quick question about GPA on resume

[Deeko]

Just don't list it on a resume. GPA is NO indication of how smart, talented, or qualified a candidate is. It can show if they're a hard worker, but certainly not always.

I graduated with a 2.87. Yes, this is a legitimately bad GPA. I did not list my GPA on my resume. I received many job offers and ended up at the company ranked #2 in the nation to start your career at. It helps that I had 3 6-month internships and my senior design project won more honors than any other in school history. But still. Only one company even ASKED me what my GPA was (and they still hired me).

GPA is useless, and most of the working world knows this.

 

[Aikouka]

I wouldn't go as far as calling a GPA worthless. The thing is, the GPA defines how well a student performed at their college and what you don't know is... what type of performance is required to attain that grade at their college (i.e. how tough/challenging is it).

Also, as to the original question, "core GPA" and such sounds quite awkward... I believe I only listed my cumulative GPA (3.596) on my resume which is definitely lower than my major GPA (probably around a 3.9).

I can tell you one thing though... networking is much better than a GPA for getting a job . In other words, it helps to know people.

 

[slsmnaz]

Originally posted by: fritolays
If I listed it like this, would you find it to be confusing?

Core GPA: 3.4, Major GPA: 3.25


it seems like the recruiters think that the Core gpa is my OVERALL but it's not.
My overall is ~3.1 (rounded up) which I don't want to list on my resume since 3.2 is the preferred minimum for some of the positions I want to be considered for

So basically you want to start off the process by deceiving them? You don't have the qualifications they require for the job. WTF is core GPA anyways? Since others have asked the same question I think you should remove it.

 

[Mxylplyx]

Never heard of Core GPA. Get rid of it.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

I've seen people put 'Core GPA' instead of 'Cumulative GPA' three times in my career so far...I shredded all three resumes. Hell, I hate it when people put down 'Major GPA.'

 

[duragezic]

Your various GPAs are not too much different (a good thing IMO), but don't list more than two, probably just use your overall 3.1 as long the position is preferred that applicants have a 3.2+. How 'core' or 'major' is defined the school varies but I'd expect most employers just think of 'major' as the courses in your area of study.


I'm still in school for engineering so have no authority on this, but I do think find it very surprising that people here would toss out any resumes that have GPAs listed when they are from a person still in school or have just graduated. For internships, a good GPA is very very helpful.

I plan to list my GPA for the career fair in a couple of weeks. I have some previous experience and project work, but not a whole lot, which is similar to a lot of peers, so a good GPA listed might get me an interview over two similar candidates. Sure there is people, and one person I know comes right to mind, that have a ~3.0 or less but have an amazing amount of project work and internships. These people would definitely get an interview before me, and be more likely to be hired unless they blew it or I amazed them.

I've gotten As or ABs in quite a few classes where at the end I can honestly say I know nothing about whatever topic the name of the class is, but that is often just the instructor. OTOH, a big reason I have a good GPA is I work hard, and I do not turn things in half ass; they are turned in when they are perfect (outside of a handful of things I just ran out of time on). Last semester, I sometimes wondered why I was spending 6+ hours outside of a 3 hour lab to finish it, when each lab was only worth about 2% of my total grade, while I had exams or other stuff to do that would affect my grade 10x as much. Except most of those extra hours was me perfecting the code... like I could've been like 90% of the class and just kind accepted that it sort of worked but damn did I spend the time necessary and get it 100% working, every lab. It felt awesome to have it working perfectly and to know everything about it after spending that much time.

So a good GPA can show that you are motivated and hard work to see things through. If I were to tell such a story during an interview when asked about my strengths, and it is the honest truth that I just sort of have a principle that I do things to the best of my ability, I think that that is one attribute that would be very important in considering to hire me, given my experience is not that great.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: Deeko
Just don't list it on a resume. GPA is NO indication of how smart, talented, or qualified a candidate is. It can show if they're a hard worker, but certainly not always.

I graduated with a 2.87. Yes, this is a legitimately bad GPA. I did not list my GPA on my resume. I received many job offers and ended up at the company ranked #2 in the nation to start your career at. It helps that I had 3 6-month internships and my senior design project won more honors than any other in school history. But still. Only one company even ASKED me what my GPA was (and they still hired me).

GPA is useless, and most of the working world knows this.

got a copy of your senior design? that's pretty impressive.

and co-op FTW, baby!

 

[Deeko]

It depends on the situation.

When I'm asked why my GPA is low (generally by peers, not employers), the answer is pretty simple. I took 16+ credits a term, while working 30+ hours at a job where I was the lead developer on a large project, while working on a highly-touted senior project (senior year anyway), while playing for the school's volleyball team (and being the president of the team, for which I earned numerous student leader awards), while being an active member of my fraternity's executive council (my work there also earned awards from the national fraternity), while being an active member in the community.

In short, I was very busy, and worked very hard, and quite frankly I could have gotten better grades, but at the sacrifice to something else I was involved in. Considering I think GPA is a useless measure, I assumed my time was better spent elsewhere, and I still stand by that decision.

 

[JulesMaximus]

GPA is about as important in the real world as your shoe size.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
GPA is about as important in the real world as your shoe size.

You know what they say about people with large shoes .

 

[Fenixgoon]

eventually GPA is a useless waste of space, as experience >>>>>>>>> gpa

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Saint Michael

Originally posted by: sdifox
I automatically grade people down when they show GPA. It tells me they have no other redeeming values.

Damn, that is quite a glib analysis. How the hell does showing GPA detract from the rest of the resume? That is, if we turn it around... how does not showing GPA demonstrate that the person has other redeeming values?

It's personal experience rather than analysis. I have gone through literally thousands of CVs. Call me cynical. If you really want to show you got good grades, put in GPA available upon request. All GPA tells me is you can do school. Doesn't tell me if you can do work.

 

[AbAbber2k]

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
GPA is about as important in the real world as your shoe size.

You know what they say about people with large shoes .

Large feet...




...and trouble buying shoes that fit.

 

[Ryan]

You're not in school, you're applying for a job - GPA doesn't mean anything.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
GPA is about as important in the real world as your shoe size.

GPA is important for new graduates without a wealth of experience. If a recent graduate leaves his/her GPA off of his/her resume, I assume it's below the 3.0 standard cutoff and trash them. If he/she includes his/her GPA, I will look at the resume regardless of if it is below the 3.0 standard cutoff or not, as I know that GPA doesn't pain the entire picture.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: Ryan
You're not in school, you're applying for a job - GPA doesn't mean anything.

It does to 70% of employers looking to hire new graduates.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: Ryan
You're not in school, you're applying for a job - GPA doesn't mean anything.

It does to 70% of employers looking to hire new graduates.

I firmly disagree with you there.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: Ryan
You're not in school, you're applying for a job - GPA doesn't mean anything.

It does to 70% of employers looking to hire new graduates.

I firmly disagree with you there.

Cool. The NACE's 2005 Job Outlook Survey does not.

 

[Deeko]

I can go by some survey from 2 years ago that I've never heard of, or my own personal experience from 3 months ago. If you want me to qualify, then fine...."if you are graduating with a degree in computer science in the philadelphia region in 2007 with internships and project experience, smaller local companies and larger national companies alike won't care about your GPA, and won't even ask what it is if you don't list it. In fact, the few that do will still give you job offers".

Is that more accurate for you?

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: Deeko
I can go by some survey from 2 years ago that I've never heard of, or my own personal experience from 3 months ago. If you want me to qualify, then fine...."if you are graduating with a degree in computer science in the philadelphia region in 2007 with internships and project experience, smaller local companies and larger national companies alike won't care about your GPA, and won't even ask what it is if you don't list it. In fact, the few that do will still give you job offers".

Is that more accurate for you?

I love it when people say that they can go by personal experience. Do you really think your personal experience encompasses the vast majority of hiring managers the nation, or even a small percent? Does it even cover job areas outside of your own? This survey does. I'm sorry you haven't heard of it. I have, and so have most people in HR.

 

[Deeko]

So if I'm putting together a resume, and in my past experiences GPA hasn't mattered....tell me why I should include a GPA?

When top companies like Microsoft and Lockheed Martin didn't care about GPA...tell me again why I should include a GPA?

Its a simple fact. GPA doesn't matter.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: Deeko
I can go by some survey from 2 years ago that I've never heard of, or my own personal experience from 3 months ago. If you want me to qualify, then fine...."if you are graduating with a degree in computer science in the philadelphia region in 2007 with internships and project experience, smaller local companies and larger national companies alike won't care about your GPA, and won't even ask what it is if you don't list it. In fact, the few that do will still give you job offers".

Is that more accurate for you?

I love it when people say that they can go by personal experience. Do you really think your personal experience encompasses the vast majority of hiring managers the nation, or even a small percent? Does it even cover job areas outside of your own? This survey does. I'm sorry you haven't heard of it. I have, and so have most people in HR.

We control a C$40B portfolio and give out C$4B yearly to school boards. Ask me when is the last time we look at the GPA of anyone we hired.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: Deeko
So if I'm putting together a resume, and in my past experiences GPA hasn't mattered....tell me why I should include a GPA?

When top companies like Microsoft and Lockheed Martin didn't care about GPA...tell me again why I should include a GPA?

Its a simple fact. GPA doesn't matter.

I don't care if you do or not. I'm simplying saying its a good idea since the odds of coming across a company that prefers or requires it for new graduates is more likely than those that do not. Not too mention, when all else is equal, your GPA could give you a boost over another candidate.

It's a simple fact. GPA does matter to more hiring managers than not. Your view is factually inaccurate, and thus an opinion only. Once you show me that more hiring managers than not DO NOT care about GPA, then you can state your view as fact.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: Deeko
I can go by some survey from 2 years ago that I've never heard of, or my own personal experience from 3 months ago. If you want me to qualify, then fine...."if you are graduating with a degree in computer science in the philadelphia region in 2007 with internships and project experience, smaller local companies and larger national companies alike won't care about your GPA, and won't even ask what it is if you don't list it. In fact, the few that do will still give you job offers".

Is that more accurate for you?

I love it when people say that they can go by personal experience. Do you really think your personal experience encompasses the vast majority of hiring managers the nation, or even a small percent? Does it even cover job areas outside of your own? This survey does. I'm sorry you haven't heard of it. I have, and so have most people in HR.

We control a C$40B portfolio and give out C$4B yearly to school boards. Ask me when is the last time we look at the GPA of anyone we hired.

Anecdotal, thus irrelevant.

Edit: I can name 10 companies that have a required GPA for new hires. I can name 10 companies that prefer a listed GPA for new hires. And, I can name 10 companies that do not require GPA at all. The point is, in the end, more companies require/prefer than do not.

 

[Deeko]

Everything that's real-world and not a part of your study is irrelevant. That's amusing. There's no point in arguing with you. If a hiring manager in Arizona looking for fashion design majors cares about GPA, and thus it affects your survey, I don't really care. I got a good job right out of college without it, so I stand by my opinion.

And whether the hiring manager looks at it or not, GPA is a very poor tool for judging talent, so those "70%" are only hurting themselves. Oh well.