College Graduate Interview Question: Do You Believe Your GPA Accurately Reflects Your Abilities?
With little work experience, recruiters have to assume that your education makes you qualified for the role. Your GPA is the best barometer of how you did in college, but it is not always the best indicator of your abilities.
How to Answer
If you had a great GPA, you can answer with “yes” and focus on all of the great things you accomplished, or the hard work you put into your education, etc. However, you need to remember where you are applying. A “Great” GPA is not a 3.3 or 3.1. It may not even be a 3.5. If you are applying to a competitive job, 3.5 is considered average. Only assume you have a great GPA if you were above 3.8, unless you are applying to a more entry level, noncompetitive position. If you have a not-great GPA, briefly give an excuse that doesn’t reflect poorly on you, and discuss the activities you did that make you still qualified.
Bad Answer
“No. I think I could have done better than my 3.2. I struggled in a few classes but I am sure I could have done a lot better, and I am a much better employee than me GPA indicates.
This may be truthful, but it does not really say how you are still a good candidate. What reason do they have to believe you?
Good Answer
“No, not at all. I was working through college and did not have as much time to study as I would have liked. But I did have an opportunity to intern for DataCorp, as well as research with Drs. Name and NameTwo,so I feel I have had more work experience than others in my position, and I held a 3.8 GPA within the core classes of my friend, which I think are a much better indicator of my abilities.”
There you give a brief excuse for your poor performance and actual reasons that you are still a great candidate despite your grades.
Take Away Interview Tips
- Keep the excuse brief.
- Use non-clichés to explain why you are still a great candidate.
