Can you land a graduate role with a 2:2?

Your result matters, but probably not as much as you think it does.

Employers are increasingly looking for more than just a grade. They want evidence that you can communicate, solve problems, work with others, adapt and bring value. If you can demonstrate those skills through your experiences, you'll often have much more to talk about than simply the classification printed on your transcript.

I know this because I graduated with a 2:2.

Yes, I spent around £67,000 to earn a degree that, academically speaking, I performed pretty average in. The way I've always described it is like paying for a meal cooked by Gordon Ramsay and then not enjoying it.

It's frustrating.

But once you've paid for it and completed it, at least you can say you did it.

More importantly, once your results are out, there's very little you can do to change them.

Spending weeks replaying every assignment, every exam and every decision you made won't alter the final outcome. That energy is far better spent focusing on what comes next.

That's exactly what I chose to do.

Rather than obsessing over getting a first-class degree, I spent my time building things that I hoped would create opportunities after university. The first was starting a business with my brother. A year after graduating, that company generates an income that exceeds what many graduate schemes would pay. Building a business taught me skills that no exam ever could, from sales and marketing to communication, problem-solving and resilience.

The second was building my LinkedIn presence.

I started from scratch and grew my page to over 15,000 followers. That visibility helped me secure a full-time role six months before I graduated, meaning my career wasn't dependent on the classification I eventually received.

The third was building my own network.

When I arrived at university, I didn't know anyone. I had no professional contacts, no family connections in business and no existing network to rely on. Everything I have today has been built through conversations, relationships and consistently putting myself out there.

Looking back, those three decisions have probably had a greater impact on my career than my degree classification ever has.They've given me options. They've allowed me to work on projects I enjoy, create opportunities for myself and build a career on my own terms rather than waiting for someone else to decide whether I was good enough.

That's why I think it's important to challenge some of the stereotypes around degree classifications.

A 2:2 doesn't automatically limit your future.

What often limits people is believing the stereotype that comes with it.

If you convince yourself that employers won't hire you, stop applying for opportunities or never invest in developing your skills outside of university, then the classification becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The sooner you realise that your degree is only one part of your professional story, the sooner you can start writing the rest of it. Of course, if you can build experience, develop practical skills and graduate with a first-class degree, that's fantastic. It gives you every possible advantage and is something to be proud of.

But if you've prioritised gaining work experience, building a network, starting a business or developing practical skills instead of chasing every extra percentage in an assignment, don't be too hard on yourself. Your degree classification is one chapter of your career. It isn't the entire book. And when you graduate, your lecturer can't pay your rent.

Your skills, experience and ability to create opportunities for yourself are what will ultimately shape your career.