GPA is not relevant as a recruitment and selection criterion for whether a candidate will make a good employee.
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GPA is not relevant as a recruitment and selection criterion for whether a candidate will make a good employee.
There are a couple of key points:
1. Candidates with lower GPAs turn out to be more innovative at workplaces than their higher-GPA counterparts. The former usually take on new challenges while developing strategies in response to new opportunities.
2. Employers look for collaboration/teamwork, communication skills, problem-solving skills, analytical capabilities, and resiliency.
3. WIL (work-integrated-learning) is of prime importance. WIL includes apprenticeships, internships, co-ops and/or hackathons for programmers. These activities increase one’s job readiness and career outcomes.
Takeaways?
Dos:
- apprenticeships, internships, co-ops and/or hackathons for programmers
- Activities in which you can enhance your collaboration/teamwork, communication skills, problem-solving skills, analytical capabilities, and resiliency.
Don’ts:
- Pulling an all-nighter to ace your elective (non-major) courses
- Becoming overly depressed by your GPA
Sidenotes
If you are considering pursuing a Master’s or MBA in the future, make sure you get at least GPA 3.25 (equivalent of B+) as most of the graduate schools do not accept students below that mark.
Talk to BA Career Consultant to discuss your career strategy:
https://goo.gl/fUWubW