You might be wondering how to include GPA or Grade Point Average on resume. In this post, you will find out who should put GPA on CV (Curriculum Vitae), when is it important to display the marks or score, and who should avoid it.
GPA on resume should be mentioned right at the top if you are a recent graduate; especially if your score is above 3.5. It tells the recruiters about your sincerity while studying. However, if you are an experienced professional, you can altogether ignore it or just mention it along with your educational qualifications.
Your score can be instrumental in getting you your first job. According to the survey by the national association of colleges and employers, 67 per cent of companies screen their candidates based on GPA. However, in for experienced professionals, including scores may not prove to be fruitful. You should evaluate your specific personal situation before putting in your educational percentages or grades.
You can also read our comprehensive guide on resume to understand what makes a good resume.
GPA on Resume: A Complete Guide
Who Should Include GPA on CV?
There no specific rule for displaying GPA on CV. Different experts have different opinions.
Including grades on CV depends on what your score was in the school, how long have you been out of the school, and for how long have you been employed. It also depends on your chosen career field and your achievements in that field.
You should add your score to your CV only if you have a high percentage. Many employers believe the strong educational score is a sign that a candidate will be able to handle the job pressure.
When to Write Marks?
You can mention your marks:
- while applying for job/internship – When you have recently passed out or have just graduated and you are applying for your first job or an internship, then you should list your educational score on your CV.
- when you have a high percentage – If you have scored well then you must mention your percentage. You should do it even if it has been a few years after passing out. This will tell recruiters that you were industrious and sincere.
- if employer has asked for it – If a company has explicitly mentioned in their job description that they want to see the grades, then you have no choice but to share your score.
When Not to Show Marks?
You can avoid mentioning your marks:
- if you have a good work experience – After a few years of experience, recruiters give more weight to the work experience than to the grades. If you have a good working experience of more than 3 years or so then your educational numbers will serve no purpose.
- if you have dropped out of college/school – If you have a specific situation, in which you had to leave your college or school, then you should not put your marks on your CV. This can work against you. In such a case, you should highlight your achievements and awards.
- if you have scored low marks – If you have not scored well i.e. if your grades are below 3.5, then you can either ignore mentioning your marks or include it somewhere in the middle of CV. In this case also, you should highlight your achievements and awards.
How to Put Grades on CV?
If you have got good grades and add them in the right manner, it will give a positive impression to the recruiters. Here are a few points that you should take care of while mentioning your grades:
- Mention them in the education section – You should list your score in the education section just after the school or college name. It is not good to list scores along the awards and honors section. These are two different sections and they have a different purpose.
- Be honest – You should never lie on your CV. It is the biggest mistake any individual can do. If your grades are low simply leave them out. If the recruiter encounters anything fishy, your candidature will be rejected.
- Use major score – If your overall score is not good you have got good grades in your major then you should put only major grade on your CV. Make sure to mention this under the ‘major GPA’ sub-heading. However, if you had scored pretty well in all subjects, then you should mention all of them separately.
- Use College score – If you have performed well in your college then you should highlight your college score. Furthermore, you should mention your high-school score, if they too were good.
Here are a few examples that will help you in preparing your CV.
Example 1:
XYZ College of Arts, 2016-2020
Bachelors of Arts, Major in Economics, Minor in History
- Major GPA – 3.9 / 4.0
- Overall GPA – 3.5 / 4.0
Example 2:
ABC College of Science, 2018-2020
M.Sc. Mathematics
- Cumulative Score – 3.8 / 4.0
How to Round Up Your Score?
Should you round up your score before putting it in your resume?
The simple answer to is ‘Yes’. You should round it up to one decimal place. You can check the following examples for more understanding:
Example 1:
If your grade is 3.49, you can round it to 3.5
In the above example, it is acceptable to round up to one decimal place.
Example 2:
If your grade is 3.99, you should not round it to 4.0
In the above example, it is not acceptable to round up to one decimal place because 4.0 is reserved for a perfect grade. So consider leaving it to 3.99.
Example 3:
If your grade is 3.515, you can round it to 3.5
In the above example, rounding-off will lower your grade but this is how it should be done.
Other Considerations
You would know that education system and career demands changes from country to country, In addition, different organizations have different recruiting styles. Here are a few other points that you must consider while preparing your CV:
- In India, students get a mark sheet or report card and their total performance score is in the form of a percentage. You should mention your marks on your CV as per the grading system prevalent in your country.
- Some companies give more weight to the academic score while others give more weight to practical exposure like internship, training, etc. You should tweak your resume depending on the expectations of the company you are applying to.
- It is important to maintain good grades when you are looking for a career in fields like banking, medical, aerospace engineer, etc. which require high academic performance. On the other hand, a career in fashion, photography, writing, sports, etc doesn’t require higher marks.
Conclusion
Don’t worry if you do not have good marks. You can just ignore mentioning them at the top.
In fact, after a few years, your score or overall percentage wouldn’t matter. Recruiters look for skills and total experience of working professionals.
Your CV is all about summarizing your competencies and skills, so a low grade will not impact you in the longer run. Just relax and focus on the preparation for the interview. Because you can justify yourself in an interview about your skills.
You should also check my other article to understand the finer points of compiling a compelling resume.
Over to You
What has been your experience about listing marks on the resume? What is your own preference? What did your friends do?
I would love to hear your comments.