How much does GPA really affect a student after they graduated? Do employer’s look at GPA after one finishes undergrad and graduate school (don’t know if they do GPA in grad school as I am only and undergrad student.) If so, how much does it effect them? What is the GPA used for? Do all employers look at GPA or does having the degree matter more?
Generally for your first job they will look at GPA. Some employers will not consider an applicant with a GPA below a 3.5 or a 3.0. However, as time goes on your performance at work is what matters and not your GPA. There are plenty of successful grads gainfully employed with good careers with crappy undergrad gpa’s.
If you are in a technical field then having a low undergrad GPA approaching 2.0 then you may lack the skills needed for success on that first job. Engineering/CS/accounting etc. employers are the ones likely to require a 3.0 GPA for an interview.
My child got a great internship with under a 3.0 but this child interviews very well and knows their stuff. So there is no hard fast rule but just know some companies may rule you out but jobs are not just a function of your gpa. My husband messed up college and has a top 5 MBA.
Yes, it can affect you for a long time. It definitely is an issue for the first job. Some have stringent gpa requirements.
But “can” and “will” are two separate words. It often does not. If you are successful in your job path, it’s unlikely it will come up, less likely as time goes on, but it’s possible. Some job might ask and it might make a difference.
If you decide to go back to school for a graduate degree, some other educational program, professional school, it will very much be an issue.
Many employers use college GPA as an initial screen to determine which college student applicants (for first jobs at graduation or internships/co-ops) to interview or prioritize for interviews. The most common college GPA used in such screening is 3.0. Of course, once you get to the interview, how well you do in the interview is what matters – but those with college GPA < 3.0 are likely to have fewer interviews.
College GPA becomes less important for job applications after one has significant work experience after college graduation.
Obviously, college GPA will still matter if you later apply to graduate or professional school.
When I graduated from a top 25 law school with 2.9 GPA, I got many interviews, but after they looked at my GPA, their interest in me dissipated like the way waves blows up as foams. I am a great believer in learning languages and cultures if you want to develop “hooks” for your career, and it was my language skills that allowed me to do well when I established my own law office.
It all depends(like so much else in life). As web highlights, if you’re talking about law school, you’ll be asked for several years after graduation what your GPA was, and for some law jobs will be required to submit transcripts even if you are years out of law school.
But other professions it appears to be different. It appears that while GPA(or its equivalent) plays a part in getting that first job in the health professions, after a few years it’s professional experience which is most important.
It really does depend on the job you apply to after college. If there is a GPA requirement or if there’s a “desired” GPA on the job post, the employer will use the number to possibly screen through resumes since there are a lot of applicants.
But, your experience and drive + skills, are more important than GPA.
I have a lot of friends that are unemployed right now with 3.9+ GPA’s and I am the only one employed with a great full-time job with a lower GPA than them.
We all have the same major (Business) btw.
Just try to get internships or experience in your field and keep hustling.
It’s most important if you are still a student or graduated within the past 3 years. After that, your job history matters more.