Is it necessary to put your high school or college grade point average (GPA) on your resume? Job applicants in high school and college often put their GPAs on their resumes, especially if they have high GPAs (above 3.5). Including your GPA on your resume might assist or hinder your chances of securing an interview, depending on how much professional experience you have.
Knowing which aspects to put on your resume are most crucial and will help you offer the most relevant information to an employer. Knowing whether to include and when not to include a GPA on your resume can enormously influence whether you get employed.
Are you confused about if you should attach your Grade point average (GPA) or not to your resume? Keep reading as we carefully review when to include your GPA on your resume.
Table of contents
What is GPA?
GPA is the acronym for the grade point average. In the United States, the grade point average is a common method of assessing academic success. It basically goes like this: Depending on the content of the course, each one is assigned a set amount of “units” or “credits.”
Most courses in high school have the same amount of units; however, this is not the case in college. Most college courses have a three-unit load (about three hours of lecture per week and six hours of homework per semester); however, the number can range from fractions of one to over five.
GPA is calculated using an A, B, C, D, and F grading system. Several grade points are allocated to each grade. An A grade is worth four points, a B is worth three, a C is worth two, a D is worth one, and an F is worth none. The method is the same whether you’re focusing on secondary or college grades.
How to include GPA on your Resume
When attaching your grade point average to your resume, certain steps must be followed to ensure it’s done properly. Tips to follow when including your grade point average on your resume are:
#1. GPA should be in the education section
A mistake some people encounter in writing their resume is the attachment of the grade point average to the achievements or awards section, especially when the GPA is quite high. The grade point average should be listed as part of the education section in your resume.
#2. GPA should be outlined properly
Include your GPA in the proper style so that employers can easily recognize it on your CV. Your GPA should always be written with the acronym GPA followed by a colon and the number.
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#3. Attach your major GPA with Overall GPA
Sometimes, we can find that our overall grade point average is low and might bring about negative effects on the application. If your overall GPA is low, but your major GPA is normal or above average, it is permissible to use your major GPA instead of your overall GPA in this situation.
When NOT to include your GPA on your resume
In certain cases, attaching your grade point average to your resume is irrelevant. This section guides you on which occasions your grade point average is not required in your resume.
#1. Increased work experience
It’s time to take your GPA off your resume once you’ve had 2-3 years of work experience. Your professional experience, rather than your previous GPA, speaks more to your talents at this stage.
Let go of your previous academic achievements and use the spare space on your resume to highlight a recent professional accomplishment.
This will show companies that you have become a forward-thinking professional who is now actively involved in your job, rather than resting on past glories after graduation.
Your job experience will reveal far more about you than your academic scores. Even if you haven’t previously worked in the business or profession you’re applying for, consider eliminating your GPA at this stage.
Instead, you “should emphasize your immediate successes and how much influence you have brought.”
#2. Low-grade point average
A popular reason grade point average is being left off on resume applications is the low score. If your grade point average is poor, then adding it to your resume will do more harm than good hence it is advisable to skip the entire process and not mention it.
On writing your resume, if it’s below a 3.0, it’s usually advisable to skip adding it to your resume. A poor GPA may divert an employer’s focus from your qualities as a leader, doer, or subject expert.
#3. When you’ve been done with school for some time
Let bygones be bygones. If you’ve been out of school for some time, adding our grade point average on your resume might seem meaningless.
Let’s take you’re done with high school and have been in college for two years, in the scenario that you send a resume for a work opportunity with your high school grade point average is very wrong as you’ve passed through that learning stage already.
When to include your GPA on your resume
No clear rule states when and when you shouldn’t add your GPA to your resume. In the following cases, including your GPA on your resume could be a smart idea:
#1. If you have a high-grade point average
When you have a high grade point average, attaching it to your resume is definitely a good idea. When your grade point average is 3.5 to 5.0, attaching it to your resume might positively affect selection. Employers will see applicants with a high-grade point average as someone that is smart, focused, and with a good work ethic.
Hence, a high grade point average is a good attachment to your resume, as it positively separates you from other applicants.
A good GPA on your resume shows that you’ve comprehended essential ideas and have extensive background knowledge in the field in which you concentrated. It will also assist you in filling up certain experience gaps and showing your abilities.
A good GPA might also show that you can learn quickly and absorb all the new instructions. And having a good GPA while working part-time or balancing other hobbies or obligations might successfully communicate that you can manage your time and handle several projects at once, making you a valuable member of your future team.
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#2. If you are applying for a job while still in school
Most people who use the grade point average on resumes either have a high GP or are students and use the grading system to show their qualifications. If you’re currently in high school or college or have recently graduated from one of those institutions, a GPA on your Resume may be useful.
If you have been out of school for three or more years, you may not need to mention your GPA because you will have gained relevant job experience that will be more valuable to an employer.
#3. If it was required in the application process
The first step is to read the job descriptions for the role you want to apply for. If the job description specifies a minimum GPA, you must put it on your resume. It doesn’t matter what your GPA is or how much work experience you have.
Not adhering to the outlined description for the job description instantly disqualifies you as one of the contesting applicants.
#4. Limited work experience
If you have minimal job experience in the sector you’re applying to. Still, a traditional education on a similar topic includes a GPA on your resume, especially if you’re a recent graduate. How well you did in class can help you stand out from the crowd of inexperienced applicants.
If you’re a few years out of school but migrating between jobs and your schooling aligns with your goals, a high GPA might signal that you have specialized directly relevant to the position you’re going for, even if your professional experience is in an entirely different fields.
Do Recruiters Look for GPAs on Resumes?
Unfortunately, there’s no answer to whether recruiters truly care about your GPA. Some recruiters and hiring managers will value this metric, while others might care more about your programming skills or customer service experience.
“Some companies want to see education information and GPA details as part of their internship program recruitment strategies, but other companies simply don’t care and focus their attention on what the candidate can bring to the table and not their past educational accomplishments,” Daniela Herrera, director of recruitment operations and ED&I at R/GA, says.
Herrera says she never looks at GPA information and typically skips over the education section, too. Despite this, she notes there are positions that do require specific education. Adding your GPA for those applications is essential, if not required.
FAQs On How To Include Your GPA In Your Resume
If your GPA is strong (above a 3.0) and you are a recent graduate or have limited work experience, it may be beneficial to include your GPA on your resume. However, if your GPA is low or you have significant work experience, it may be best to leave it off.
If you attended multiple schools with different grading systems, you could calculate your overall GPA by averaging your GPAs from each school, weighted by the number of credits you earned at each school.
You can include your GPA in the education section of your resume, typically listing it after your degree and major. You can include it in your summary or objective statement if it is particularly strong.
Conclusion
Creating a resume for job applications requires following the instructions and carefully outlining relevant skills that benefit the organization. While it is OK to keep your GPA off your resume unless the company specifically requests it, it is not acceptable to lie about your GPA on your resume.
An employer may easily verify your Grade Point Average by going through your certificate. If you lie, you risk losing your employment opportunity or being fired (if you are currently employed).
References
- cnbc.com – This is the only time you should include a GPA on your resume
- leverageedu.com – Difference between GPA and CGPA
- thebalancecareers.com – when to include a GPA on your resume
- easyresume.io – Should I Add My GPA On My Resume in 2022? (Tips & Examples)
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