This article was featured on the front page of msn.com earlier. I'm not sure I agree with what's in it (I didn't read it carefully) but here's my take on GPAs and resumes: don't ever put your GPA on there.
Four reasons for this.
- You're wasting a whole line. Space is horrifically valuable on a resume. You're either crowding the important parts (oops) or you're pushing content onto the second page (resume -> trash).
- If they really want to see it, they'll ask. Employers who want you to hit some mark (> 3.0, for example) will ask if it's not printed on there.
- Don't give employers an opportunity to turn you into a number. Even though most employers don't care about the number, they're often in a position where they're trying to compare a stack of bloated and otherwise indifferentiable resumes. The number invites comparison. And there's always someone out there with a higher number.
- ...and if you really do have a 4.0, you should know better. If you're a superstar, you should be working your network to get a job instead of mailing out resumes. If you've got a 4.0 but don't know how to get a job before you apply for a job, then your skillset is lopsided and that's not something you want to advertise.
Come on, people. The number is the last thing you want employers to think about.
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