I am a mature graduate (30) and I have 8 years work experience in a both the public and private sector. I would like to enter management consultancy. Am I too old? Will my 2.2 degree from a red brick univerisity withstand the online sift of applications?

You may or may not be too old for the grad schemes. I went for interviews at 27 and although it techically doesn't matter, I did feel disadvantaged. It was harder to justify why I was now wanting to do consulting, compared to grads agaed 22 just finishing their managements and economics degrees. However, this is irrelevant. The fact that you have a 2.2 means that your application will automatically be rejected, unless you have some pretty water-tight excuse and you were on track for a 2.1 or 1st otherwise. The website applications often exlcude 2.2s automatically, without a human being even looking at the form.

Thanks for the advise, UU. It's a shame that applicants with a 2.2 will be rejected without anyone looking at the application as a whole. I had some issues through out my degree and it affected my final grade (graduated in 2006). Yet I have solid work experience and skills that I believe would be an asset to such companies. I am still exploring other entry-routes into this type of career beyond the graduate sceheme. I would welcome any suggestions of how I can do this.

Papillon,I understand your frustration for being automatically rejected for your 2:2 but you also have to consider that 1000s of applications are sometimes received by some firms for a handful of places. The cost of going through them all is high and an initial 'filter' can be useful. 2 Options i reckon:1) Some industry grad schemes require lower grades, you start there - you move across into MC 2/3 years down the line2) apply to small/medium outfits that are more 'personal' and require a CV and cover letter - but you will have to demonstrate that you have the "work experience and skills that would be an asset to such companies" - which you claim.On this last point - only based on the information you have given - I would expect a recruiter to challenge you as to why: a) If you have 8 years of solid work background you're applying for a grad scheme and not for a more experienced position. b) Your job was good and you built up skills and experience but you left it to do an undergrad.All in all, the first option might be betterHope that helps!