How come college grades DIDN'T mean jack shiit to me for getting a job?

[Aikouka]

Eh, there's a lot of factors that go into whether or not you're considered for a job. Past work experience can be a big thing, even if its just an internship. Think of factors raising your worth like dropping stones on one side of a scale. Grades do help, especially if that's all you have. Also, great BS skills are a must .

My grades and academic prowess that I had in college actually helped me land my software engineering job even when I had an internship as a software developer.

 

[fbrdphreak]

It depends on your field.

For technical, innovative fields like engineering, a high GPA and good research/projects on your list are a must for a good job.

For engineering jobs with IBM's server group, they don't look at anything less than a 4.0 (the head of the server division told me as much).

For L2 support of IBM's WebSphere Portal software (supporting huge companies who use this software like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Fedex, etc), they don't look at anything above like 3.8.

And if you have connections, GPA matters that much less. I have one engineering degree and never got asked about my GPA for my marketing job, but that had more to do with my networking than anything.

 

[bennylong]

I wish someone told me grades don't mean crap in the real world too. I used to drop classes if I knew I would end up with less than a B because I wanted to graduate with honor. If I knew grades didn't matter, I would have taken 21 units every semester and just get C's to graduates.

 

[thomsbrain]

grades DO matter for grad school.

 

[biggestmuff]

Nobody told you that? Some great school advisers. Did your college have a transition program?

In the real world, a degree is a piece of paper. It shows you can stick to something over a period of time. Most companies are looking for experience in the field that you are hoping to work.

The best thing to do for anyone in college right now, is to get a paying job in their field of study. Don't try and knock out school quickly in four years. Get that job experience and knowledge.

 

[Corporate Thug]

just out of curiosity, is 50-60k considered good pay in your field?

 

[eleison]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
It depends on your field.

For technical, innovative fields like engineering, a high GPA and good research/projects on your list are a must for a good job.

For engineering jobs with IBM's server group, they don't look at anything less than a 4.0 (the head of the server division told me as much).

For L2 support of IBM's WebSphere Portal software (supporting huge companies who use this software like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Fedex, etc), they don't look at anything above like 3.8.

And if you have connections, GPA matters that much less. I have one engineering degree and never got asked about my GPA for my marketing job, but that had more to do with my networking than anything.

I was in the IBM server group... my GPA was less then 4.0... but I had connections and mad coding skillzz...;-P

You're right, most of my colleagues there WERE 4.0... however, I was one of the brighter ones... there were some (10%) who couldn't think outside the box...

 

[AmigaMan]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

For L2 support of IBM's WebSphere Portal software (supporting huge companies who use this software like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Fedex, etc), they don't look at anything above like 3.8.

That could explain why WebSphere is such a POS. Grades don't mean squat, Weblogic FTW!

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: E equals MC2
*Finished state school with 2.5~ GPA, majored in management.
*Graduated in May 2005, got a job in four months as a Project Coorinator
*Got promoted 8 months after that as a Project Specialist with a 28% raise with 10% quarterly bonuses (2.5% each)

?

Believe me I worked my butt off during work to get that promotion, but I was a slacker in college all the way through. For my future jobs, grades will mean even less (I don't even think my current company ever gave a crap). I hope to make $50-60K for my next job.

ding ding

congrats on finding the truth

you're now free

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Corporate Thug
just out of curiosity, is 50-60k considered good pay in your field?

Heh... I wasn't going to go there, because I don't know where the guy lives. But < $50k after 28% raise = hired at <$39k.

 

[fire400]

Depends how well rounded you are. College in general teaches us how to work harder. The earlier the better.

I hate to put it this way, but if you worked harder in college, just imagine where you'd be now? Then again, that gives you enough time right now to realize that the hard work you put into your job will make you a faster and more productive leader.

I wouldn't complain right now, 'cuz you have a job to do! What I would focus more of my energy on, is studying more about how you can forget yourself and apply yourself in the areas where you don't think you did so well at, because if your company gave you homework similar to that of college, with exams and everything, I wonder how you'd be facing it right now?

 

[Deeko]

mugs, i sent them an application because i dont limit myself. I despise apple, its products, and its marketing, but I still sent them an application too. I won't limit myself for personal thoughts on the company, but I won't be upset if they don't take me.

All I'm trying to say is yes, there are companies that care, but if you can back it up with talent & the ability to talk up that talent, you'll still do PLENTY well for yourself, GPA aside.

 

[HamSupLo]

i had bad grades and I barely made it into grad school. I think they do matter. Better grades will give you more options in the future.

 

[EmperorIQ]

Grades do me something. A lot of people in this thread are agreeing that it means nothing, but really now. How many people in the world do you think will get a below 3.0 gpa and still understand most of what was taught in class? I am willing to bet that the majority won't be able to do that. GPA is a good metric for companies to see who they are hiring. With that said, I ended college with a 2.9GPA, and now am working at one of the top 5 software companies in US. Just putting that there so others will see that I'm not a former student with a high GPA and thinks GPA is everything. Even now, when I interview, I look at interviewees negatively when they have a low gpa, or leave it out. That's just how things go. Personally I think this thread (the OP especially) has a little bit of bragging in it. Actually a lot.

 

[erub]

I'm hoping the same applies to grad school grades. My college GPA was great, but I struggled pretty badly in my first semester in grad school (2.67). I will bring it up, but with only 3 semesters, there's no chance of it being as good as my undergrad one.

 

[fishmonger12]

Guess where it does matter? Graduate school!

And with an undergraduate degree in management, I'm sure you would like to eventually get your MBA. Unless you want to be stuck as a midlevel manager for the rest of your life. Guess what a top MBA school will look at when you apply! You got it, your GPA. Along with your work experience, GMAT, and other relevant data, business schools are going to be looking at your GPA. The average for the top tier schools is in the mid 3's.

So: don't slack off in college assuming your GPA doesn't matter.

 

[uberman]

It depends what profession you're in. In a professional position mine are scrutinized closely.

 

[mchammer187]

having above a 3.0 meant a +12K starting salary at my job 42K vs 54K (currently 47 vs 60K now IIRC)

so grades defintely matter but i guess over 3.0 doesn't matter

i dont think they will even interview you if you have less than a 2.5 but its not like getting above a 3.0 is hard either

this is for engineering degrees btw

 

[udonoogen]

ive found that the name of your school matters more than GPA. in interview panels i've participated in, at most we ask you what school you went to usually and have never touched on GPA. for first time job interviewees ... 1) if you are a guy, at least wear a tie, 2) show up on time, 3) dont mumble, 4) be confident. personality is a better asset than .5 more on your gpa. if you cant put together a coherent sentence (even while nervous) it doesn't bode well for your interview ... so know who you are and practice what you are going to say.

edit: i'm not an engineer, so perhaps this is only good advice for people that are not looking for programming or extremely technical jobs

 

[Savarak]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

For L2 support of IBM's WebSphere Portal software (supporting huge companies who use this software like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Fedex, etc), they don't look at anything above like 3.8.

above?

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Deeko
because grades mean sh!t, and don't listen to people that say your major had something to do with it. I'm in CS and I've yet to have an employer ask or care about my GPA. It really doesn't matter. The nerds that work their ass off to get a 4.0 when the rest of us are out enjoying college say that it does to make them feel better, but when others are getting better jobs and faster raises, without the high GPA, maybe they'll stop talking.

Now, if you're going to grad school, its a different story

High GPA's can be important to some people. I need a 3.0 GPA to keep some of my financial aid. So my GPA directly translates into a few thousand dollars a year.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: E equals MC2
*Finished state school with 2.5~ GPA, majored in management.
*Graduated in May 2005, got a job in four months as a Project Coorinator
*Got promoted 8 months after that as a Project Specialist with a 28% raise with 10% quarterly bonuses (2.5% each)

?

Believe me I worked my butt off during work to get that promotion, but I was a slacker in college all the way through. For my future jobs, grades will mean even less (I don't even think my current company ever gave a crap). I hope to make $50-60K for my next job.

Imagine if they'd told you the other little secret... You could have saved a few tens of thousands of dollars by not going to college at all! You could have made money over those four years gaining experience at the company you're with and probably worked up to the job you have now in the same time frame.

After a certain point your resume becomes more important than your degree anyway.

 

[Fingolfin269]

It really depends on how a company performs their interview process. Does a company just look at a GPA and throw a candidate out? If so, you probably do not want to work for that company anyway. When it comes down to it would you rather have a person who worked full time through school, participated in many extra-cirricular activities, and had a decent GPA or would a company prefer someone with a 4.0 that did nothing else?

Sure, that is a black and white example and you could push the boundary either way but I think you see what I'm getting at. How can you call a person a slacker with a 2.5 if you know nothing else about them other than the fact that their GPA is a 2.5?

 

[Syringer]

I find an interesting trend in this thread.

Those with high GPAs say: GPA matters, and is an indication of ability.
Those with crappy GPAs say: GPA means nothing, it shouldn't be used against you.

Shocking really

 

[halik]

Well mostly because you're not making a lot of money...

Anyone can get a job; only few can get a well paying, prestigious position.