Douglas Richardson's Skeptical Resume Reader Tells How He Really Thinks was an eye-opener.
The article's message (think about your resume's reader) was not unexpected; if the concept was new to any student in this course then the ship has set sail without that person. Still, the pointed delivery was not just comical; it really made me think - not the message but some of the specific material the article presented.
I will make a special effort to imply how my skills and experiences will be applied instead of simply stating them and leaving the connections for the reader to make. I'll be cracking down on my resume's over-abundant filler (it might as well be a Twinky at the moment). And I'll make sure to be forward and to the point with my objective, though I haven't decided if I'm going to use a summary instead.
But there was one phrase in particular that made an impression:
"I deduct style points for deviations from excellence."
When reading the suggestion about leaving out GPAs less than 3.5 in theSecond Instructor Blog, my immediate response fell in line with my previous comments on the matter of leaving off a marginal GPA. But after that quote by Richardson, I immediately thought of GPA from another perspective. You wouldn't write that you are sometimes late with assignments or that you weren't offered a returning position from a company you interned with, so why would you display your sub par GPA? The point of a resume is to impress, so if your GPA doesn't do that, what does it do? That's an interesting thought that's made me challenge my previous position.
That said, I still think as fresh graduates and students looking for internships, companies will be expecting to see a GPA on resumes (especially at job fairs, which are good places to troll for interviews). And I will echo my previous statement that companies will assume if you don't have a GPA you have less than a 3.0, so I think you are shortchanging yourself if you have between that and a 3.5 and you leave it off your resume. I'm looking for input on this one.
GPAs, again.
I would definitely put your GPA on if it's a 3.0 or higher. From talking to people in management at the Writing Lab, I know management recruiters say that if you don't put a GPA on, they assume it's middle of road -- which is a 2.0. I think we often lose sight of the fact that theoretically, a 2.0 is average. At our university, it's the probation line, but really, a 2.8 is not that low of a GPA. I think a big thing to remember on GPAs, too, is that you need to indicate the scale being used. Some schools don't use a 4.0 still, so you need to make sure that you put a 3.0/4.0 (or whatever your respective GPA might be). But anything above 3 indicates that you're well above average, so I don't know why you wouldn't put it on there! I've heard from several recruiters that if you don't put it on there, they may also assume you're hiding something. It might be better to own up to a lower GPA and try to win them with your experience. It may come up in an interview, but then you have a chance to show that you've learned something from mistakes, etc.
Kristin
GPAs....
I am sick of GPAs being a deciding factor of whether you are given a first glance. It seems that every business out there wants at least a 3.0. What about us students who do try hard but don’t quite hit that 3.0 mark. We are just out of luck.
It is a double edged sword if you put your GPA on there or not. If you don’t then recruiters think you are hiding something even if you wanted to let your experiences speak louder before they toss you aside. If you do put on your GPA that is lower than 3.0 then you most likely will be tossed aside. In end it all turns into the opinion of the recruiter. If it is anything like opinions on resumes then it will be a roll of the dice.
Jeff
Too high a GPA?
I couldn’t agree more with you statement that putting your GPA on your resume is a double edged sword. Too often you’re not even given a chance to prove yourself with a GPA less than 3.0. I have left it off mine before at career fairs and they have asked me what it was before we had a chance to get talking. But on the other hand, I have talked to some companies that try stay away from students with too high GPAs because it leads them to believe that they are bookworms and lack any real world knowledge. It seems there really isn’t any way to win this one.
Job Fair
I just came back from the College of Technology job fair today. I do not have my GPA on my resume, and not one single person asked me for it. I really appreciated this because it lets them get to know me as a person, and not just as a number on a scale. I am sure they will ask me later on in an interview. If I ever become a recruiter, I would do the same thing. Especially now that I've been there, done that. I would talk to the person first, see how they interact. Ask them what their experiences are and why they should be considered for the job. The last thing I would wonder about is their GPA. I wish everyone would do this, it would be nicer for all.
Not Including GPA
By not including a "sub-par" GPA, I think you are definitely setting yourself up to succeed. The worst that can happen is the recruiter will ask you what it is. You will then have a prime opportunity to explain to the recruiter the reason for it. This also will allow you to show them your personal skills. I would imagine that any job that involves interacting with customers would value social skills over GPAs. So unless if you’re applying for a job where they are going to lock you in a closet with a computer, not including a "sub-par" GPA seems to be the way to go.
Sub-Par GPA
Most of the commenters here agree that a GPA of at least 3.0 is impressive enough to include on a resume. I have to agree with the blogger on the fact that ‘you wouldn’t write that you are sometimes late with assignments or etc…”. This statement is the exact reasoning I think people should use for putting their GPA on a resume. If you leave your sub-par GPA off of your resume and get a phone call from an HR person asking about it, that is your chance to tell why you don’t have the best GPA. Perhaps you have a full time job or participate in a sporting activity. All of these things can make you a more well rounded person. Hopefully the recruiter will see that as the case.
GPA consensus
Well it seems like consensus is that a GPA of 3.0 or higher is good on a resume but that a less impressive GPA should stay off. I had been using this strategy but I was told recruiters assume the worst if they don't see it. I liked Ben's statement that the worst a company can do is ask, and then it becomes an opportunity to address the issue. I also "got a kick" out of you using parentheses when referring to my terminology for a low GPA. Shame on me for using a cushy golf cliche. I also liked Lpetrovi's suggestion of turning a lower GPA into an indicator of being well-rounded.
And one last note for you guys talking about the GPA as a double-edged sword: It may be a killer now, but at least we can count on the GPA factor dropping out after our first jobs.
This will hopefully be the last post for me on GPA. I need to quit libeling myself. Seriously guys, my GPA isn't that bad.
Instructor Feedback
There is an old adage that says "Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." This seems to be a good bet for GPAs. Include it if it is selling point (and appropriate for the position); leave it off if it isn't stellar. The reader might assume it is low, but they won't know for sure. Ben makes this point well in his comment. If you are then asked about your GPA, you can contextualize it for the interviewer. Contextualizing a less than stellar GPA is something the resume simply doesn't allow for, and explaining your GPA is not something you want to do in the job letter either.