Do You Put Your GPA in Job Resumes?

[tabletop]

I know that once you've graduated and everything, you don't really put your GPA in your resume when you're applying for a job. But I'm still in school and I'm applying for a job at my university (a job that requires you to be in good academic standing). Should I include my GPA in the resume I send? If so, which GPAs?

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[PremedIowa]

The general guideline for resumes is to include your GPA only if it's good (3.0+). If your science/major GPA is significantly higher than cumulative GPA, put that instead. Use only one GPA: multiple GPA's are for crazy pre-meds. Usually place it in your education section.

My resume goes like this:
Bachelor of Science May 2009
Drake University Des Moines, IA
Major: Biology GPA: 3.xx

 

[student1799]

I know that once you've graduated and everything, you don't really put your GPA in your resume when you're applying for a job. But I'm still in school and I'm applying for a job at my university (a job that requires you to be in good academic standing). Should I include my GPA in the resume I send? If so, which GPAs?

No. This is not customary on a resume. If they want to ask you, you can tell them, but if you put your GPA down, you risk:

1. Looking like a tool.

2. Having the job interview revolve around your GPA.

"Good academic standing" simply means you haven't been thrown out of school, placed on probation, etc.--this doesn't have anything to do with your exact GPA.

 

[ami1983]

i would put it if you are relatively recently out of school. after 1 or 2 jobs, your experience counts more than your GPA

 

[PremedIowa]

http://www.collegegrad.com/jobsearch/Best-College-Resumes/Listing-Your-GPA-on-Your-Resume/

http://essayinfo.com/resume/gpa.php

http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSee...0-274200247-VF-4&ns_siteid=ns_us_g_resume_gpa

"Although employers may not automatically cut you for your low grades, leaving your GPA off of your resume completely may do you more harm than good. If you're a new grad and omit your GPA from your resume, you might find employers warily wondering how terrible your grades really are. One career adviser even said if there's no GPA on a resume, he automatically assumes it's under a 3.0. And it should go without saying that you should never lie and tell an employer you have better grades than you really do."


Unfortunately, I don't think student1799 knows what he/she is talking about. Your academic advisor or career counselor will give you the same advice I have.

 

[shraf]

No. This is not customary on a resume. If they want to ask you, you can tell them, but if you put your GPA down, you risk:

1. Looking like a tool.

2. Having the job interview revolve around your GPA.

"Good academic standing" simply means you haven't been thrown out of school, placed on probation, etc.--this doesn't have anything to do with your exact GPA.

i disagree. i have my gpa on my resume and never has any job interview revolved around my GPA. it is something insignificant. all it shows is that you did well in college rather than just skate through and get a degree. the extent to which it has ever been mentioned is an interviewer saying "and i see you did well"...that's all it'll ever come to.

If you are going to put a GPA on your resume you put your cumulative GPA or your major GPA. There is no such thing as "science GPA" outside of the AMCAS. The rule of 3.0+ should be followed though i would say that a 3.0 is still pretty low to put on a resume....i would probably leave it out if it is below 3.5.

 

[linguini]

No. This is not customary on a resume. If they want to ask you, you can tell them, but if you put your GPA down, you risk:

1. Looking like a tool.

2. Having the job interview revolve around your GPA.

"Good academic standing" simply means you haven't been thrown out of school, placed on probation, etc.--this doesn't have anything to do with your exact GPA.

I don't think so. Putting down a strong GPA is like showcasing any other skill you may have. If it's good, it will speak to your intellect and your solid work ethic. It'd be cheating yourself if you don't choose to display those traits.

 

[Live4Life]

The rule at my school was a GPA of 3.2 and above goes on the resume. Since I've been out of school for several years and worked in recruiting as one of my side duties, I'll tell you right now that GPA is extremely important in competitive professions. Our cutoff at my consulting firm was a 3.6 GPA, unless they had a stellar major GPA (>3.8) and were no less than 3.4 cumulative. Word of advice, put your GPA on your resume when you are starting out in an industry. After a few years, it is no longer needed. But that high GPA is your ticket into some very competitive industries.

 

[xanthomondo]

You don't need to include the GPA if you note honors of the degree you earned (Cum Laude, etc)

But otherwise, definitely include it if it's good.

 

[deleted106503]

Put it down if you're just out of school. Once you acquire experience in that career (3-5 years for first job), don't use the GPA when you decide to apply for something else at that point.

 

[sunny1]

If you are anywhere from still in college to 1-2 years out of it and have a good GPA, I would advise listing it as premediowa suggested. It's a small and easy enough thing to include that adds another indication of your intelligence/dedication to hard work.

Alternatively, if you graduated cum laude or any variation of it (magna, summa) I would list that instead perhaps when job hunting after graduation. The cum laude or honors designation I would keep on my resume forever.

 

[footballrules]

If you are anywhere from still in college to 1-2 years out of it and have a good GPA, I would advise listing it as premediowa suggested. It's a small and easy enough thing to include that adds another indication of your intelligence/dedication to hard work.

Alternatively, if you graduated cum laude or any variation of it (magna, summa) I would list that instead perhaps when job hunting after graduation. The cum laude or honors designation I would keep on my resume forever.

Yeah, it doesn't nurt to put your GPA on your resume for your first job out of college. I didn't and it didn't hurt me. But I had good work experience before I graduated.

 

[tabletop]

Yeah, and I figured since it was a job AT my university (yes, I'm still a student), the GPA would mean even more because the other applicants will be students at my university.

I just didn't want to sound like a "tool" as someone else suggested.

 

[footballrules]

Yeah, and I figured since it was a job AT my university (yes, I'm still a student), the GPA would mean even more because the other applicants will be students at my university.

I just didn't want to sound like a "tool" as someone else suggested.

If you were to put down every academic award you got every semester, I would put your resume in the trash. You just don't want to over due it. I noticed that you understand that...so that is a good thing. So just putting your current GPA on the resume is fine and when you graduate with any academic thing worhty enough to take up space on a resume, just put that down and not the GPA. If you graduate honors, just put down graduated with honors with no GPA listed since people who went to college will know what graduating with honors means. Have a good day, sir/mam.

 

[pianola]

I know that once you've graduated and everything, you don't really put your GPA in your resume when you're applying for a job. But I'm still in school and I'm applying for a job at my university (a job that requires you to be in good academic standing). Should I include my GPA in the resume I send? If so, which GPAs?

I've always included my UG GPA on my resumes. I wouldn't break it down further, though.

EDIT: Obviously, if you have a not-so-great GPA you might not want to put it on your resume.

 

[Lukkie]

when i see a gpa listed on a resume i usually just throw it out

 

[student1799]

http://www.collegegrad.com/jobsearch/Best-College-Resumes/Listing-Your-GPA-on-Your-Resume/
Unfortunately, I don't think student1799 knows what he/she is talking about. Your academic advisor or career counselor will give you the same advice I have.

Uh, beg to differ with you there, pal. I worked on Wall Street for 20 years, where I had numerous jobs (and job interviews). Sorry if the real world doesn't agree with your preconceptions, but I answered based on actual experience.

 

[pianola]

^ But if you're in school and haven't had 20 years of experience working on Wall Street, a good GPA might be just about all you've got. (Not that this is the OP's situation).

I definitely understand where you're coming from student1799, but if school is all/most of what you've been doing for the past few years, GPA may be one of the relevant accomplishments that you can put on a resume -- particularly a resume addressed to your own school.

 

[sunny1]

^ But if you're in school and haven't had 20 years of experience working on Wall Street, a good GPA might be just about all you've got. (Not that this is the OP's situation).

I definitely understand where you're coming from student1799, but if school is all/most of what you've been doing for the past few years, GPA may be one of the relevant accomplishments that you can put on a resume -- particularly a resume addressed to your own school.

👍. student1799, we're not talking about resumes for people on wall street or even midlevel workers. we're talking about undergrads.

 

[tabletop]

👍. student1799, we're not talking about resumes for people on wall street or even midlevel workers. we're talking about undergrads.

but I'd say student1799 has a pretty good point: several years out of college, no one is going to care about your GPA so much as your experience. A comforting notion I might add.

 

[Lukkie]

but I'd say student1799 has a pretty good point: several years out of college, no one is going to care about your GPA so much as your experience. A comforting notion I might add.

mainly because, if you're a couple years out of college and your GPA is the strongest point in your app, that says something

 

[Bacchus]

As you're interviewing after graduation or for a job during the school year its recommended if your GPA can withstand the scrutiny, put it on. I had a mock interview through my department with an HR Representative from GlaxoSmithKline. She asked why my GPA wasn't on my resume and I told her "It's really only average for my career intentions (medicine)." I then proceeded to tell her what it was and she said it would be foolish not to put it on until I have real world experience.

On a side note, imagine answering the question, "Why GSK?"

My answer: You have my resume in front of you so I'm not exactly sure if this is a trick question so I'm going to be honest with you. Based off of my resume you can see I have done a volunteer and medically-related work. I plan on applying to medical school after graduation.

She told me that's what she wanted to hear because it was obvious from my resume that was my intention. I'm glad I did not lie, haha. She said my genuinity shines through and I think she got that from me not bold face lying to her.


Moral: Put the GPA on until you have a decent amount of real world experience.

 

[Lacheln]

This is an interesting discussion. I didn't put my gpa on when I was first interviewing 10 years ago, and no one asked. Now that I am the interviewer rather than the interviewee I ignore the gpa if listed, because I assume (from having seen people do it over and over) people inflate it, and I am unlikely to ask them to get a transcript. If an applicant is straight out of school I am more interested in specific classes they took, or research they did, and can ascertain for myself how well they mastered the material. At the end of the day I don't care about their gpa, just their recommendations and what I learn from the interview. Not saying you should or shouldn't put it on there, just giving a perspective from the other side.