Degree grades, do they matter?

Yesterday I got my results back for my degree and was over the moon with my 2:1. It got me thinking though about the importance of degrees compared to experience or even a good portfolio..

I'm just intruiged really to see from others opinions if degrees matter? do the numbers matter?

Personally I've never been asked at interviews about my degree, and as I've been freelancing while being a student, I've still managed to get clients without needing a degree (however the knowledge form the course has definitely been helpful)

What's other peoples views / experience?

I got a thrilling score draw (not that exciting actually) for my degree (International Mgt and German at Umist) while everyone else on the course got a first or 2.1 

how important has it been - not at all - its what you do in the real world that counts IMO

Yeah, I'd have assumed that a degree is just to get you into you're first job ? as then you have experience and thats much more valuable?

Qualifications can be important to get you the next step, but then they become irrelevant.  If you've got a degree, nobody cares about your GCSEs anymore...but when looking to do A-levels, possibly trying to get a job at age 16, GCSEs can be vital.

I do think qualifications are far more important in the employed world than the self employed world.  I don't think many of my clients care too much about my accounting/tax qualifications, let alone my degree/previous...however, if I wanted to get an employed role in accountancy, the qualifications suddenly become vital again, as it's an easy way for employers to measure you and weed out possibly unsuitable people before the interview process.

If you were looking for a plum job with a big corporate, a 2:1 will give you a much better chance of getting the job over a 2:2, all other things being equal...but after that first job, I agree, it becomes less and less relevant.

Firstly CONGRATULATIONS Matthew!!!

Secondly, mine was only important when I got my first job, its completely worthless now and I got a first!

Once you have that first foot on the employment ladder experience takes over.

Thanks Karen! I was chuffed!

I was gearing myself up for a 2:2 as its been a difficult year. But glad that I got there in the end, Hopefully it'll help my job finding efforts! 

Thanks for the reply guys, I was getting a similar feel as to what you've all said, but its good to hear it from someone with the experience and knowledge.

For the people that have their own business or work freelance, have you ever found a client asking about your qualifications? does it help with their peace of mind?

Congratulations!

It might help your CV get sifted into the right pile when applying for a first job and therefore get you a greater chance of an interview - that's about it though. With later jobs, previous experience takes over. At all stages (certainly once you're in an interview) portfolio and attitude take priority. Clients are going to be more bothered about portfolio, recommendations, and whether they feel they can work with you. 

I was never asked to produce certificates so clearly potential employers were never that concerned about me even proving that I had a degree, let alone what grade I got. A few weeks ago one potential client was impressed that I had a professional qualification after it happened to come up in conversation - I think it was more the reassurance that I have the appropriate level of expertise rather than just acting as a sales person who then farms the work out to freelancers.

All the best people get a 2:1, Matthew!

Unless it's very much a vocational degree, the subject is not really relevant for the most part. It does show that you are capable of serious study and can produce results. A dgeree nowadays is probably only really necessary for the corporate world (I'm generalising quite a bit).

I stayed in academia for 25 years and am now enjoying network marketing - for which I don't need a GCSE, let alone a degree.

When we were recruiting for juniors in my last job I played a part in sifting through the applications and interviewing the candidates. We got a lot of applicants so you had to filter them somehow - the ones without professional qualifications were largely discarded, but that was mainly because they fell down in other areas. The ones who got interviews included a printout of a selection of their portfolio with their application letter (it's a while ago - emailed pdfs or a weblink would be more common now I suspect). It was the standard of that work and whether they had written a decent application letter that got them in front of us. If they couldn't spell or the letter and/or work didn't impress it was discarded (not so much a point of principle, but more from the point of view that if they couldn't give a job application the required attention to detail, there wouldn't be much hope when it came to producing client work). 

^this

Congrats - if you're continuing in the creative sector they're completely irrelevant in my opinion (and experience) because unlike many other industries you have the ability to give a direct demonstration of your ability through your portfolio.  I've never once asked for not cared about whether a freelancer even went to college let along uni, and I've never had it asked of me.  

In fact when it comes to the technical side of website design I'd be less inclined to go with someone who learned through uni because the industry moves so fast whatever you were taught in year 1 is undoubtedly already out of date.  That said I'm self taught since age 14, so have a particular bias and soft spot towards others who went down the same road.

Ability over academia every single time

Congratulations, Matthew, you're right to be chuffed.

I agree with the other comments here to the effect that it's the results you produce and whether they are percieved to be worth paying for that really matter. But I wouldn't want to give the idea your degree achievement won't count for much...it's just that the benefit you will get from it in building your business life will tend to be not so much in direct ways, but more indirectly and less visibly over time. A bit like solid foundations being pretty important, but rarely seen or thought of.

You won't get a job (and certainly not a client) just because you've got a good relevant degree. It will be because of the whole person people see you to be. (....Including before you get in front of them, as Dave's selection process shows...I'm sure it's widely followed.)  Your fabby degree is part of the evidence of that (knowledge and skills learned from it and aptitude to see it through, etc) and looms larger at the earlier stages of your career, whilst there's less of the evidence for others to go on. So it will improve your chances, but you'll still need to come across as someone who can understand how to convert what you've got into something that meets the prospective employer or client's needs - meaning they feel you can understand thier "stuff" not just your stuff. As you build your track-record - both your reputation and portfolio will count for more and more.

Good luck with whatever comes next!