Will a 2.5 GPA in college seriously hamper my chances of getting a CS/IS/IT job?

[spidey07]

Past your first job you will never, ever be asked or put your GPA on your resume.

It's all about who you know - get started on that. Your GPA doesn't really matter. If you come across as somebody that can be worked with, even on your first job, that matters much more than GPA.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: Deeko

If it comes down to an interview, I'd hope the interviewer is capable of asking more relevant questions than "what was your GPA".

Also, OP, get an internship. Someone with a decent internship and a 2.5 will be by far a more productive than someone with no internship and a 3.5. Virtually every time.

You forget that in this job market, HR shifts through a stack of resumes just to narrow it down to who they are even going to interview.

Well, that's why I clarified "if it comes down to an interview"

I graduated June 2007 - and have gotten a new job twice since then. I just don't list my GPA. Yes - my past internship experience and practical experience (senior design project won all kinds of awards) probably separate my resume from the standard 2.5 GPA + worked the Gap, but still. Hasn't been a problem for me.

drexel representin'!

on my last year, doing bs/ms... god, i am so screwed.

 

[halik]

Depends what you mean by "IT" - tech support or QA is probably fine, but you will have trouble getting software engineering/development positions

 

[LW07]

I mainly want to deal with networks.

 

[cHeeZeFacTory]

it's all relative,

if you got that 2.5 at Cal Tech or MIT, then you'll easily get a job. If you got a 2.5 at the University of nowhere, might be a little harder to find a job. Some employers don't even check GPA.

 

[Fritzo]

It could be a deciding factor.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: LW07
I mainly want to deal with networks.

this can mean a lot of things find a way to get experience and see if you can narrow down what you want to focus on.

 

[SunnyD]

It won't help, that's for sure.

 

[tomt4535]

I got my associates degree with a 2.65 GPA or something around there and I am now working in IT doing server hardware/software support for a major telecom company. I started as an intern. If I wasn't an intern and just came off the street, I had no chance of landing a full time position there. Since I worked with them for 6 months, they knew me well, saw that my skills were good and I was a good worker. Someone may have been more qualified for my position on paper, but my boss liked me enough to give me the job instead. Even if I didn't get a job through them, just having the internship on my resume would have been extremely helpful. Get an internship or a low end desktop support job while you are in school. Either of those will help you tremendously when looking for a job later on.

 

[CountZero]

GPA only matters for the first job at most. How much it hurts you depends on when you graduate.

For instance 2007 was an awesome year to graduate, at least in EE and CS all that was required was a warm body and a degree. From all I've heard 2008 and 2009 have been brutal.

When I've sorted through resumes before doing even the first phone call I've looked for interesting experience first and GPA second. Experience trumps all, but lacking that I don't have the infinite amount of time available to interview everyone to find that brilliant person that sucks at taking tests. So I'll drop the low GPAs with no interesting experience.

So the bottom line is yes it will hurt you, maybe a little maybe a lot. You can mitigate it by having good experience.

As an aside you are a freshman, many many people get a rude awakening their very first quarter don't let it get you down just step up to the challenge and nail it. Also 3 hours is not studying to learn it is studying to pass, every decent teacher (especially one teaching a class like calc meant to weed folks out) writes their tests with questions that are designed for people that just studied to pass to get and other questions that require applying what you know for those that studied to learn. Don't just understand how to solve a particular problem learn why you solve it that way.

 

[dbk]

it will hamper you on any job

 

[rocadelpunk]

also, basic test taking 101/class prep.

You've now seen how your professor creates tests. Compare the problems on the test to the problems he went over in class and that were assigned. Notice the similarities and differences and you should be golden for the next one.

The professor gives you a syllabus of what he's going to be covering. Come prepared to lecture - i.e. preview/read the section the night before. Try problems on your own before the professor goes over it. When the prof lectures...that lecture should fill in any missing gaps, it shouldn't be the first time you're seeing the material. Do the assigned problems ASAP, while everything is still fresh in your memory.

When taking notes, if you have a question jot it down immediately somewhere.

office hours, office hours, office hours, office hours. Get to know your professors and good things will happen. Come prepared with questions. Even in a large beginning freshman class - you get to know your professor and come grade time if you are on the bubble and 'remind' the professor how much you tried (by coming in all the time) they'll more than likely bump your grade.


These simple tips will make your life significantly easier.

 

[rh71]

funny they only checked that I had a 4-year degree... it was a COM degree with MIS minor.