How do explain graduating in December?

How do explain graduating in December?

I graduated a semester late because I transfered schools/majors, and not sure how I should go about this in an interview process. I don't really even want to bring up the transfer because it brings on a whole new set of questions on. I don't imagine(fingers crossed) the company will ask for a transcript, firm is an IB boutique, so I think I can get around it if my story is good enough.

When I do the whole "walk me through your resume" , respond with I graduated in December in Finance with a 3.7GPA, and try not to bring attention to graduating late. If they do ask why, I just want to be ready with some clever response, like "my original major was English and I decided I wanted to take a different direction with my career after speaking with friends involved in IB..." Do employers usually ask about this? Or is it "somewhat common" that they don't really ask ?

10 Comments
 

I graduated in December also, however it was a semester early. The only question that I ever got regarding my graduation date was "so you're graduating in december, but this doesnt start until july...is that a problem?" or something along those lines. Basically a complete afterthought and was never asked directly if I graduated early or late. Normally I would bring it up when i would walk through my resume, trying to say something like "saving tuition, etc." but if you just gloss it, it should really never be an issue.

Even if it came up, I cant imagine that they would look on your transferring and graduating late as negatively. Just tell them what happened and move on. Elaborating might be the worst way to go about it. Just say you transferred and lost credits.

 

answer honestly. you will be fine. people generally will understand transferring majors (once) and needing an extra semester to finish up all your requirements - especially if you transfer later in your "4 years"

 

if graduating in dec, which would be more advisable: to look for FT offers the prior Fall year and start next jan or intern during last summer and go through fall recruiting in your extra (and final) Fall semester and start in summer? im guessing if you need more intern exp the later would be better? problem with the first is i'm seeing is a lot of firms group dec11 grads with may12 ones --- so they arent recruiting for FT until next fall

also is interning during winter break (2-3 weeks) possible/worth it? or focus on summer

 
kmzzif graduating in dec, which would be more advisable: to look for FT offers the prior Fall year and start next jan or intern during last summer and go through fall recruiting in your extra (and final) Fall semester and start in summer? im guessing if you need more intern exp the later would be better? problem with the first is i'm seeing is a lot of firms group dec11 grads with may12 ones --- so they arent recruiting for FT until next fall

also is interning during winter break (2-3 weeks) possible/worth it? or focus on summer

I haven't even heard of any places that let you start in january unless it was some rotational program like GE's fmp for example they hire jan and july classes. The only way I can see a January start date for most IB is gonna be through your own work- havent seen anyone recruiting for jan starts.

 
FreeWeezyI haven't even heard of any places that let you start in january unless it was some rotational program like GE's fmp for example they hire jan and july classes. The only way I can see a January start date for most IB is gonna be through your own work- havent seen anyone recruiting for jan starts.
Thanks. Only problem I see with doing Fall recruiting in the last semester is that if it goes past December (which pretty much all will, if not start after Dec), I will essentially be recruiting as someone who has already graduated. Hopefully they understand?
 

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