<p>So say I graduated college (top 10 uni, a bit of grade inflation) with like a 3.9 to 4.0 GPA majoring in mechanical engineering. But I didn't do any preprofessional clubs, I didn't do any summer internships, and I haven't networked at all. Basically all I just do in college is get good grades, party, chill, and do theater. </p>
<p>Anyways with just a 4.0 GPA in a tough major would I be able to reasonably get one of the competitive money-making jobs or something (wall street, consulting, venture capital, whatever)? I don't see myself wanting that type of job at this point but I just kinda want to know if it's possible without the typical preparation. I wouldn't be completely averse to building up a nice stock of cash before heading off to Hollywood or Broadway or Peru or wherever. </p>
<p>Assume that I wouldn't have much to say in my interview about the field I want to work in. I do, though, have fantastic eyes/smile, dress really nicely, and I'm a good thinker (like for those consulting questions).</p>
<p>If you are at a top ten school with a great GPA you will get the interview. Once you get to the interview all applicants are on the same playing field (although if you apply to finance positions they will ask you more fit questions than technical questions).</p>
<p>So your GPA will get you the interview, but it is how well you do in the interview that determines whether or not you get the offer.</p>
<p>If you get a first round interview, your GPA is high enough, and your resume gives the recruiters the impression that you may be qualified for the job.
If you get a second round interview day, you are qualified for the job, but the recruiters are now looking to see if you fit with the company and perform under pressure. They also want to see how impressive you are in relation to other candidates who are just as qualified as you, if not more qualified; for example, you may be more technically qualified than one of your peers, but he could be better at interpersonal interactions, and if he is good enough at it, he could feasibly get the job over you.
Basically, like maxellis said, your GPA only counts when it comes to getting a first round interview. After that it is basically irrelevant. </p>
<p>As for your situation, put yourself in the shoes of a recruiter. Would you rather have someone with no experience or leadership but a stellar GPA, or would you rather have someone with work experience and campus leadership but with a slightly worse GPA? </p>
<p>What I’m saying is get a job. Do something you enjoy and really dive into it. Same with campus involvement. You can make just about ANY job relevant to any other industry, so it doesn’t necessarily have to be an industry internship, but seriously, you gotta do something. Life is boring otherwise</p>
Yeah I do summer jobs and theater, all of which I enjoy tremendously, but these aren’t things that would apply to those 6-figure prestigious jobs. My most academic club, which is quiz bowl, doesn’t really apply to anything either. </p>
<p>Basically my dilemma is that, down the road, I may want one of those 6-figure jobs. But I want to enjoy college, which for me is pretty much doing what I’m doing now (classes, partying, chilling, and theater). I don’t want to have to do anything against my will just so I can look good in an interview. Well actually if that’s the only way to get one of those jobs then I may just have to suck it up.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help guys. Just to clarify, my intelligence/grades alone won’t get me past the interview stage most likely, right? Companies won’t take a chance on someone who has done nothing relevant but who is really smart?</p>
<p>Are you sure you’re completely opposed to any work experience or internships at all? Are you sure you don’t have any ideas for clubs you want to join (or, if you want, start or run)? I think you should probably at least check some out; you might actually enjoy the work (or at least find out you won’t before it becomes Your Career) and it can’t hurt to have firsthand experience in a firm when sitting for an interview, even setting aside the resume bonus. </p>
<p>What’s been said above is pretty true. It’s hard to get a competitive entry-level job when you’ve chosen to accomplish slightly less than most of your competitors. The company might decide to “take a chance” on someone who has a comparable GPA and has work experience and interviews well instead. I’m not saying it’s impossible and you’re screwed; I just think it’s not worth it to fight with one hand tied behind your back, so to speak, when the other men and women you’re competing with won’t be so kind.</p>
<p>There’s likely to be plenty of people who are “really smart” like you, who also have invested time into internships and similar programs.</p>
<p>Person A: 4.0 GPA and that’s it.</p>
<p>Person B: 3.0 GPA plus two successful summer internships in their profession, including strong letters of recommendation from supervisors.</p>
<p>Person B didn’t get perfect grades, but has proven their ability in real-world work situations. Nobody knows anything about how Person A will perform in a work environment. Person B might well get the job over Person A.</p>
<p>Ehhh, summer jobs and theater. That is essentially what I did all through college (that and a few other things, leadership stuff, campus jobs, fraternity, etc), and not only did it not hurt me in the job hunt, it wound up being the entirety of my resume. </p>
<p>How can you show anything to a company if you have no real work experience? Let’s say you join a theater troupe in college. You like it, you are dedicated and you become treasurer. The treasurer of my performing arts group on campus works with over $200,000 of annual cash flow. He has to collect dues from 35 people in the group and solicit donations from hundreds of alumni, family and friends. He also has to book professional performances, which means that he has to be comfortable negotiating payment with clients on a daily basis (and yes, that means that sometimes he has to turn down performance opportunities because they aren’t willing to pay our minimum). That job isn’t paid and it isn’t an internship, but it might as well be a finance job.</p>
<p>I waited tables for six years, including three summers with the same restaurant. By the end of my time I had done literally every job in the restaurant except owning it (including managing, cooking, cleaning, purchasing, everything) at some point or other. That meant that I had extensive experience speaking to people a heck of a lot older than I. I had to be comfortable hearing them complain about food and occasionally explain to the customer why he was NOT always right! In my cover letter, that experience was a perfect way to explain in concrete terms what I mean when I say I am dedicated to the success of a company – I am willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, even if it means taking the reservation, seating the customer, taking their order, cooking the food and cleaning the dishes myself.</p>
<p>You cannot underestimate the value of campus involvement and summer jobs. Why? Because that is the most real experience you can get as an undergraduate. Internships are good but, like careers, they don’t drop out of the sky. You need to prove that you have a history of success in order to get the job.</p>