How and When To Include GPA on Your Resume

If you're unsure whether to include your GPA on your resume, you're not alone. Understanding how to write a resume that effectively showcases your qualifications is crucial.

First, determine if providing your GPA is necessary for the job you're targeting. A recent survey found that only 38.3% of employers plan to use GPA as a criterion in their hiring process.

This shift reflects a broader move towards evaluating candidates based on diverse skills and experiences beyond academic performance. Therefore, consider whether your GPA enhances your application or if other aspects of your background better demonstrate your suitability for the role.

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Should you put your GPA on your resume?

This is the million-dollar question. But first, you need to answer a few other questions:

• Have you recently graduated?
• Are you lacking in professional work experience?
• Is your GPA over 3.5?
• Is a GPA relevant to the position you’re applying for?

If you answered yes to all of these, you should likely include your GPA on your resume. However, if you answered no to any of them, it might be better to go ahead and leave it out.

Is rounding up your GPA on your resume acceptable?

Rounding your GPA up can be a delicate issue, and opinions can vary among employers and career advisors. Keep these points in mind:

Honesty and integrity: Your resume should accurately reflect your qualifications and achievements. Misrepresenting your GPA, even by rounding up, can be seen by many as dishonest. Employers value integrity, and any indication that you’re not being completely honest can be a red flag.

Rounding norms: If you do choose to round your GPA, it's generally acceptable to round to the nearest tenth (e.g., 3.56 to 3.6). However, rounding up a 3.45 to 3.5, for example, might be seen as misleading. It's important to note that there's a difference between rounding* and inflating* your GPA.

Transcripts and verification: Remember that many employers may request a copy of your transcripts for verification purposes, especially if your academic background is a key factor in the hiring process. Any discrepancies between your resume and your official transcripts can lead to questions about your honesty.

So, rounding your GPA may be a bad idea if it’s going to mislead your potential employer. Take caution and only do so to the nearest tenth.

Overall GPA versus Major GPA

As a student you have two different Grade Point Averages: your overall GPA and your major GPA.

• Overall GPA: Takes into consideration all the grades you have received throughout your college or university studies, across all courses. Overall GPA provides a comprehensive view of your academic abilities and work ethic.
• Major GPA: This refers to the grades you received in courses specifically related to your major area of study. Major GPA can be particularly relevant if the courses are closely related to the job or industry you're targeting.

Which one to include on your resume

• If your overall GPA is strong: Display your overall GPA if it's strong (3.5 or above) and reflects well on your overall academic performance. It's a good indicator of your work ethic and ability to perform across a range of subjects.
• If your major GPA is higher: If your major GPA is significantly higher than your overall GPA and relevant to the job you're applying for, consider including it either instead of or alongside your overall GPA.

You have a couple of options when listing them, you can:

• Include both: Provide both to showcase your academic achievements fully. For example, "Overall GPA: 3.6, Major GPA: 3.8".
• Choose the best one: Choose the one that’s most relevant and favorable to your job application. For instance, if applying for a technical job related to your major, your major GPA (if higher) would be more relevant.

How to correctly put your GPA on your resume

If you have decided to include your GPA, let’s make sure to do it the right way!It’s going to go in the education section on your resume, but here are a few more things you should NOT overlook:

Where to Place Your GPA:

• Place it near your degree and the name of your institution.

How to Format Your GPA:

• Keep your resume GPA to two decimal places (e.g., 3.67). This is precise without being overly detailed.
• You may round your GPA to the nearest tenth (e.g., 3.7) for simplicity, but make sure this doesn’t significantly misrepresent your actual performance.
• Label it clearly by writing "GPA" followed by the score, such as "GPA: 3.67."

Additional Tips:

• If your major GPA is significantly higher than your overall GPA, and it's relevant to the job, you might choose to include it as well. Clearly label it as "Major GPA" to avoid confusion.

Here’s a basic example with GPA:

* Note: For the above GPA of 3.68, it would be acceptable to round it up to 3.7.

Here’s another example. However, this time we include both the overall GPA and the major GPA:

What to put on your resume instead of your GPA?

If you happen to not have an extremely strong GPA, there are still many things you can add to your resume to make yourself stand out to employers. Focusing on these aspects can illustrate your skills, experiences, and achievements that could be more relevant to the job you’re applying for:

• Relevant work experience
• Projects and portfolio 
• Skills
• Certifications and courses
• Awards and honors
• Extracurricular activities
• Volunteer work
• Professional affiliations
• Publications and presentations
• Relevant coursework

By emphasizing these elements, you can create a compelling resume that highlights your strengths and abilities beyond your GPA. Tailor your resume to each job application, focusing on the experiences and skills most relevant to the job description to make the strongest impact.

Conclusion

Deciding whether to include your GPA on your resume ultimately depends on its relevance and impact. If it strengthens your qualifications for the role, especially in early career stages, it can be a valuable addition.

However, as you gain more experience, your skills, achievements, and professional contributions take center stage. By understanding how to write a resume that underlines what matters most to employers, you can ensure your application stands out for the right reasons.