Can your grades save you in a job interview? Or.....
By rjvb26
@rjvb26 (2518)
Philippines
April 12, 2010 7:25am CST
Most people are having a hard time finding a job, actually there are lots of job out there, but the problem is the lack of people being competitive enough for the position. Now my question is this, do you think your good grades can save you in a job interview and get the job or can your good skills during interview can make yo get the job even if you have not so good grades?
6 people like this
17 responses
@chenxiaoyue_713 (2165)
• China
12 Apr 10
Hi, friend. Superior grade does count a lot, but it doesn't mean everything. Most companies focus more on personal abilities rather than on grade. Your performance in studies has little or no relation to your working competence. But there are also some companies that lay more stress on grade.
1 person likes this
@chenxiaoyue_713 (2165)
• China
14 Apr 10
Yes, many people tend to think that better grades are reflection of one's competence. However, grades do not necessarily go with one's ability in practice. Companies' putting too much emphasis on grades can hold students back sometimes. It's a little bit unfair, i think.
1 person likes this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
13 Apr 10
Sometimes grades are not as important in an interview as we might think, but I will tell you this. Good grades are important later on, after you get the job and in your personal life too. Sometimes the person doing hiring is not very smart and is intimidated by someone with good grades. I have heard of hiring managers who prefer C-students! Ackkk. But people who excel at what they do have a way of getting over life's little bumps and scrapes better, in my experience. So they will eventually find a better job and be able to make a better contribution overall, and their ultimate rewards will be higher.
1 person likes this
@rjvb26 (2518)
• Philippines
13 Apr 10
Hello there, how are you? Its been a while since we discuss something here in mylot, anyway, you are right about that, sometimes those interviewers chose the C-students so that they will not get intimidated. But of course not all of them, just like me, when i was still working at a company as an HR officer, i see to it that the one's that i will send to my bosses or the ones that i will send in the final interview are those people who have high grades and those who can prove that they are worthy getting the job. Besides my bosses will surely get angry if i will send them a not so good person and a not so fitted person for the job.
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
15 Apr 10
I would guess that although grades may get noticed by a potential employer they alone will not determine the outcome of the interview. I think it is a matter of how you present and conduct yourself and answer questions etc. I believe that most employers look for qualities over and above written qualifications which are important of course but not the only determining factors.
1 person likes this
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
12 Apr 10
Hi RJ,
I don't think so. it's how you carry yourself and respond on the interview that matters. so show your best in every interview to do.
@rjvb26 (2518)
• Philippines
12 Apr 10
Hello there, it's been a while since i last posted a topic here and i last saw you put a quick response to my discussions. How are you? Anyway, your right, in an interview, we need to show our very best to be able to get the job that we wanted.
Most people seems to forget it, they often tell others that they have good grades in college, therefore they have the high chance of being hired, that is why most of them forgets to practice good answering skills during interview.
Have a great day.
1 person likes this
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
12 Apr 10
be smart enough to answer questions. develop active listening skills and feel relax during the interview. give the impression that you really know what you are talking.
@shello (964)
• United Arab Emirates
12 Apr 10
I don't think good grades can help someone out during an interview. Based on my experiences, there are things that you have to remember aside from your skills. First, you have to make sure that you are prepared and presentable. That means that you have already reviewed the details of the company and the nature of it's business. Make sure also that you know every details of your curriculum vitae because most questions being ask in an interview would be based on your CV. Take note also that you have to wear the proper attire. Lastly, during the interview try your best to maintain eye contact with the interviewer and answer the questions with clarity and confidence. Hope this will help.
1 person likes this
@pierrella (1087)
• Philippines
13 Apr 10
I've been to job interviews recently. Having a Latin honor attached to my name doesn't really matter. They asked how I did in terms of academics but that's it. I think being confident is more important. It also depends if you have the skills that fit the job.
1 person likes this
@jdyrj777 (6530)
• United States
12 Apr 10
My view is: 2 people go for a job, 1 is young, 1 is old, young 1 gets the job. 2 people go for job, 1 is good looking, 1 is not ,good looking 1 gets job. 2 people go for a job, 1 is thin, 1 is fat, thin 1 gets the job. Grades and past job experiences are only considered after that.
1 person likes this
@angelajoy (1825)
• Philippines
13 Apr 10
My grades weren't that high when I was still in school, but I still got a decent job. That's because most of the jobs I applied for had an examination before the interview, so even if my grades weren't high I was still able to prove myself through the exams. I also did okay in the interviews. But good grades really do catch an employer's attention. It can prevent employers from throwing your resume into the trash. However, I think this is mostly relevant to fresh graduates. If you already have a job experience then employers would most likely weigh your experience more than your grades.
1 person likes this
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
12 Apr 10
Both are important. Good grades can get you ahead. Top students can get higher position just by boasting their grades alone. But you also have to be presentable in an interview. You need to have charm to captivate the interviewer to get a job.
1 person likes this
@rjvb26 (2518)
• Philippines
12 Apr 10
Hi there, you hit the bomb! Yes! You are right, both are important, I've been in the HR for years now and when we are asked to look for new employees, we see to it that we will put a balance on the application process, meaning we only not look for grades but we also look for the person's communication skills.
Both are really important and most of all the level of education of the people. Experience is a plus and it is right, but level of education is a major plus. Experience + good grades + level of education = to a perfect employee for the company.
And in terms of fresh graduates, of course we look over their grades but, we do not care if he have failed some subjects or not, we only care about the major subjects of the applicant, and if he have a good points on those then, the applicant have a high chance to reach the next level of the application process.
Have a great day!
@carinaweng (47)
• China
13 Apr 10
hi rjvb,in my view of point,there are majority of conditions,last year i still find job on the personnel market,for some private company,grades seems less important than work experice,if person are capable of doing working at the first ,the daily progress will operate as usual in advance,however some public instition require grades ,cause from it they can analyze is it worth of hiring him or her.under that condition grades play an important role.
1 person likes this
@Cutie18f (9551)
• Philippines
13 Apr 10
I think there are many companies that no longer look at your grades. You have to make it in the interview. You have to make a good impression on how you answer the questions using the English language. There are many graduates with very high grades but could not speak English. This is the result of diploma mills in our country, so the most important thing in a job interview is how you are able to sell yourself using your oral skills.
@earninhobby (381)
• India
12 Apr 10
High school and college marks have a real impact on getting a job. Interviewers basically select the candidates based on the percentage or grades.
1 person likes this
@npadecio (161)
• Philippines
13 Apr 10
Be smart, sensible and be confident during job interviews. And most of all, you should be a good listener. Good grades does help sometimes but a reputable school for me has a lot of impact, I don't know why but this is the reality to some countries.
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
12 Apr 10
I honestly think it does. With all the job requirements these days (job experience) and a lot of candidates to choose from, it'll be difficult for one who is a fresh graduate to get into a job. The only thing that he could do is to show the person interviewing him/her that she/he is worth it. Now, these interviewers will always try to see how good you are based on how you speak, and particularly your entrance exam and grades because they cannot see your performance nor ask previous employers how well you work because you have no prior experience.
Having good grades will give you a window of opportunities even if you don't have job experience.
1 person likes this
@rjvb26 (2518)
• Philippines
12 Apr 10
You are right, the applicant must show the interviewer the right confidence and that he/she is competitive enough for the job. Applicant must also show that he is really interested on having the job, most of all, before the interview, the applicant must also learn things about the company or should i say, research about the companies profile if the case will be like, an applicant is a fresh graduate versus an applicant with 4 years of experience in the field.
@Ingkingderders (3832)
• Philippines
12 Apr 10
I honestly think, how you present yourself, and how you interact with the person interviewing you, can get you the job or not. I had many experiences where the company specifically asked for this pt average, or this number of years experience, but even without the credentials, once interviewed, I still got a job offer. I think believing in yourself is important because it would make other people also believe in you... 
1 person likes this
@rjvb26 (2518)
• Philippines
12 Apr 10
O hell yeah, you hit the nail, believing in one's self will surely help an individual get the job. Even for fresh graduates, sometimes, companies do not ask for grades anymore, but they are asking for licensure exams that have been passed and some just looking for people who have the capability and commitment for work.
@fluffy0315 (53)
• Philippines
12 Apr 10
For me, Good grades is not the basis to get you Hire.
As long as you are SMART, can answer the interviewer's questions politely.
It is the way you carry yourself and how you handle the situation. Are you good working on a team or not. Good Skills is a plus.
1 person likes this
@rjvb26 (2518)
• Philippines
12 Apr 10
Hi there, o yeah, cause some companies don't hire you for your grades but they will hire you, depending on how you will pass the tests and interviews during the application process, besides in the field of work, some subjects that we took up when we are still in college will be useless, and we admit it or not, it is true, some of those subjects are already useless when we are already in the field.
