Interview: How to get around not having high GPA?

[xopher]

Morning!

In short, I have an interview for a summer student position coming up and Ive been warned ahead of time this particular Engineering VP, is a very "GPA orientated individual".

Im 90% confident, ill be able to portray myself as an individual with the correct set of skills and the eagerness to assist and learn from this company, however, I can potentially see my transcript ruining my chances (got a low number of F..).

Honestly, ... I understand my stuff in the area, but I don't test well. My GPA is not a good assessment of my intellectual level or my capacity and speed at which I can learn.

This will probably be arguement if he does ask my about my low grades, but I feel like I should find something better...

Opinions? Suggestions?

[ExtraSlow]

Some people will always chose based on GPA. For those people, there's nothing you can do to convince them. Others are looking more for how you present yourself. Worry less about "arguing" your GPA and more about the kinds of skills you bring to the company, how you'll be a positive contributor.

[gretz]

Originally posted by xopher


Honestly, ... I understand my stuff in the area, but I don't test well. My GPA is not a good assessment of my intellectual level or my capacity and speed at which I can learn.

This will probably be arguement if he does ask my about my low grades, but I feel like I should find something better...

Opinions? Suggestions?

No offense, but GPA is almost a direct assessment of your intellectual level, which ties in with how well you can learn... If you have a balls GPA, what are some of your technical skills that makeup for your shortcomings?

This will be an arguement? Why and what would you argue about?

Find something better? You haven't gone for an interview yet...

[leftwing]

If you got an interview, your GPA cant be that bad. They are either looking past it, or you have other strengths on your resume that make up for your lacklustre GPA. I would prepare a defence (just in case) as to why you failed those classes or why your GPA is low.

As for defences...if your bad grades came early in your academic career that is more "acceptable" than failing classes in your later years. I would just be honest, because unless you are a great liar, the interviewer probably will be able to tell your not being honest.

good luck!

[Type_S1]

GPA is a good indicator of your intellectual ability. If you can't explain it on a peice of paper, how the hell are you going to do it in real life. If you were lazy, which is why most peoples GPA's suck, this directly shows the effort your have in your overall life and future. :dunno:

That is the opinion a lot of people have and it is something you will face until you have a proven track record working.

Tell them the truth on why your GPA is low if it comes up, you have an F and it was in your early years or whatever. If you have an interview already they either can't care too much or their was a lack of applicants. Either way it is good for you.

Now a real question...how the hell do you fail an engineering test when everyone gets 20%-30%'s and end up with B's haha.

[Neil4Speed]

Some good comments in this thread. You need to find a way to diversify yourself appropriately enough for people to oversee that. Be confident of your ability and dissect the job description to make sure you have a great understanding of all the components.

Also, be mindful of the other situation too. I interviewed a girl a few weeks back with a high GPA, and everything you would want in a Candidate - the only thing we really remembered at the end of it was a trivial disagreement she had with a senior level employee during the interview.

[dangleberries]

learn to suppress gag reflex mainly

[Ebon]

How'd you even get the interview? Thats GPA cutoffs are for, after that no one cares.

[wardpr68]

If this person is hiring based solely on GPA... I would not want to work for them.

I know in my families past if someone had a GPA of like 3.8 or above they didn't even bother interviewing them because they almost surely lack communication skills or are so far up their own ass they will be impossible to mentor.

It's worked pretty damn well for the family.

[XylathaneGTR]

I had an internship interview start out with the VP of Engg taking a copy of my transcript out, laying it on his desk and going "So...I see a lot more C's and B's on here than I would normally see with someone who works for us...why is that?" He was blunt and honest and didn't beat around the bush. He addressed a legitimate concern that he had and gave me an opportunity to explain myself.

Confident speaking is key. We've all had an "off-day" on an exam...but you can't have 30 of them. Passion is important as well. I ended up receiving an offer from this company, beating out several other people with higher GPAs. I had multiple offers (received one just as I was pulling into the parking lot for a second interview with this company). When I was speaking with the VP of Engg about it later on, he said that part of the reason was that he really knew that I wanted to be there and that dedication meant that I would do a great job, regardless of the fact that my GPA was not quite what he was looking for. After completing an internship, I continued to work there part time and after a while, received an offer to come back full-time.

It's an interview, man. Sell yourself and be honest. Don't bullshit them, as they'll see right through it and write you off.

[flipstah]

Originally posted by XylathaneGTR
I had an internship interview start out with the VP of Engg taking a copy of my transcript out, laying it on his desk and going "So...I see a lot more C's and B's on here than I would normally see with someone who works for us...why is that?" He was blunt and honest and didn't beat around the bush. He addressed a legitimate concern that he had and gave me an opportunity to explain myself.

Confident speaking is key. We've all had an "off-day" on an exam...but you can't have 30 of them. Passion is important as well. I ended up receiving an offer from this company, beating out several other people with higher GPAs. I had multiple offers (received one just as I was pulling into the parking lot for a second interview with this company). When I was speaking with the VP of Engg about it later on, he said that part of the reason was that he really knew that I wanted to be there and that dedication meant that I would do a great job, regardless of the fact that my GPA was not quite what he was looking for. After completing an internship, I continued to work there part time and after a while, received an offer to come back full-time.

It's an interview, man. Sell yourself and be honest. Don't bullshit them, as they'll see right through it and write you off.

That's actually an awesome interview tactic. Very different and fresh. :)

[A790]

Originally posted by gretz


No offense, but GPA is almost a direct assessment of your intellectual level, which ties in with how well you can learn.
Bullllllllshit.

GPA is a direct result of how much you studied. Anybody can learn something if they put enough effort into doing so.

That statement sounds like something a career-student would say.

Newslfash folks: you are not your GPA. I mean, yea, try to do well and all that stuff, but your GPA won't be what defines you (unless you're a doctor or something).

[kvg]

^ I would agree with gretz. Your GPA might not say how successful you'll be, but it does show at the very least a lack of focus or inability to learn. When your in school your job is to learn and if you aren't focused and doing a good job is that magically going to change when you get a job? After school you might be far more focused, but this is a way for your future employers to assess you abilities as your new in the field.

[Penis McNickels]

Originally posted by A790

Bullllllllshit.

GPA is a direct result of how much you studied. Anybody can learn something if they put enough effort into doing so.


No, some people are just stupid.

[ZorroAMG]

Originally posted by A790

Bullllllllshit.

GPA is a direct result of how much you studied. Anybody can learn something if they put enough effort into doing so.

That statement sounds like something a career-student would say.

Newslfash folks: you are not your GPA. I mean, yea, try to do well and all that stuff, but your GPA won't be what defines you (unless you're a doctor or something).

Agreed but if you wasted 4+ years not studying, that's a perfectly good indicator that you won't study all that much in the real world...

Meh, I finished with a 3.2 back in the day and it was never a factor in my interviews, just depends on the career path. I remember back in the late 90's early '00 Merryl lynch and the likes wouldn't even look at you if your gpa was below 3.7...LOL what a FUN workplace that would be haha!

[tch7]

Originally posted by A790
GPA is a direct result of how much you studied.
Nah. If that were the case I should have had a much lower GPA.

GPA is a reflection of a person's ability to identify what matters and set priorities accordingly - which are very important characteristics to employers. There are exceptions and GPA in itself doesn't tell the whole story, but a 4.0 probably means a lack of balance, and a 2.0 probably means you're not taking things seriously enough.

[flipstah]

GPA is an inverse measurement of how much you enjoyed college. :)

Obviously, GTFO <2.0GPA.

[J-D]

Originally posted by flipstah
GPA is an inverse measurement of how much you enjoyed college. :)

Obviously, GTFO &lt;2.0GPA.

I don't think you can actually get a degree with <2.0 GPA.

[flipstah]

Originally posted by J-D


I don't think you can actually get a degree with &lt;2.0 GPA.

Oh yeah... I guess the party stops at 2.0 lol.

[e31]

I used to give transcripts more attention when I started hiring summer students. However after hiring 2 people (1 each summer) based on good grades, I realized that these people turned out to be total morons. As in they couldn't use a fucking screwdriver, or had Velcro shoes. What is a person supposed to do when you are looking for an employee and find them hiding under their desk in the dark? These were supposedly 3rd year Uni (for shame U of C), but I think the problem was mainly because they were Chinese exchange students. :dunno:

I'm pretty sure if they came across any trade secrets while working for me, their ineptitude would keep them from sending that info back home.

[[GaGe]]

Originally posted by tch7

Nah. If that were the case I should have had a much lower GPA.

GPA is a reflection of a person's ability to identify what matters and set priorities accordingly - which are very important characteristics to employers. There are exceptions and GPA in itself doesn't tell the whole story, but a 4.0 probably means a lack of balance, and a 2.0 probably means you're not taking things seriously enough.

This. As long as your GPA isn't terrible and you can explain how your priorities have impacted your GPA, you'll be fine.

I went into my interview with a 3.0 GPA and explained how I prioritized my 25-30 hour work weeks with my full 5-6 course loads. Ended up getting hired over another candidate I knew with around a 4.0 GPA. Although, I almost didn't get an interview because of my FB photos :rofl:

I'm not sure what your situation is OP, but if you have anything under a 2.8 with little work experience and other priorities, you're probably screwed if the interviewer is very GPA oriented. Best bet would be to avoid discussing your GPA in that case.

[CUG]

Originally posted by A790

Bullllllllshit.

GPA is a direct result of how much you studied. Anybody can learn something if they put enough effort into doing so.

Yep. I did NOT have a good semester, went into exams with a mediocre average and came out with stellar final marks.

A GPA just tells you how good you are at doing exams. Oh? You can cram the F out of the 2 days pre-exam? You must be highly intellectual, and I bet your GPA reflects that. :rofl: There's people in some of my classes with worse marks than I that produced a lot better overall work than I did (this semester). Not saying they're smarter or dumber, I'm just great at exams.

[codetrap]

Originally posted by gretz


No offense, but GPA is almost a direct assessment of your intellectual level, which ties in with how well you can learn...
Originally posted by A790

Bullllllllshit.

GPA is a direct result of how much you studied. Anybody can learn something if they put enough effort into doing so.

That statement sounds like something a career-student would say.

Newslfash folks: you are not your GPA. I mean, yea, try to do well and all that stuff, but your GPA won't be what defines you (unless you're a doctor or something).
I agree with Gretz. While I also agree with A790 that GPA is tied to how much you studied, it's not that simple. You can study your ass off, and still be completely without clue at the end of it if you're as dumb as a sack of hammers to start out with.

Having a higher GPA shows that you have the motivation and focus, coupled with the ability to comprehend what you're studying.

There are of course, always mitigating factors, like tch7 pointed out as well, and of course GaGe. It's all part of the whole package you're attempting to sell to your future employer. I suspect that GaGe is probably more the exception, than the rule, and a lot of people with a lower GPA would simply choke at the question, whereas GaGe had a *very* good answer.

[max_boost]

Wow, even the Sushi Monster is all grown up and done University now.

[CapnCrunch]

Very high GPA's and very low GPA's are usually indicative of someone who's socially retarded.

Just remember, you'll use your GPA once in your lifetime to get a job. After your first job, no one will ever ask you about it again.

[gt2871r]

Originally posted by flipstah
GPA is an inverse measurement of how much you enjoyed college. :)

Obviously, GTFO &lt;2.0GPA.

What if you enjoy dominating every single class you take?

[Feruk]

Originally posted by gt2871r
What if you enjoy dominating every single class you take?
Then you'd typically be the type of snot nosed prick I wouldn't enjoy working with. That's more of a generalization though and I know a few exceptions.

[gt2871r]

Originally posted by Feruk

Then you'd typically be the type of snot nosed prick I wouldn't enjoy working with. That's more of a generalization though and I know a few exceptions.

Everybody is different. I love how people also generalize in saying that you have to be this drunken idiot who parties all the time to enjoy post secondary. Some of us enjoy learning, are passionate about the material, and get personal satisfaction from doing well. Those are the people who get places, high GPA or not.

[Disoblige]

Originally posted by gt2871r


What if you enjoy dominating every single class you take?
Is a 3.31 in accounting considered dominance?

[turbotrip]

Originally posted by Disoblige

Is a 3.31 in accounting considered dominance?

a 3.3 in business is decent, not dominance

[gt2871r]

Originally posted by Disoblige

Is a 3.31 in accounting considered dominance?

Wasn't going to say anything else.

(2.88 + 3.74 + 2X)/4 = 3.655

Do the math.

http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread.php?s=&threadid=344778&perpage=20&highlight=&pagenumber=2

[Disoblige]

I want to know what you're really like in real life, wow :rofl:

[dimi]

Originally posted by gt2871r

(2.88 + 3.74 + 2X)/4 = 3.655

Do the math.

X=4

[dangleberries]

Originally posted by Disoblige

Is a 3.31 in accounting considered dominance? ya sure, is being manager at mcdinks considered domanince? answer is hell naw.

[dirtsniffer]

fucking finally

[Tram Common]

GPA means more in certain fields of study than it does in others.

Example:

Engineering vs. Communications

[Feruk]

Originally posted by gt2871r
Everybody is different. I love how people also generalize in saying that you have to be this drunken idiot who parties all the time to enjoy post secondary. Some of us enjoy learning, are passionate about the material, and get personal satisfaction from doing well. Those are the people who get places, high GPA or not.
I'd argue that the people who get places are the ones that are amazing at interacting with other people. Being intelligent and driven doesn't get you a CEO position unless you have the social skills to match it. As well, a high GPA doesn't indicate drive; it could just as easily indicate obedience towards your overbearing parents. As a generalization from my engineering working experience (graduated 5 years ago), the guys on the low end GPA wise have moved up within their companies while the guys on the high end have gone into more technical positions and have not moved.

[Mibz]

I don't know how it works in engineering, but management doesn't always mean "moving up" and technical doesn't mean "moving sideways". I have zero desire to go into management. I can make more money doing work I actually enjoy staying on the technical side, and that's not just now, it holds true for the rest of my career.

[Feruk]

Originally posted by Mibz
I can make more money doing work I actually enjoy staying on the technical side, and that's not just now, it holds true for the rest of my career.
Can you elaborate on this? I don't see how that can possibly be true. :dunno:

[Mibz]

You don't know any technical consultants that make well into triple digits per hour?

What industry are you in? What do you do?

If you can't imagine a non-manager making more than $200,000 a year then there must be a pretty big misunderstanding between us.

[davidI]

Originally posted by Mibz
You don't know any technical consultants that make well into triple digits per hour?


Word. I know some drilling consultants who are making $2k/day or $500k/year. They do provide a lot of managerial skills, but are not identified as managers on the org chart.

[Feruk]

Originally posted by Mibz
You don't know any technical consultants that make well into triple digits per hour?

What industry are you in? What do you do?

If you can't imagine a non-manager making more than $200,000 a year then there must be a pretty big misunderstanding between us.
Touche, consultants for sure. My mind was more focused on employees within corporations. We've got some 30+ years experienced geologists; I'd be shocked if they make middle management type cash.

[Mibz]

Originally posted by Feruk
Touche, consultants for sure. My mind was more focused on employees within corporations. We've got some 30+ years experienced geologists; I'd be shocked if they make middle management type cash. Yeah, no argument here. Loyalty and hard work at salaried positions seem to rarely get you the big bucks.

[flipstah]

Originally posted by Mibz
Yeah, no argument here. Loyalty and hard work at salaried positions seem to rarely get you the big bucks.

That is very depressing to read. :(

[dj_patm]

Definitely think the value employers put into GPA's has EVERYTHING to do with the field.

ONE company, out of around 20 asked for my GPA when I was applying for jobs for my internship.

BTW I work on a floor that is 99% engineers and it's boring as fuck. Everyone is quiet and awkward. There are probably 100 people on this floor and the 5 of us in Supply Chain are the only ones who seem to communicate with any body.

If thats the kind of workplace that these GPA cut-offs create, I'd pass.

[sputnik]

Originally posted by Mibz
I don't know how it works in engineering, but management doesn't always mean &quot;moving up&quot; and technical doesn't mean &quot;moving sideways&quot;. I have zero desire to go into management. I can make more money doing work I actually enjoy staying on the technical side, and that's not just now, it holds true for the rest of my career.

:werd:

However we are in IT. We constantly get new toys and technologies to play with.

When was the last time there was something new out there for an entry level auditor to do in his/her job.

People with graduate degrees, MBAs and pinky rings work their asses of just to get a comfy chair in a corner office and do nothing more than go to in meetings all day deciding how to make other peoples lives a living hell.

[sputnik]

Originally posted by Feruk

Touche, consultants for sure. My mind was more focused on employees within corporations. We've got some 30+ years experienced geologists; I'd be shocked if they make middle management type cash.

How many salaried middle-management types make $200k/year?

Most managers I know are barely making $100k/year and a few might be around the $150k mark.

Unless of course you consider directors/VPs in the "middle management" realm.

[Neil4Speed]

Originally posted by sputnik


How many salaried middle-management types make $200k/year?


Give me a position example with the industry + City/Province, and I can give you a good percentage if you want an idea.

[turbotrip]

Originally posted by sputnik
Most managers I know are barely making $100k/year and a few might be around the $150k mark.


i'd be surprised to see a manager making $100k or less, unless you're talking about strictly IT

[dj_patm]

Originally posted by turbotrip


i'd be surprised to see a manager making $100k or less, unless you're talking about strictly IT

Senior Managers in big box retailers make around 60-70K a year. Not until the Director level do they start to crack 100k.

[FraserB]

That sucks.:eek:

[dj_patm]

Yeah it does.

I used to have a whole outline of the salary structure at one of the biggest retailers in Calgary up to Senior Director.

Basically, you won't get a sniff of anything above 65,000 until your a senior manager or have been with the company for like, 10 years.

I quit because moving out comfortably on my own while working with that company is nearly impossible and the amount of work and stress that my managers had to do was insane relative to the pay.

Also they treat their employees like shit.