<p>I graduated last year from University of Michigan and has been wandering what to do. The four years in the school's aerospace department was pretty rough for me - tough classes and competitive classmates (curved grading). Despite the efforts I made, I only got an overall GPA of 3.5. In the last two years prior to graduation, I was frustrated very often because my grades are not improving and became quite dismal because I do not know what I can do after school. I want to work, but seeing my incompetency and my classmates' ability, I doubt that I can get any jobs at a large aerospace firm. But I want you guys opinion on whether I do have a shoot at getting such a job?</p>
<p>Thank you for replying. But is it good? Good enough for a job at Boeing? Please don’t get me wrong for my intentions.</p>
<p>My classmates had crazy GPAs and plenty of outstanding extra curriculum activities. They are out there accomplishing feats while I spent four years huddled in my dorm studying. In comparison, I am not even close to do what they have accomplished and my resume are just plain bleak. That is why I am frustrated. And not to mention that studying does not corresponds to grades.</p>
<p>sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. I would like to know what companies like how good of a shoot I am at getting a job.</p>
<p>What are you doing now – just sitting at home? It’s been 10 months since you graduated. Are you looking for jobs/internships. Companies like Boeing or any other company for that matter are not going to come knocking at your door.</p>
<p>I read this with the most confused look on my face the entire time. You got a 3.5 from UMich and you are crying about it? Your friends got “crazy” GPA’s huh? Well they couldn’t be more than .5 more than yours. Suck it up, you did good, go try, stop wondering.</p>
<p>Also, why are you not working now?? I hope we are mistaken about this.</p>
Your GPA is more than adequate for any employer I have heard of, but GPA is not everything. If you are not getting interviews or offers, I highly doubt that it is due to either your pedigree or GPA.</p>
<p>Are you applying for entry-level positions that do not require specific knowledge of a certain technical area? Some companies still want candidates to have prior experience in something.</p>
A 3.5 GPA is obviously fine. However, you would likely have been in a better position if you used some of that “four years huddled in my dorm studying” time to develop relevant experience and other accomplishments that lead to an impressive resume, even if it resulted in a small slip in GPA. While some (not all) companies do screen for a minimum GPA, that is far from the only thing they look for. A survey at CollegeGrad.com found that only 4% of entry level employers thought that GPA was the most important factor in hiring. The top 3 criteria for hiring decisions were the student’s major, interviewing skills, and experience.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about Boeing but it’s my general impression that it shouldn’t be especially hard to get a job there. But if they’ve interviewed you and decided they don’t want you, then they don’t want you. You gotta apply to more than just Boeing. </p>
<p>The company I’m at is hiring like crazy right now (like 1/4 of the size of the company each year), and while it’s not Aerospace, a job here is pretty good and there are lots of jobs for people with technical degrees that aren’t major specific. If you’re interested send me a PM. </p>
<p>I don’t know much about Boeing but it’s my general impression that it shouldn’t be especially hard to get a job there. But if they’ve interviewed you and decided they don’t want you, then they don’t want you. You gotta apply to more than just Boeing. </p>
<p>The company I’m at is hiring like crazy right now (like 1/4 of the size of the company each year), and while it’s not Aerospace, a job here is pretty good and there are lots of jobs for people with technical degrees that aren’t major specific. If you’re interested send me a PM and I’ll tell you the name. It’s still in the Midwest and they recruit very heavily at Michigan. </p>
<p>One division of Boeing that I am familiar with did have a minimum GPA of 3.0 for college grads. Obviously the higher the GPA the better your chances but if you passed that screen then GPA was not the biggest determining factor in hiring. What courses you took relevant to the job offered and your ability to function as a member of a team were larger factors. Your ability to function as a team member was usually demonstrated via project work and/or internships. You needed to be able to discuss your participation in those in detail. You also needed to do your homework and be able to discuss the products that were made by that division, usually as part of the shop tour.</p>