When you’re a new grad applying to jobs, it’s tough to know what to include on your resume and what to leave out. Your GPA falls into the gray area.
If you’ve just finished college or are going to complete your degree in a few months, your GPA is likely top-of-mind for you. However, when it comes to hiring managers, does it even matter?
It depends on the situation. For instance, if you have a mediocre GPA, but lots of volunteer and internship experience, plus extracurricular activities you participated in, then these can actually carry more weight. They show the hiring manager you are driven to succeed and can make a favorable impression.
In this case, you can actually skip even including your GPA on your resume if it’s middle-of-the-road or low. Simply note the college you attended and your degree.
What if you have a high GPA but not a lot of activities to highlight? That’s ok too. However, keep in mind, while your GPA might be a point to promote on your resume for your first job after college, after that, it doesn’t matter much. Down the line, for future positions, employers are more interested in your skills, abilities and how you can contribute to their company.
There are some exceptions to this rule in certain industries, like legal and medical fields. However, for the most part, what’s going to matter more on your resume is your past job experience and your track record of success in them.
So whether your GPA is high, low or somewhere in between, it’s not going to play a major role in your career in the future. In fact, once you have real-world accomplishments to showcase, it’s essentially meaningless.
In your first job, for most hiring managers, they won’t put too much weight on your GPA. If it’s in the high 3.0s or is a perfect 4.0, then include it on your resume. As you’re just starting out in your career, it can be a factor the hiring manager takes into account if you don’t have any work experience.
If, however, it’s lower than that, then don’t include it all. Instead, focus on your degree and the coursework, internships, and extracurricular activities that are most prevalent to the positions you’re applying for.
Do you need help finding your first job after school?
At Provisional Recruiting, we’re here for you. As a leading Northwest recruitment firm, we help candidates find openings in a range of fields, from accounting and healthcare to IT and industrial. Whatever industry you’re looking for a job in, we can connect you with rewarding and exciting opportunities. Contact us today to learn more.