How important are MSc grades to get a job?

Hi everyone,

A quick question, according to your experience, how relevant are the MSc grades to find a job? Is getting a merit, distinction, etc increase your chances of landing a job? Or the employers don't look at Master's grades that much?

33 Comments
 

In my case, very important. HR told me a very long time after I got hired for my first gig that my grades got me in. Not the school or the degree itself. The employment market I applied for had other degrees that were more prominent (and more popular with employers) than my MSc Fin and my grades got me through as a "different" candidate for IBD.

 

My good sir, CASS is a pretty strong semi-target so you're safe there. Clearly a Distinction is better than a Merit but if you can back up your ~64% with good experience you should be ok. As for what to put on the CV, put the percentage and most people will know that for the rest of the UK that's a Merit - CASS just seems to be unnecessarily anal about degree nomenclature.

 

I am aiming at entry-level jobs, preferably on buy-side. Nothing elite, an internship at an asset manager will be enough for now. For me this MSc is a career change degree and this is why I am worried that the HR would look at this like "this guy is not that fit for this after all".. About MBA and further academics I highly doubt I would do something like that in the next 10 years at least. I want to work now, enough of studying.

 

Do you have a Grad GPA yet? I'd imagine it'd still be high right? Use both. If not, just use your undergrad.

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there" - Will Rogers
 

since you actually haven't been "issued" those grades yet, I'd argue you don't really need to disclose your master's GPA or you could put in a "projected GPA" based on what your grades are now. What does the career center say?

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there" - Will Rogers
 

You include your UG GPA until you have a masters GPA. 3.7 is very good. If your masters is above a 3.3 you should be fine. Even at the 3.0 mark you probably won't have too much of an issue.

 

I have heard that some business schools actually discourage their MBA students from indicating their MBA GPA on their resume. Is there any truth to these rumors? Thanks in advance.

 

The grade non-disclosure has actually received a lot of attention in recent years. Some MBA programs do not disclose grades, others do. It is really on a program by program basis.

~~~~~~~~~~~ CompBanker

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

Qui magni ipsa soluta amet quidem et vel ea. Velit voluptatibus voluptatibus est nam modi nesciunt ipsam odio. Et nemo veniam ut deserunt. Culpa ipsum corporis quia voluptatum atque et et repudiandae. Neque id sit harum laboriosam sint aut dolorum. Aut omnis assumenda inventore quo et harum est. Inventore suscipit corrupti labore nostrum.

Maiores ab et voluptatem iste voluptatem. Possimus reiciendis quia accusamus et soluta debitis. Qui assumenda voluptate quas non. Hic velit cupiditate impedit velit est quas. Perspiciatis quod quis velit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 03 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”