Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Should you Include GPA and Coursework on your Resume?

Your grade point in your resume speaks for your education and your level of overall academic success. It is vital to note these details on your resume; your interviewer will use it to determine your aptitude for learning which is important for new jobs and internships. Omit your grade point average and potential employers may wonder why. Generally speaking, those that omit GPA do so because they have a low score. If your GPA is above 3.0, make sure you include it on your resume. If you grade point average is 3.8 to 4.0, make sure you include that information in your cover letter also; it is something to be proud of.

You must also include a brief list of major coursework. This information offers information to a potential employer about subjects and areas of expertise that you have already been exposed to.

Your grade point average and major coursework speaks of your strengths and will enable your employer to immediately understand your ability to research, write and disseminate information. It is better to include your grade point average in your resume, as it is important for them to gauge you since you do not otherwise have any work experience so to say. It also provides you with a very solid reference, which is always desirable when you are first starting out in the working world.

It may look something like this:

Master of International Management – 3.8 GPA    May 2009
Name of College, City, ST
Specialty: International Marketing
Major Coursework: Business Management, Economics, Marketing, Sales, Corporate Finance
                        
However, you should not include your GPA if it is below 2.7. Wait until the interview when you can discuss your reasoning face to face with the employer.

It is particularly useful to mention your grade point average because there are certain careers, which assign a lot of importance to your grades and your academic performance. These would include, but are not limited to, jobs that place a heavy emphasis on math and science knowledge. Along with your grade point average, you must also make it a point to elaborate on your other capabilities such as successful research projects, internships or relevant community activities at school. All this goes a long way in getting that sought after job.

Including your grade point average in a resume enables you to be evaluated based on your future capabilities. This along with including tangible transferable skills on your resume is what will land you a great job. It is always advisable to present as much positive information on your resume as possible, especially given the very competitive nature of most jobs these days.