Do you know the GPA companies want when hiring? You might think that your GPA is only important when you’re in college. Your GPA, the grade point average, is the average of your grades from all the courses you have taken. At the end of each semester, it is important to calculate your GPA for that semester and for your entire college career.
Your GPA is important in order to stay in good academic standing. You might have a scholarship that requires a particular GPA. You might be satisfied with the thoughts of having passed all of your courses. The most important thing is getting your degree or diploma, right? Wrong? If you want to secure your dream job, you must have the GPA companies want when hiring.
How Employers Evaluate GPA
HR managers often refer to applicants’ GPAs. Most employers use GPAs to evaluate how well an employee might perform in the workplace. They want to be sure that you are able to take on the pressure that the job might entail.
Really, a potential employer wants to ensure that you are a hard worker. Your GPA is a symbol of how well you performed in school. It tells an employer about your work ethic. They will be checking to see how quickly you can learn new skills and complete tasks. They want to know that you are motivated.
Your GPA is just one way that a future employer will decide whether to hire you. Corporate writers can attest to this. Irrespective of your degree, organizations want to be sure that you can stay committed to completing every writing job you are given. This is why it’s important to keep your GPA up throughout your time in college. A couple of less impressive semesters can lower your GPA too.
How To Calculate your GPA
You’re probably wondering how to start calculating your GPA. How do you know what your GPA should be? How can you be sure that it’s high enough for your future employer? It’s tricky to figure this out. All it takes is to discuss with a few potential employers or do some research.
The best step is to work hard to increase your GPA while you’re still in college. If you’ve already graduated and are looking for a job, it’s too late to raise your GPA. This is why freshmen are advised to set GPA goals. The idea is to give every student something concrete to focus on.
Standards vary for different employers, though. Some are going to care more about your GPA than others. Luckily, in the freelance writing world, employers tend to care less about GPA. What matters most is the quality of your work and how much writing experience you have had.
If you’re gunning for a teaching career, ensure that your GPA is the best it can be. The admissions panel are likely to give scholarships and teaching assistantship positions to applicants who have very high GPAs.
Moreover, research shows that some companies expect not less than a 3.0 GPA. Some companies will prefer a 3.5 GPA.
Once you know what you want, it is easier to plan your future.
GPA requirements from Major Companies
Below are some expected GPA requirements from major companies. You can use these as references for setting GPA-related goals.
Apple requires its employees to have a 2.7 GPA. GE (General Electric) requires a 3.0 GPA. It’s important to be aware of these numbers. At the same time, you should pay attention to the other ways that employers evaluate their candidates.
For example, Google and Microsoft have decided not to use someone’s GPA to determine whether to hire them. They are more focused on a candidate’s skills and marketability.
Freelance hiring platforms do not judge candidates by their college GPAs. This makes it easier for you to earn a lot of money as a freelance writer, irrespective of your college GPA.
Other Factors Employers want
Remember that GPA is just one criteria potential employers use to judge your employability status. They want to hire smart workers who can handle the job.
It is best to apply for jobs, like creative writing jobs, even if you don’t meet the required GPA. Your skills might lie within the required margin, and this can give you an advantage.
Additionally, some companies can make exceptions for very marketable employees who don’t meet all of the requirements.
If you don’t have a great GPA, you aren’t doomed. Some employers or adcoms might request a legitimate reason for your GPA not meeting their expectations. For example, major health reasons or being in the military can be an acceptable excuse for lower grades.
Now, you might still be wondering how many employers actually look into a candidate’s GPA. According to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 67% of employers check a candidate’s GPA. This goes to show just how important your GPA is. It’s essential that you maintain a high enough GPA so that you are able to impress your potential employer.
Don’t Neglect other factors
Of course, you don’t want to focus too heavily on your GPA and neglect the other important areas of getting a job. Find the balance between getting a solid GPA and building up marketable skills. This combination can help you to land that dream job!
While you’re in college, you can calculate your GPA by using online GPA calculators. These can help you to know exactly what your GPA is and what to expect. You can then get extra help as needed in order to keep your GPA high enough! What else can you do with this calculator? You can use it to work out your gallons to pint conversion rate, if you ever have to work in the medical profession and if you need to calculate an amount of pints in a Gallon.
Finally, on GPA Companies Want When Hiring
A high GPA doesn’t necessarily guarantee you the job. Employers have expectations, but there aren’t any hard and fast rules. They want to see that you can handle your responsibilities and work hard in other ways too. Be sure to tell a potential employer if you worked throughout college or if you were the president of an organization.
These are marketable skills that can give you an edge over other candidates, regardless of your GPA.
Written By Daniel
Photo credit: Tran Mau Tri Tam on Unsplash