How to Get Job Experience With a Low GPA

Don't let your poor grades prevent you from embarking on a successful career.

According to David Koeppel in an article for "The New York Times," large companies are using GPA as a guide for hiring employees for top positions. Anything less than a 3.0 GPA just won't cut it for these positions. If you have a low GPA, it can be difficult to get job experience, though not impossible.

Instructions

1. Keep your low GPA off of your resume. Listing it isn't required and you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you list a low number. Instead, only bring up your GPA if asked directly during your interview. If you're never asked about it, the low number won't negatively affect your employment prospects.

2. Mention your GPA from later years of college, rather than your entire GPA as a whole, as suggested by Koeppel, of "The New York Times." If your worst grades occurred in freshman and sophomore year, mention your grades as a junior and senior.

3. Discuss your grades in classes directly related to the job for which you're applying. Even if you had an overall GPA of 1.5, your A and B grades in marketing classes will give you an edge for a business marketing or advertising career. Offer these grades when asked about your GPA in the job interview.

4. Apply for an internship to get experience in your career field of choice. An internship will give you the necessary experience to hopefully let future employers ignore your low GPA, according to career expert Lindsey Pollak. On-the-job experience often trumps school grades. Contact your school's career center for help finding an internship.

5. Lower your standards when finding an entry-level position. As stated by Koeppel, higher positions in large companies are requiring a high GPA. If your GPA isn't impressive enough, stick to lower positions or jobs in smaller companies until you have enough work experience to move on to a better company.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have an admirable reason for your low GPA, such as working full time while at school or supporting your family, mention this during your interview. Some employers will find this an acceptable reason and relax their standards, according to career expert Pollak.

References

• "The New York Times"; Those Low Grades in College May Haunt Your Job Search; David Koeppel; December 2006
• Lindsey Pollak; Career Q&A - How to Get a Job When You Have a Low GPA; Lindsey Pollak; November 2008