How Do I Put My GPA on My Resume?

“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.” – J.P. Morgan

You are thinking about entering the job market and you need to work on your resume. So, you start to wonder – should I put my GPA on my resume? Since this is likely your first job it’s natural to have doubts about listing GPA on resume.

Alternatively, you might want to apply for college and think about how to add this detail to your resume. Here we will explore that topic in detail since it’s not a simple yes or no question.

Should I Include My GPA on My Resume?

There is no simple answer to the question – should you put GPA on resume? The only time the answer is definitely yes is if the job application requirements say that you should. However, job applications will rarely have such a requirement and that’s why a lot of young job seekers wrestle with this dilemma.

On the other hand, colleges and universities do want to see this score on a resume almost all the time. So, let’s find out when should you list your GPA on a resume and whether you should use a weighted or unweighted score on resume.

When Should I Include My GPA on My Resume?

There are a few instances when including it on resume makes sense, even if it’s not on the job application requirements:

1. If you have a high GPA (meaning 3.5 or higher)
2. If you are applying for a job during your school years
3. If you are applying for a job for a very first time
4. If you have recently graduated
5. If you don’t have any Latin honors titles yet

These rules kind of indicate how does GPA matter on resume. It serves as a gap filler if you don’t have much relevant experience. Moreover, there are lots of employers who are okay with training their new employees so when you include your score on a resume it tells them how good you are at learning or acquiring new skills.

Additionally, the employers who seek entry-level workers and do require your score will likely ask you to submit your college transcripts. Therefore, you should always be honest about it, as it will give off a negative impression if you display a wrong number.

Now if you are applying for college then definitely include your score, and include both weighted and unweighted versions. In this situation, the unweighted GPA plays a more important role, as it better reflects your performance in high school.

When Not to Put GPA on a Resume

Now that you know when to include GPA on resume, let us go over the cases when you can exclude it.

• If it’s not on the list of requirements by the employer.
• If your GPA is low (below 3.5). The other popular question from job seekers is should they put a 3.4 GPA on their resume.
• If you have relevant work experience.
• If a few years have passed since you graduated.

Truth be told it’s almost always going to be optional or up to you to decide on whether to add your GPA on resume or not. However, there might be situations when putting the score on resume can be seen as a sign of weakness or just look silly.

For example, if you are applying for a position that requires years of experience, and a list of achievements you made throughout your career, your GPA score would simply look out of place there.

Even though it’s an option there will be a lot of instances where you will include it, especially at the start of your career. To that end, let’s see how to include GPA on resume and where to put GPA on resume.

Where to Put GPA on Resume

Here we will provide a short guide on how to put GPA on resume. In case you need help with putting your resume together and ensuring it looks professional, feel free to seek out help from experts.

Education section – This is the section where you want to display your GPA scores. It simply makes the most sense for it to be here. It should definitely not be in your awards or accomplishment section.

Display format – Here’s how to list GPA on resume. It should always be listed as an abbreviation and followed by a colon and then your score like – GPA: 3,5. Now, if you have received the title of honor then you can place it next to that tile, but in that case, make sure it is displayed within parentheses.

In short, these are some general instructions on how to write GPA on resume. So, let’s go over some potential scenarios and explain GPA on resume rules that you might find useful.

GPA on Resume Rules

Now you might be wondering do I put my GPA on my resume if it’s low but it’s also a requirement. The answer is yes you should. Do not be dodgy about it as it will only look bad if you purposefully avoid it.

You might also have doubts on how to show GPA on resume as there are weighted and unweighted GPA. Generally, weighted score is valued more but you can list them both actually. If GPA score for your major is higher than the overall score then definitely put it there to draw attention to it.

Finally, remember to include other accomplishments next to your score. Since this is probably your first job, it’s in your interest to present yourself in a positive light. Even though accomplishments might not be relevant for the job, feel free to add them. They show you are competitive, driven, and eager to give your best> All of these are powerful character traits and employers love them.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this answers the dilemma of should GPA be on resume. Make sure that your resume looks entirely professional, and if needed hire someone to help you with that. That being said, you need to ensure your resume stands on its own. Meaning, it is not heavily relying on your score to show your value.

Additionally, try to find job applications that actually want you to include GPA scores. This is a sign that they are looking for someone who is fresh on the job market. Or browse around here to find the most professional resume writers that can help you with your documents.

FAQ

Let’s go over some frequently asked questions that tie into the topic of do you need to put GPA on resume. Check a fantastic read on how to list minor on your resume.

Is GPA Required on Resume?

It depends on the job application, some employers might require it some won’t. For example, you might be writing a resume to send it out to potential employers. If so, it’s entirely up to you whether you wish to include it or not. In the event your overall score is below 3.5 then maybe it’s better to omit it. But don’t do this if the application requirements explicitly state that you need to include it.

Check a knockout post from our experts about how to list ACT scores on your CV.

When to Stop Including GPA on Resume?

If you already have a few years of work experience, then there is no need for you to add GPA. At this point, your work achievements should do the talking and it’s likely that you are going to go for jobs that are on the same career path or jobs where your prior work experience is relevant. Also, don’t include your GPA score if you are applying for a job and it’s been 4 or 5 years since you graduated.

Should I Put My GPA on My Resume if It Is Low?

If it’s not listed in the application requirement then avoid adding a GPA score that is low (below 3.5). You should never avoid putting your score on a resume if the employer explicitly stated that they wish to know your score.

If your overall GPA is low, then make sure to add your major GPA if that score is higher. Furthermore, don’t let this bring you down, you will just have to think about what other qualities you can bring to the table. Maybe sign up for a course and add a certificate, or work somewhere as an intern to gain additional experience. These are all far more important traits for an employer.

There is nothing much you can do with a low GPA. What’s done is done and you need to focus on more important things. Hopefully, this answers the question – do you include GPA on resume if it’s low.

How Many Decimals GPA on Resume?

Always put the exact score. Don’t worry about the number of decimals, it’s regarded as a bad practice if you round any of your GPA scores. It’s unlikely that an employer who is looking for an experienced worker will double-check this, but those who are seeking staff for entry-level jobs might require college transcripts. In those cases, they will definitely check the score, and it will look bad if you decide to round it up.

Should I Put Weighted or Unweighted GPA on Resume?

There are two types of GPA weighted and unweighted. You might be wondering which GPA to put on resume. You can put both. Assuming you wish to do so. However, the weighted one is valued more.

If you want to learn how to list your SAT score on your resume, check our additional hints.

However, if you want to apply for college then definitely add both. Colleges do look at your weighted score but they do not use it to compare you to other candidates. They prefer an unweighted GPA as a better reflection of your high-school performance. This is because schools have a different number of AP courses.