How important is GPA for an entry-level position?

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  • khaled
    Pro
    • Apr 2009
    • 942

    #16
    Re: How important is GPA for an entry-level position?

    Will an employer turn away from a low GPA from a good school, or is it better to have a high GPA even though its from a commuter school that's not high ranking?

    I've been told both so I'm not sure...

    In general, does it matter where you graduate from, or is a degree a degree?
    Last edited by khaled; 09-28-2011, 01:26 AM.
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    • fistofrage
      Hall Of Fame
      • Aug 2002
      • 13682

      #17
      Re: How important is GPA for an entry-level position?

      Originally posted by khaled
      Will an employer turn away from a low GPA from a good school, or is it better to have a high GPA even though its from a commuter school that's not high ranking?

      I've been told both so I'm not sure...

      In general, does it matter where you graduate from, or is a degree a degree?
      Here's the deal, I manage an accounting staff. I have to replace about 1 person every 6 months because they get their Masters degrees for the most part and move on.

      GPA is important. I typically won't interview anyone with less than a 3.2 GPA. That said, there are some colleges that are better than others who take their academics very seriously. A 3.2 out of the serious college has typically been a better candidate than a 3.8 to 4.0 student from one of the commuter schools.

      There appears to be grade inflation going on at University of Phoenix, etc. The GPA there doesn't hold much water for me. I see alot of 3.9 and 4.0's that are basically unemployable in my book.

      Best advice I can give is get your degree and learn the stuff inside and out and retain what you learned. I ask alot of specific questions that I feel someone right out of college should know and have retained. Most people fail to answer these questions which baffles me.

      Do whatever you can do to get an internship while in college. If you leave college without having an internship these days, you will most likely be making sandwiches at a local deli and putting yourself years behind your peers.

      Good luck.
      Chalepa Ta Kala.....

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      • fishepa
        I'm Ron F'n Swanson!
        • Feb 2003
        • 18989

        #18
        Re: How important is GPA for an entry-level position?

        After being in the workplace for about 9 years now, I can safely say that getting a good job is about only about knowing the right people and being in the right place at the right time.

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        • fistofrage
          Hall Of Fame
          • Aug 2002
          • 13682

          #19
          Re: How important is GPA for an entry-level position?

          Originally posted by fishepa
          After being in the workplace for about 9 years now, I can safely say that getting a good job is about only about knowing the right people and being in the right place at the right time.
          Once you get experience, that's pretty much true, but for entry level, its a little different. I am always going to hire the best applicant. The better the employee, the better I look. Entry level people probably have to work harder than anyone in the organization.
          Chalepa Ta Kala.....

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          • p_rushing
            Hall Of Fame
            • Feb 2004
            • 14514

            #20
            Re: How important is GPA for an entry-level position?

            Originally posted by fistofrage
            Once you get experience, that's pretty much true, but for entry level, its a little different. I am always going to hire the best applicant. The better the employee, the better I look. Entry level people probably have to work harder than anyone in the organization.
            Yep, it make you look good or bad if you hire the right or wrong person.

            Originally posted by fistofrage
            GPA is important. I typically won't interview anyone with less than a 3.2 GPA. That said, there are some colleges that are better than others who take their academics very seriously. A 3.2 out of the serious college has typically been a better candidate than a 3.8 to 4.0 student from one of the commuter schools.
            I've been helping out with recruiting this year, going to college career fair and doing interviews for my company. They have a minimum 3.2 GPA to apply. Some people value it more than others, but for me, as long as you meet the requirement, I don't care what the GPA is because it differs by school and major like you said. To me it is more about the other things the person has done and how they are able to respond during the interview.

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            • SuperBowlNachos
              All Star
              • Jul 2004
              • 10218

              #21
              Re: How important is GPA for an entry-level position?

              Do y'all look at overall GPA? Or GPA in their major/last 60 hours?

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              • fistofrage
                Hall Of Fame
                • Aug 2002
                • 13682

                #22
                Re: How important is GPA for an entry-level position?

                Originally posted by olliethebum85
                Do y'all look at overall GPA? Or GPA in their major/last 60 hours?
                I look at overall, but if someone tells me their physics and poetry class brought their overall down to a 3.2 and their core GPA was 3.5, I would totally understand.

                Or if someone came clean with me and said the overall GPA is a 3.0 but its been a 3.6 in my last 60 hours because they were ill prepared to start college at 18 and made some bad decisions but learned from them, I can respect that as well.

                I needed a little redemption myself. The 1st semester in the fraternity house with a 1.8 GPA took a little toll on my overall. Shored that up over the last two years of college and then had a 4.0 in my MBA program.
                Chalepa Ta Kala.....

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                • st67
                  Banned
                  • Oct 2010
                  • 547

                  #23
                  Re: How important is GPA for an entry-level position?

                  Wow - I've never, ever put a GPA on my resume and I've never been asked for it. I didn't think anyone cared; seemed more like someone people just show off to their friends and brag about - not something employers ever cared about.

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                  • fistofrage
                    Hall Of Fame
                    • Aug 2002
                    • 13682

                    #24
                    Re: How important is GPA for an entry-level position?

                    Originally posted by st67
                    Wow - I've never, ever put a GPA on my resume and I've never been asked for it. I didn't think anyone cared; seemed more like someone people just show off to their friends and brag about - not something employers ever cared about.
                    I would definitely put it on the resume if its decent or worthy of note. Leave it off if its subpar. Alot of companies will make you fill out an emplyment application if you come in for an interview. They are going to ask for it on there for certain.
                    Chalepa Ta Kala.....

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                    • st67
                      Banned
                      • Oct 2010
                      • 547

                      #25
                      Re: How important is GPA for an entry-level position?

                      Originally posted by fistofrage
                      I would definitely put it on the resume if its decent or worthy of note. Leave it off if its subpar. Alot of companies will make you fill out an emplyment application if you come in for an interview. They are going to ask for it on there for certain.
                      Guess it depends where you work - like I said, I've never put it on and I've never been asked for it with any interview or job I've gotten. I'm surprised that companies actually look at it.
                      Last edited by st67; 09-28-2011, 10:47 AM.

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                      • fistofrage
                        Hall Of Fame
                        • Aug 2002
                        • 13682

                        #26
                        Re: How important is GPA for an entry-level position?

                        Originally posted by st67
                        Guess it depends where you work - like I said, I've never put it on and I've never been asked for it with any interview or job I've gotten. I'm surprised that companies actually look at it.
                        What line of work are you in?

                        Typically GPA only matters for an entry level position.
                        Chalepa Ta Kala.....

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                        • st67
                          Banned
                          • Oct 2010
                          • 547

                          #27
                          Re: How important is GPA for an entry-level position?

                          Originally posted by fistofrage
                          What line of work are you in?

                          Typically GPA only matters for an entry level position.
                          I've done IT and Healthcare jobs - I work in surgery right now; probably will for the rest of my working life.

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                          • Pokes
                            Bearer of the curse
                            • Jul 2002
                            • 4538

                            #28
                            Re: How important is GPA for an entry-level position?

                            Originally posted by Ruff Ryder
                            Well here I am as a senior looking for some full-time work when I graduate. I'm Business Information Technology (AKA Business (or Management) Information Systems) and we're having job fairs and whatnot giving us kids opportunities to get employed after graduation.

                            I've always had my GPA on my resume but I took it off mainly so I could get more space and because I think it sucks, it's a 2.7. I asked a friend who worked at Career Services here and she said it shouldn't matter if I have it or not but of course when I take it off and go to the job fair, 75% of the recruiters ask for it.

                            Anyway, I've been applying and there's minimum GPA requirements for some of the positions, some that aren't even obtainable for me. 3.2, 3.4, etc. Kinda sucks and makes me feel demoralized looking at them.

                            Should I apply anyway? I still haven't put my GPA back on my resume, I figure if they want it, they'll ask, but I don't want to have them stop reading at my resume at "GPA" and toss it out.

                            Is it that important? I know experience often trumps grades but I don't have a lot of very relevant experience in BIT. I have a good bit of technical experience (no qualifications or anything) working as a technician/consultant here at Virginia Tech but it seems pretty different from what I'd be doing on a day-to-day basis.
                            I'm seeing the same thing; however, I'd say unless you're planning an engineering, medical or law career path you should be fine.
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                            • SuperBowlNachos
                              All Star
                              • Jul 2004
                              • 10218

                              #29
                              Re: How important is GPA for an entry-level position?

                              Originally posted by fistofrage
                              I needed a little redemption myself. The 1st semester in the fraternity house with a 1.8 GPA took a little toll on my overall. Shored that up over the last two years of college and then had a 4.0 in my MBA program.
                              Same with me. I had a 2.8 two semesters. Second year a 3.0 and 3.7. Transferred to a university with a 3.02 and now am at a 3.3 overall. Still missing out on the elusive 4.0.

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                              • Hassan Darkside
                                We Here
                                • Sep 2003
                                • 7561

                                #30
                                Re: How important is GPA for an entry-level position?

                                Welp...I got an interview with Captial One!

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