REal World Wake up call.

[Claudhert]

Yall just a few Minutes ago the thought poped into my mine that ill be graduating College in less than a Year. And i asked myself.. WHY THE FUCK HAVENT I TRIED HARDER?!

Even Though this semester is over ( I havent been in School- Due to Working at a co-op Position), My GPA Isnt Spectacular and ~2.5 and im worried as all get out im not gonna be able to get a good Job when i graduate.


I dont know exactly where im going with this but ( I AM NOT QUITING) once the semester start im gonna be putting a major focus on school So i wont be around as much. If i dont get a 4.0 this Semester i will quit FFXI.

I dont know mabye im Just Scared im gonna fuck up my life and have to come crawling back to my family for help.... and i dont want that.

i may have posted this in the wrong forum.. if so move it to the appropriate one

 

[CmdrFly]

I slacked off during tech-u a lot. Entered straight from high school so I was still in the "free ride" mindset. Once you get out in your field and get a couple years of experience under your belt, school seems a lot more important. If I went back now, I'd be putting a lot more effort into it.

You got the right idea at least. FFXI should be a time filler, something for your spare hours. School should absolutely go first.

 

[Sneakypants]

lolGPA.

Practical experience and how you shine or not is more valuable to an employer than GPA. It's a more accurate picture of how you handle yourself on the job than what you did with your homework and tests. Every bit helps though. Between seemingly equal candidates, let's say it did come down to GPA...

 

[Zaltana]

sneaky is pretty on the money. a GPA will get you noticed when another candidate come in the picture with similer credentials(sp). but i wanna know are you co-op working in the field you plan to enter. if u are, i say you're in better shape then u may think. cause experience actually doing the job appeals more in my experience. cause you actually know the inner workings of what to do. not just what a textbook tells you. a classrom is a controlled environment. the workforce itself is a totally different animal.

and if you're not.......HIT THOSE BOOKS!!!
SUCKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Valandil]

GPA doesn't mean jack shit in the real world. I work in the human resources department of one the largest financial institutions in the southwestern US. We don't even ask for transcrpits. Real world experience > college education any day of the year.

 

[Kerowynn]

GPA doesn't matter much after you get a few years of experience under your belt, but I think it also matters what field you're in. In certain industries it can matter a bit more than others right out of college. What's your major Claud?

Also, the fact that you are working at least part of the time you're in school reflects very well on you to employers, at least in my experience.

 

[Claudhert]

but i wanna know are you co-op working in the field you plan to enter. if u are, i say you're in better shape then u may think.

I][/B]

Yes I am Working in a Co-op related to my Feild of Study.. and i thank god for the opportunity he gave me with this job..

But this is just one blip on my Resume.. And sometimes i just feel inferior compared to others in my feild that always talk about their 3.8-4.0 GPA and see them getting the interships and job opportunities that I apply for.

Major: Professional Geography + Geographic Information Systems Certificate, Minor in Computer information Systems

 

[CmdrFly]

GPA doesn't mean jack shit to smart HR people.

Fixed. Less experienced HR staff will likely hire based on marks rather than experience.

 

[Kerowynn]

Major: Professional Geography + Geographic Information Systems Certificate, Minor in Computer information Systems

Yeah I don't know much about your field but I doubt employers will be that concerned with your GPA. Some fields like accounting get competitive enough that *some* employers care for your first few years out of school, but your degree doesn't sound that common lol.

Your work experience will be invaluable when you look for a job out of school. You should quit stressing and just do the best you can with the school you have left. ^^

 

[Damita]

You can say practical experience > all, but you can't even get in the door of my company's college hire program if you don't clear the floor GPA which has risen from 3-->3.15.

Now if you have work experience and I don't mean crap internships, you go into a normal job hire process which is a different ball of wax, and even still everybody's resume basically is built the exact same way, so I'll look for things like certifications, responsiblity of job, etc.

Once your in, that stuff doesn't matter any more, but you're kidding yourself if you think it isn't important to start out of college. If you went to podunk college and didn't manage to maintain close to a 3.00, I'll be honest... I'm skipping you.

And doesn't this belong somewhere else? :O

 

[Claudhert]

I go to a podunk little college but Our Geography department is what many people consider to be alot harder and more project oriented than Alabama or some of the Larger more well Known Colleges in the Area.

A freind of mine is in the Graduate program at Alabama and they are learning basic stuff that UNA Geography majors learn within the 1st couple weeks of Class

And honestly i think its gonna be the General Studies that hurt me more from back when i 1st started College casue Most of My Core Geography Classes i' have made B's or A's on.... Granted alot more B's than A's....

 

[Kerowynn]

You can say practical experience > all, but you can't even get in the door of my company's college hire program if you don't clear the floor GPA which has risen from 3-->3.15.

Now if you have work experience and I don't mean crap internships, you go into a normal job hire process which is a different ball of wax, and even still everybody's resume basically is built the exact same way, so I'll look for things like certifications, responsiblity of job, etc.

Once your in, that stuff doesn't matter any more, but you're kidding yourself if you think it isn't important to start out of college. If you went to podunk college and didn't manage to maintain close to a 3.00, I'll be honest... I'm skipping you.

And doesn't this belong somewhere else? :O

What type of company do you work for though? I know certain accounting firms won't even look at your resume if you didn't go to certain colleges plus get a good GPA, but it certainly isn't that way in most fields that aren't in what you'd consider a corporate environment lol.

Claud's major sounds more IT or science oriented. I've never seen anyone in IT have a difficult time getting a good job and the people I know in science oriented jobs say it's all about the experience. I think it really depends on your industry. Personally I am a business/accounting major and I've always worked in accounting and finance so at the start my GPA really did help me out. I just don't think most industries are like that.^^

 

[Damita]

Well that's good. Major GPA > General GPA. Sell it on your resume!

Unfortunately, one thing about HR departments are they aren't generally the brightest... They will basically do a mass sort and flush. (At least most soulless large corporations like mine.)

School reputation carries as long as folks know. For example, Georgia Tech, Cal Tech, and Carnie Melon all carry great reputations for producing out of the box (big picture) engineers versus some of the local places are known from producing great nuts and bolts specific folks. But, only one of our recruiters knows that (the one I work with...)

But I will say I look equally squirrelly at folks who have a 4.00 GPA... Makes me wonder about their school's program or whether they have any social skills.

 

[Shyrra]

Yeah, what college you're in has a lot to do with whether or not GPA has much of an impact. I've talked to several Alumni from my school who graduated from the College of Engineering (North Carolina State University) and since the CoE and NCSU is so highly regarded, they had no problem getting jobs with 2.8-3.0 GPA.

The key statement though: School needs to be your priority(yeah, I sound like a mother! lol) College is important, take care of business now so you don't screw yourself later!

 

[Damita]

What type of company do you work for though? I know certain accounting firms won't even look at your resume if you didn't go to certain colleges plus get a good GPA, but it certainly isn't that way in most fields that aren't in what you'd consider a corporate environment lol.

Claud's major sounds more IT or science oriented. I've never seen anyone in IT have a difficult time getting a good job and the people I know in science oriented jobs say it's all about the experience. I think it really depends on your industry. Personally I am a business/accounting major and I've always worked in accounting and finance so at the start my GPA really did help me out. I just don't think most industries are like that.^^

I currently work for a large corporate bank running an IT group. It doesn't matter what part your are in, it's the same process for most banks. In fact, certain parts of the bank, you just won't get a job fresh out of college. It's simply how it is. Depending on the industry, I don't think that's abnormal, but rather is simply how it is.

Starting out of college I was in a IT consulting company where it was exactly the same. If you didn't clear the floor, you couldn't even get an interview scheduled. And nowadays for IT, you're competing against the global market where for the price of 1 US employee, I can get 5 Indian contractors.

And for IT, let's be honest... Most college MIS programs are crap. (There are some good ones, and CS degrees hold more weight.)

Anyway, I hear over and over again from people they want to be a project manager without any work experience. So from past experience, for college hires, I have the starting position that you're clueless. So, I'm looking for the ability to learn and to interact with others.

The interaction comes across in the interview. The ability to learn can be scratched on the interview, but basically I'll really on your resume to show that... It may seem cruel but understand for the once a year college hire class, we go through about 200 candidates for the first tier screening, trim it to 50, and then finally have 20. For my group, myself and two others spending 30 minutes with pre-final 50 candidates.

So, that's not a whole lot of time to dig and distinguish yourself.

Anyway, Kero is right through... What's done is done. Main thing is being able to get your foot in the door and then distinguish yourself there.

I caution anybody in IT that have the position that you'll always have a job because it's a hot market. While it's true that the market has recovered, I guarantee you it's not the same as the 90s. Salaries have to be justified, and the industry continues to overshore work. Right or wrong.

And we're not just doing it for IT... We've started doing it for Finance operations and other white collar jobs that were thought to be untouchable.

Anyway... Enough. And no I'm not that old <.<

 

[Damita]

Yeah, what college you're in has a lot to do with whether or not GPA has much of an impact. I've talked to several Alumni from my school who graduated from the College of Engineering (North Carolina State University) and since the CoE and NCSU is so highly regarded, they had no problem getting jobs with 2.8-3.0 GPA.

Yuppers. Shyrra knows I'm in NC and that is one of the local schools that carries some weight. GA tech is probably the closest other school that's name carries enough weight.

 

[kodi]

I go to a podunk little college but Our Geography department is what many people consider to be alot harder and more project oriented than Alabama or some of the Larger more well Known Colleges in the Area.

A freind of mine is in the Graduate program at Alabama and they are learning basic stuff that UNA Geography majors learn within the 1st couple weeks of Class

And honestly i think its gonna be the General Studies that hurt me more from back when i 1st started College casue Most of My Core Geography Classes i' have made B's or A's on.... Granted alot more B's than A's....

Speaking as someone that actually does hiring and firing (and a University of Alabama graduate as well!!!), your intern work is going to really stand out. I wish like hell I had tried to do something like that when I went to college. It's a major major plus.

Secondly, yeah grades are important, and a 2.5 will weigh on you a little bit, but if you can point to a higher GPA in your field of study, that's really going to help you. Work real hard on that. If you really excel in your senior level course work in your field of study, those earlier grades will really fade into the background.

Thirdly, keep in touch with the people you are working with during your internship. They are looking at that as an investment in a potential future employee. Getting hired somewhere is very much about who you know, regardless of what their corporate policies may say.

 

[Celvantes]

Yall just a few Minutes ago the thought poped into my mine that ill be graduating College in less than a Year. And i asked myself.. WHY THE FUCK HAVENT I TRIED HARDER?!

Even Though this semester is over ( I havent been in School- Due to Working at a co-op Position), My GPA Isnt Spectacular and ~2.5 and im worried as all get out im not gonna be able to get a good Job when i graduate.


I dont know exactly where im going with this but ( I AM NOT QUITING) once the semester start im gonna be putting a major focus on school So i wont be around as much. If i dont get a 4.0 this Semester i will quit FFXI.

I dont know mabye im Just Scared im gonna fuck up my life and have to come crawling back to my family for help.... and i dont want that.

i may have posted this in the wrong forum.. if so move it to the appropriate one

Much as I'll miss having ya around to help tank, you're making the right call man. Good luck and kick some academic ass.

 

[Shyrra]

Yuppers. Shyrra knows I'm in NC and that is one of the local schools that carries some weight. GA tech is probably the closest other school that's name carries enough weight.

<3 Damita

A guy I know who's been with IBM for 4 years, graduated as an Industrial Engineer from NCSU with a 2.9 and is now making over $75k/year. He co-oped for 2 summers at IBM too. Just goes to show ya, GPA isn't everything!

 

[decidence]

All people care about in the real world is how reputable of a school you went too and if you graduated, especially important is a Degree or better, having a Diploma is a hard sell even though its technically just as good as a Degree in less time.

Most jobs you will get in an interview based on the information above, and proving yourself knowledgable in the interview is what gets you the job. I've only ever been asked for a transcript once and that was an interview I got while I was still going to classes.