GPA 2.0 The Resume Dilemma

There is a myth about listing GPAs on resumes that goes around our campus every year. Let's see if you've heard it:

 "If your GPA is less than a 3.0, leave it off your resume." Sound familiar? Do you agree?

WRONG! 

Why? If you leave your GPA off your resume, an employer is likely to believe you have a 2.0 GPA. Let's say you are like Jason (not his real name), a recent alum I heard from, who graduated with a 2.98 GPA. That's a whole lot better than a 2.0. I say list the 2.98 GPA on your resume so the employer doesn't assume this number is much lower.

A few GPA tips for your resume:

Present the highest GPA first. If you list both your In-Major GPA and your Overall GPA with your degree information, share the higher number first. Your resume is your advertisement, so sharing the best view of your performance first makes sense. Don't know your in-major GPA? Check Hokie Spa, your DARS or visit your academic department or advisor for assistance.

Consider listing a more specific GPA. Did one of these apply for you freshman year?

• You majored in having fun: 
• You were in the wrong major; OR
• You took a while to get used to college course demands. 

Then, after your first year, did your grades begin an upward spiral? If yes, then think about calculating your GPA for a certain number of hours. Here's a sample:

BS, Finance, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA Expected May 2016
GPA last 60 hours: 3.2, Finance GPA: 3.0, Overall GPA 2.75

Listing this kind of GPA works for employers or for graduate or professional schools; your most current hours of study likely focus on your area of expertise.

Most recent semester been your best? Then, list GPA Fall Semester 2015 3.51 before listing your overall and/or in major GPAs.

Let's talk numbers. In math class, we learned all about rounding numbers. When you list your GPA in your resume, you do not want to round. If your GPA is a 2.9999, then list your GPA as a 2.99. You only need to share 2 percentage points, and in this case, you do not want to round up to a 3.0, which leads me to my next point...

About employer GPA requirements. Some employers get such large volumes of applications that they have to use a mechanism to pare down the number of candidates. Some choose to use GPA requirements as their method to do this. Some require a 3.0 GPA, while others set the bar even higher. This really varies by employer where some do not have a GPA requirement at all. When we've asked employers about looking at a candidate who doesn't meet a GPA cutoff, the biggest selling point to get past this obstacle is relevant experience. If your GPA is not currently as high as you would like it to be, try to get as much experience as you can before you graduate, so you'll still be competitive as employers review your resume.

If you still have GPA questions, stop by Career Services for Walk-In Advising or make an appointment with an advisor. If you would like to view some samples of ways other students listed their GPAs on resumes, visit our set of sample resumes.

Let us help you present your qualifications, including your GPA, in a way that sells.