Do Resumes Require a GPA?
Academic achievement is a major consideration for some employers, and providing your GPA on your resume is one quick and easy way to show the prospective employer what kind of student you were. However, the question of whether or not the GPA is required material to include on a resume is one that is not so easily answered. Academic achievement can be distinguished in a number of different ways, and there are instances where it may advisable not to include your GPA.
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Decisions
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Whether or not you include your GPA on your resume is really up to you. Employers use your GPA to distinguish you from other applicants for the same job. If you do not include your GPA and others do, the hiring manager may think that you have something to hide, and may choose an applicant who has taken the time to disclose his GPA. However, it may be that the employer does not care about GPA at all. If you have a low GPA to report, you may wish to leave it off anyway, regardless of what the potential employer thinks about it. The Boston University School of Management recommends being prepared to answer GPA questions during your interview, should you decide not to include it on your resume.
Flaunting It
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If you happen to have a relatively high GPA, then it is probably best to follow the mantra that says, if you've got something to flaunt, you should. The University of California at Berkeley, one of the nation's premier universities, recommends flaunting any GPA over 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. A 3.0 GPA or higher signifies above-average academic performance and gives an indication to your prospective employer that you are a person who is driven to do well and succeed.
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Major GPA
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An alternative to listing your overall GPA on your resume is to provide the GPA that you have obtained in your academic major. This can be especially helpful if you are applying for a job in an industry that corresponds to the academic field in which you graduated. This shows your aptitude for working in your chosen career field and, if your major GPA is higher than your overall GPA, it gives you the opportunity to provide a GPA and emphasize your strengths in your major field of study. Boston University indicates that you should be sure to clearly indicate that you are providing your major GPA.
Other Achievements
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If your GPA is not nearly as high as you want it to be, and you still feel the need to include it on your resume, you can offset the low GPA by emphasizing other major academic achievements and other school activities. Include your GPA with any awards or other accolades you may have received while in school. Listing the GPA with these other awards will place it within your list of achievements, and it may even get overlooked by your prospective employer. Being confident and proud of all of your achievements will likely gain you more consideration than any other factor, when applying for a job.
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References
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