Reality Check

It's true that I have been neglecting this weblog for quite some time. To tell you the truth, things have been really hectic this few weeks back.

You might think that having three days of classes is fun and that I have a lot of time for myself (which is true in a way) but there were a lot of activities that were unintentionally being planned out one after another. Big mistake on our side, a lesson to learn. And having my hard disc and laptop breaking down on me isn't helpful either.

We're well into week seven and the mind is still on a holiday mood. Tidak sedar lagi, until we saw the calender today telling us that "Hey, do you know that you have TWO assignment presentations next week?!"

Enough of that for now, because if I were to write about that, it'll end up filling this whole post. :s

Back to topic: Reality check?

Been to two career fairs the last few weeks. One thing that we, as a third and final year (and semester) finally realised that grades as an accounting and finance student in university are so important that if you don't do well, you might as well start praying (literally what I'm doing now) for someone to hire you once you graduate.

Why?

This is essentially true if you're planning to apply into big corporations or MNCs where the Management Trainee Programme (MT) for fresh graduates is the "in" thing at this point of time. We have walked through booth after booth at the career fair, and what we got in respond is the preferred requirement for applicants is those with CGPA 3.4 and above.

No one really cares that we're all half dying / struggling studying in this course of ours due to the ever demanding course work, knowledge, and just everything. Everyone cares about the end result - the A+ that you'll receive in your result slip.

Found this picture, and realised that it's actually pretty scary. Reminds me of Chucky.

That was really a reality check to a lot of us, especially to those who does not have such grades in hand. There are some HR people who would give you a positive response like "Well, you can just send in your applications and we will put you on K.I.V.. But if your participation in extra curricular activities is good, it'll be a good leverage for you. We do consider that as part of our evaluation."

Or some other which I've encounter:

Them: "CGPA 3.4 is our first priority before we look into other areas."

Me: "Does that mean students who get below that cannot apply for the position?"

Them: "Which is why I'm telling you that we're looking for 3.4 and above."

pics on Sodahead

Only to have me argue with him that it doesn't mean that people with that sort of CGPA is good in everything else including social skills and personality. Tsk.

Yes, that's reality. At the end of the day, your grades are like a super important aspect of life to some / most employers especially if you're aiming to get into big corporations. Well, not only the grades but you have to be an individual who is diverse, all-rounder and basically good in everything.

Note: This is just for me to rant about the experience that I had upon asking the HRs of companies on the requirements that they're looking for in a fresh grad in accounting. That one encounter with one HR who told me that (as per conversation) made me think that if every companies are looking for such graduate, where would the others go?

Though, I would like to also highlight that there are certainly companies which would hire people with average grades (like me), you just have to search for them and tell them why should they hire you - prove it in other sense such as co-curricular activities and good interpersonal skills. After all, it's all down to how you market yourself once you are out there in the working world.

Reality can be cruel.