posted at November 28, 2008 12:06pm, 28 NovemberZac, you’re exactly like me. I’m just cruising threw uni with average marks because I have much more to learn outside the classroom. Remember that what the marketing world will look for is passion and experience (and knowledge) when hiring you and guess what, you got all of that and it shows through your blog!
What’s a good mark worth if you can’t sell yourself!?
Daniel Oyston
Posted at November 28, 2008 1:33pm, 28 NovemberWonder how many of the Law students are passing the Marketing unit 😉
Zac Martin
Posted at November 28, 2008 2:38pm, 28 November@ Daniel
A beer soon sounds good.
@ Matt
My marketing subject results are substantially better than everything else but I must admit I’m thinking more along the lines with classymarketing.
@ classymarketing
Electronic Marketing is being reintroduced here at Monash Caulfield next year, headed up by the almighty Peter Wagstaff, should be interesting!
@ Lincoln and Morgan
These comments make me happy!
Love the discussion everyone, keep it up!
Anonymous
Posted at November 28, 2008 6:54pm, 28 NovemberIf you have truly thrown out your resume, how exactly will you be applying for positions post university?
Even though you may feel that whole process is out dated, i’m certain that most HR workers value the information.
Are you lacking experience/content to put on a resume?
Zac Martin
Posted at November 28, 2008 7:09pm, 28 November@ Anonymous
Honestly, I plan to have positions lined up long before I graduate. With the area I’m looking to go into I don’t think a resume is necessary, and if someone asks for one, I link them to this blog. If they need more information than that, they can interview me.
Sounds a bit arrogant, but I don’t know if I even want to work for someone who asks for a resume…
Renee Creer
Posted at November 28, 2008 7:45pm, 28 NovemberI love a fail; failing is character building + you’re not studying to be a lawyer right? Get good marks in Marketing and do your best not to fail anything else.
No one has ever asked me for my uni transcript (I’m in PR). In other industries or for positions in, for example, big blue chip companies, they probably will. When and if someone looks at your transcript they’ll see a person who clearly wasn’t meant to be a lawyer. And when they see all the other great (or even average) marks you have and that you’re using your brains and initiative via this blog they’ll be impressed.
When I went for my current job my uni degree didn’t get me over the line; it was the fact that I had organised a mobile phone photography exhibition and generated a bunch of publicity off my own back that impressed them. You’re doing the same thing with this blog – demonstrating your abilities, showing you are smart, switched on, dedicated and interested.
I get the feeling that you won’t need to apply for jobs anyway because someone will snap you up before you know it!
Zac Martin
Posted at November 28, 2008 10:47pm, 28 November@ Renee
Comments like that are the reason I don’t mind staying home on a Friday night reading and writing blog posts.
I’m just waiting for the right opportunity to come along! ;]
Josh Strawczynski
Posted at December 1, 2008 9:37am, 01 DecemberI have been in the position of hiring young marketers over the last couple of years and grades or the university you went to are just not that important. Initiative is the unparalleled king!
Rick Clarke
Posted at December 1, 2008 11:58pm, 01 DecemberZac, my friends doing law tell me that Corporations Law is the hardest unit the the Law degree. They even go so far as leaving it till the last semester of their degree so that it doesn’t show up on their transcript when they’re applying for grad positions before graduating! And yes, I failed it too. A once-off fail on your whole transcript is not going to be a big deal at all for most employers. But I wouldn’t make a habit of it! Yes, you have a lot to learn outside of uni, but inside of uni, you can prove that you’re disciplined, hard-working, intelligent, above-average, and so on. Sure you have a blog. But what if you had a blog *and* great marks? Companies like Google won’t even consider you unless you meet basic requirements, they get too many applications to look at them all individually (of course, you probably aren’t applying for a massive corporation like that). Personally, I don’t think having a blog wouldn’t be enough for me to hire someone if they didn’t perform well at uni as well.
“I plan to have positions lined up long before I graduate.” – A great plan, but things don’t always go according to plan, unfortunately 🙁
Ben
Posted at December 2, 2008 3:57pm, 02 DecemberDon’t worry – i failed financial modelling at monash 3 times, failed intl marketing … no biggie, I turned out okay and work in an area that I enjoy.
Kate Richardson
Posted at December 5, 2008 9:41pm, 05 DecemberSounds like you don’t need a resume cos there’s not much to put on it 😉
Zac Martin
Posted at December 6, 2008 5:14pm, 06 December@ Josh
Woot woot.
@ Rick
Stop thinking like a Gen X! But you’re right, I’m not aiming to work for a company.
@ Ben
You turned okay, looks like I’ll be fine! ;]
@ Kate
Ouch, that almost feels like an insult Kate! =P
Kate Richardson
Posted at December 8, 2008 4:08pm, 08 DecemberOoh sorry,
I didn’t mean to tarnish your not inconsiderable achievements!
I couldn’t resist a little joke aimed squarely at student status.
Resume smesume.
k
Zac Martin
Posted at December 8, 2008 4:48pm, 08 DecemberHahahahaha, no worries!