Job Discussion Forums

[McGarnagle]

How important are your grades in the job application process, especially if you have multiple qualifications?

My undergraduate transcript is all over the place, with a few Fs and low marks here and there. However, if you look only at my major (linguistics), the marks aren't that bad and manages to give me a decent average.

I started a MA TESOL this year and said to myself that I'd get the best possible marks and not let myself make the same mistakes I made during undergrad (which was basically just being lazy and handing in assignments late or not at all). The idea was to come out of this with such a dazzling transcript that employers wouldn't even take into account the unimpressive undergrad transcript.

BUT, I screwed up an assignment worth 50% so I freaked out and decided to withdraw from the unit so that I wouldn't start out with a black mark on my transcript. Or is the 'withdrawn' on a transcript a black mark in itself?

Just note, I'm talking about employers in Europe and the Middle East. I haven't found anything that explicitly states anything about a transcript, but I just assumed that they look at these sorts of things in the Middle East since they all require a MA TESOL.

[suphanburi]

In my experience, mostly in Asia, you'll find that most employers want a copy of your transcript as a visa requirement.

Mostly, unless you are going into upper academia, they don't care about the grades - just that you meet the requirements for a visa and/or work (or other) permits set out by immigration or other relevant authorities.

.

[nomad soul]

For the Mid East, generally a transcript is required to verify the date the (highest, relevant) degree was conferred. Depending on the country, other documents regarding academic credentials may also be required for attestation/authentication as part of the visa process. As such, the employer may only see a photocopy of the diploma but not the transcript.

Be aware that both Saudi Arabia and Qatar currently do not accept degrees that were completed via online study.

By the way, most professors allow for a do-over on botched-up assignments, so it never hurts to ask.