I'm terrible at exams so don't have great grades but I enjoy what I do and want to continue doing more research. My PhD was a disaster so to speak as I had so many problems but I survived which is no mean feat. But at the end of the day I seem to be held back by my mediocre grades which I do not like to mention. What really annoys me is that some places want your school grades as if they matter! Surely you are not the same person as you as you were when you were at school or even undergrad so why should they take them into account? Is it not enough I survived my PhD almost intact and not running away screaming as many have told me have quit if they were in my position? But as I don't have a spectacular academic record is this going to be held against me?
Does anyone else have a similar experience and what did they do to overcome it?
We have different grading systems. I'm not in the UK. But I understand what you mean. Having the PhD should be sufficient to prove your ability to do research as you apply for an academic job. It's sad that undergrad grades come back to haunt you (and others in the same boat). It's almost like these institutions demand you live an impeccable life, right from the day you were born. At our 20s, when we were doing our undergrad degrees, we were not thinking "son of a gun, i need to get straight A's so I can get into the PhD later." Nobody does that...or very few people are so clear and so sure as to what they would do in the future, and do exactly as they envisioned. The employers should know better. You should be evaluated based on your phd and other relevant qualities like ability to handle pressure, to get along with co-workers, etc...Undergrad grades are irrelevant. I'm willing to bet some of the employers came to have their jobs in some accidental way, or in some way that adjusts to their circumstances in life given a point in time.
Of course they need some criteria to judge the applicants, but these criteria must be realistic and relavant. I hope you get that job. And maybe you shouldn't worry too much. Maybe they ask for your undergrad grades, but it wouldn't have such a big weight on their decisions, red tape and all that. Maybe you can phone them and ask how relevant undergrad grades are and explain just what you said here? They'll be able to see your point, it's not hard to understand. Goodluck!
