8 Tips on How to Get a Job with Average Grades

If we think of someone 'genius,' Albert Einstein would undoubtedly come off as a top answer to a Family Feud survey. Einstein is most famous for the groundbreaking theory of relativity, but Gary Arndt from Everything, Everywhere theorized that Einstein could have won 11 Nobel Prizes aside from his discovery of the photoelectric effect that earned him the award in 1921.

After all, many intellectuals who received the same prestigious distinction partly credit Einstein as an influence on their works. This reinforces Einstein's unquestionable stature as one of the most respected physicists of all time.

But believe it or not, Einstein wasn't particularly intellectually supreme in that he had average grades as a high school student. Sure, he had excellent remarks in mathematics; but in other subjects such as French, chemistry, and natural history, he was considered of average intellect in the context of not receiving the highest grades in the said subjects.

Einstein even hated his high school life at the Luitpold Gymnasium (now named after him) because of the authoritarian atmosphere there. He eventually dropped out and enrolled in the cantonal school of Aarau in Switzerland, where he spoke highly of the school being liberal, the stark opposite of his former high school which he unflinchingly regarded with loathing.

His school in Aarau used the old method of scoring grades from 1 to 6, with 1 being the highest. Einstein scored 1 in his math and violin classes, 1-2 in physics and history, 2-3 in German, drawing, and natural history, while he scored a relatively low 3-4 in French.

It would have been unsurprising if Einstein aced all his classes with unanimous scores of 1, but he didn't. He studied chemistry but was not the best in class with it. But despite these facts about his love-and-hate (mostly hate) relationship with traditional schooling, the world recognizes him as a bona fide genius who contributed immensely to physics and science. Einstein finished school with a Ph.D. degree from the University of Zurich in 1905.

Having discussed in length the educational background of a genius who didn't have consistently exceptional grades, this article will take focus on these questions: Does one's GPA matter when applying for jobs? If yes, what are my chances of getting hired despite having some bad grades? How can I win a job without having to disclose my GPA?

Do grades matter when getting a job?

The short answer is yes, your academic performance matters.

If you have a stellar GPA (Grade Point Average), you can use it to your advantage as it will remarkably help in getting you noticed by hiring managers. This is especially an edge for a fresh grad with no job experience to include in his resume. An exceptionally high grade point average works as an excellent alternative to presenting relevant experience when applying for entry-level jobs. Putting "cum laude" in the education section of your resume is attractive, and gives you better chances of getting accepted for employment.

The other answer is, it depends

Do you know what arguably matters better than your grades? Your attitude and character. Your willingness to learn and be trained by subject matter experts once you get accepted in your first job. Some people have excellent grades but have a bad attitude and are condescending. If this ill character gets exposed in a job interview, an applicant's chances will be ruined no matter how high his GPA is.

Excellent grades must be matched with good character, and having bad grades must be compensated for with a good attitude, willingness to learn, and dedication to work.

8 Tips when applying for jobs if you didn't have a high GPA

Let's get to the main point wherein you're just an average in college. Or better yet, when you did have a failing grade, it doesn't matter what subject. Below are practical tips when applying for jobs despite having poor-to-average academic performance during your college days.

1. Unless asked, don't disclose your grades.

This is a no-brainer. Many companies, especially large companies that put academic excellence as a company core value, are looking for the best and the brightest prospective employees whose level of intellect could be verified through transcripts of their records. Be relieved that not all companies look for college grades. So, unless they requested it, disclosing your grades, especially if you did have bad grades, is unnecessary and will only ruin your hiring prospects if you choose to reveal them. Hiding it is not tantamount to lying about it.

2. When asked, don't lie. Explain.

When cornered into giving a copy of your college grades during the hiring process from potential employers, grant the request and explain your side when asked further about why you did have a failing grade at one point in your college journey. No need to sound too defensive, just be genuine when explaining your side of the story. Then, turn it into a positive situation by highlighting subjects where you did have more than decent grades. You sure do have one or two. Redeem yourself by highlighting them.

3. Compose a good cover letter.

Recruiters don't always require it and applicants don't always do it, but a good cover letter explaining why you're a good fit, your skills, and who are you as a person beyond your academic achievement will attract a hiring manager, and that gives your application a boost over others, especially if this going to be your first job. What constitutes a good cover letter? Authenticity, brevity, and well-writtenness. Take advantage of this if you're a writer who didn't excel that much in college.

4. Tailor your resume where your skills are highlighted.

Putting your grades if they're not particularly remarkable is not only unnecessary, but also a bad move that inadvertently invites rejection. It is clear that academic grades are not your best bet. Instead, highlight skills that you do possess and market yourself based on these skillsets. Make Einstein an inspiration who didn't really love attending school but was passionate about learning and discovery.

5. Prepare for the job interview.

Expect that your grades might be asked, so you should prepare for a defense that will convince the recruiter that you are more than your failing grade in math. Besides, you graduated from college, which means you were able to overcome the challenges of higher education by persevering despite the obstacles, and those obstacles include a failing grade. In addition, anticipate some other questions that will be asked and prepare for them. Don't make a memorized response for each question. Rather, just be natural and make the preparation a way to hone your communication skills.

6. Gain experience through internships and volunteer work.

College students who already want to experience working can apply for internship opportunities to perfume their resume. Aside from on-the-job training, aspirants can also engage in volunteer work where they could exemplify their skills and gain further experience. Non-profit organizations are perfect to do volunteer work. This way, you're not only gaining experience but also able to help in the organization of your choice pro bono.

7. Apply to jobs where grades are not part of the qualification.

It wouldn't hurt to delay the prospect of working for a dream job if the employer will look for something you don't have, such as an excellent GPA. Try other job posts first to gain experience. And when you're already working, do well at your job. You may be compensated less than what you would have gotten for a different job, but putting passion into your profession (thank you, Rancho from 3 Idiots) will make you grow as a person and as a professional. Once you've gained adequate experience, you can apply for a better-paying job. And while it remains that you didn't have excellent college grades, your selling point now is your stellar performance from your previous job(s).

8. Enroll in online courses for upskilling.

In a digital world, everything is now available online, even courses that you can enroll in for upskilling. There are verified courses from Coursera, Udemy, and Hubspot Academy where you could learn a skill or two. What is more, they provide certificates at the end of each course which you could include in your resume. Take note, though, that having applied to these online courses does not guarantee success in your application. But they do help in your personal growth and building a character that doesn't stop learning if need be, and is willing to go the extra mile by putting time and effort into learning a skill through online education.

Build your career with Lumina Homes: Fresh grads are welcome!

This blog post was written by a content writer who applied at Lumina Homes without having to present his grades, but who highlighted his qualifications in his resume sans the academic performance. Apply at Lumina Homes and be one of its content writers responsible for creating relevant content for topics ranging from real estate, finance, lifestyle, and beyond.

In a span of eight years, Lumina Homes has developed over 50 projects nationwide providing an affordable house and lot for sale, with more than 300 corporate employees and over 30,000 brokers and sales agents. Lumina Homes commits to ensuring that its employees are given the best possible training and opportunities for career development. 

Be one of our team who will deliver the news of a real estate brand that provides an affordable house and lot for Filipino families. Help us make people find Lumina Homes as an excellent provider of house and lot in the Philippines. To return the favor, we'll help you build your career. Join us now!