Ask the Experts: How to Tell Employers About a Low Grade Point Average (GPA)
Question:
I am about to graduate with a grade point average below a “C.” What do I tell employers are about my grade point average?
First Answer:
You have to tell employers the truth when asked about your GPA. Hopefully you have a good excuse, like you worked 40 hrs/week to put yourself thru college. If you don’t have a good excuse, tell them how you could develop new skills that would help bring your GPA to a higher level.
— Troy Behrens, JOBGOD.NET.
Second Answer:
Not much you can change here. You won’t win many interviews by stating 2.0/4.0 GPA. So leave it off your resume.
As to talking about it to your interviewer, do not lie but paint the best picture you are able. You have implied in your question that the low C is a problem; this is your judgment and may not be the judgment of your interviewer. In point of fact a C is considered “average” and places you in the middle of the population of students. This is not a “bad” place to be.
Perhaps you did bomb out in your first year or two and that has pulled down your average. Talk about your average for the last two years and discuss your greater maturity and recognition of the value of an education as indicated by this improvement.
If you have a consistent “low C” level, is there a reasonable way to explain what you feel is less than your best effort. Give this some thought and do a bit of self-examination. The fact you recognize you may have been able to do better is a step in the right direction and an indicator you are putting a less than admirable past behind you.
Focus on your strengths, are there classes you did measurably better in that you can use to demonstrate your strengths and abilities. Build your “house” with these bricks at your base. This too will take some introspection and belly-button examination work. By doing this work you will learn some things you may not have realized about yourself and can add these to your house of bricks as well.
— Robert C. Resch, Career Center, Triton College.
Third Answer:
First, grades are not everything! Look as some of the most successful people in the World – one that come to mind in Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft. Grades are less important to many companies than you may think. Employers often prefer a well-rounded person who has the ability to handle multiple tasks at once to one who has narrowly focused on school alone. Don’t get me wrong – school is important.
If grades are not your strong point then results are. You shouldn’t lie about your grades, but you shouldn’t emphasize them either! If asked, then after you have answered the question factually move right on to your eagerness for the position, your interest in the company, and that you really look forward to working outside a classroom setting.
Go into the interview with the right attitude, positive, and enthusiastic. Never volunteer information. Short answers – no explanation! Just sell YOURSELF to the employer in the interview! That’s what gets the job anyway. Make sure you know a lot of information about the company you are interviewing with and bring up specific information in the interview – this impresses the interviewer.
But in today’s tougher job market, with thousands of applicants trying for the same single position, the key to your success will come down to the most obvious, your employment presentation. You should invest in having a professional prepare your resume to get more interviews and better job offers.
— Candace Davies, Director and Founder of Cando Career Coaching and Resume Writing and All Trades Resume Writing.
Fourth Answer:
If the subject does come up, be honest. Sometimes you might think the truth hurts. But not telling the truth in a job interview will hurt more.
You don’t tell your prospective employers about your grade point average unless you absolutely have to. In many cases it is not relevant to the new job you pursue. It’s nice to be able to point toward academic accomplishments in a resume but for most employers they really don’t do much. The point of your education is that you have your degree and THAT is relevant to anyone who might want to hire you.
Some job seekers actively promote their grade point average on their resume. In many cases, I consider this to be fluff — especially in older job seekers with years of working experience behind them. They highlight the GPA to bolster their image as a winner. And in many cases it makes the job candidate appear self-serving and not directed to the needs of the hiring company.
If you anticipate uncomfortable problems with inquiries concerning your GPA, be prepared to go on the offensive. Have references of professors or counselors from your school who will vouch for your character. Be prepared to talk about major projects in your schooling, internships or other relevant and practical experience that will demonstrate more specifically your talents, abilities and ambition. Besides, how well you handle this question may be of more value to an propspective employer than the stamp of a number on a piece of paper.
— Jeff Westover, Writer based in Salt Lake City, Utah and Managing Editor of JobMarketReport.com.
