GPA and its overrating....
So I get an interview with this company, take a sick day off to go in, and I freaking nail it.
After two weeks, I get this call asking for my college transcripts.....
(A little background)
Not to make excuses, but my GPA isnt exactly the highest, although not embarrassing low either, because of a whole lot of turmoil in my junior and senior years.
First, I got very ill with the illness I have now. I spent time in the doctors, the emergency room, in countless procedures and tests. On many other days it was difficult for me to drag myself into school, and even more difficult to concentrate. I took tests tired and listless, I had difficulty studying.
Second, I did work at times during this period, before I fell ill. Anyone who has worked full time and went to school knows how "easy" that is.
Third, my now wife moved in with us, moved out, and there was a whole lot of pressure and drama with that. I wasnt getting along with her Mom to the point that I wouldnt even park in front of her house to pick her up, and she wasnt getting a long with my parents after she moved out. On top of that, there were a ton of complications with planning our wedding during that time that I could have done without.
In other words, the stressors that damaged my GPA some, are no longer stressors. Ive found ways to somewhat deal with my illness, and the others no longer exist.
So WHY is my GPA haunting me?
(back to the story)
I email my transcripts to the place, hoping that they are just trying to verify the fact that I have the degrees I said I did.
Funny......the day after, I saw the advertisement for the position I applied for back up on a site.
So did my GPA cost me? That will be determined, but Im willing to bet it did.
So why would a company be stupid enough to turn down someone with obvious talent because of a GPA that could have been affected by any number of things?
Simple, they are under some impression, like most people, that GPA has actual value.
You want to know what GPA means? "I had the free time to study 65 hours a week, and I memorized the whole book, and effectively regurgitated it on the test". Some how this translates to "Good worker".
A good worker is someone who can effectively apply concepts to work and real life, not regurgitate crap on to a testing sheet. Im sure there is not a single tax accountant who has the thorough memorization of every tax scenario and its applicable laws, that it requires to ace the Federal Taxation Final. I guess thats why they invented the readable version of the tax code......amazing.
Its funny because, Ive created massive financial and analytical projects that Im sure 90% of the people graduating with a 3.5 GPA couldnt follow, and in rediculously short amounts of time. Yet that matters not, because, obviously those people with the 3.5's are truely much more talented, their test scores say so. You want to know what else? If I get the slight bit stuck, I consult my Accounting book, because for some reason, it is allowed in real life.
After two weeks, I get this call asking for my college transcripts.....
(A little background)
Not to make excuses, but my GPA isnt exactly the highest, although not embarrassing low either, because of a whole lot of turmoil in my junior and senior years.
First, I got very ill with the illness I have now. I spent time in the doctors, the emergency room, in countless procedures and tests. On many other days it was difficult for me to drag myself into school, and even more difficult to concentrate. I took tests tired and listless, I had difficulty studying.
Second, I did work at times during this period, before I fell ill. Anyone who has worked full time and went to school knows how "easy" that is.
Third, my now wife moved in with us, moved out, and there was a whole lot of pressure and drama with that. I wasnt getting along with her Mom to the point that I wouldnt even park in front of her house to pick her up, and she wasnt getting a long with my parents after she moved out. On top of that, there were a ton of complications with planning our wedding during that time that I could have done without.
In other words, the stressors that damaged my GPA some, are no longer stressors. Ive found ways to somewhat deal with my illness, and the others no longer exist.
So WHY is my GPA haunting me?
(back to the story)
I email my transcripts to the place, hoping that they are just trying to verify the fact that I have the degrees I said I did.
Funny......the day after, I saw the advertisement for the position I applied for back up on a site.
So did my GPA cost me? That will be determined, but Im willing to bet it did.
So why would a company be stupid enough to turn down someone with obvious talent because of a GPA that could have been affected by any number of things?
Simple, they are under some impression, like most people, that GPA has actual value.
You want to know what GPA means? "I had the free time to study 65 hours a week, and I memorized the whole book, and effectively regurgitated it on the test". Some how this translates to "Good worker".
A good worker is someone who can effectively apply concepts to work and real life, not regurgitate crap on to a testing sheet. Im sure there is not a single tax accountant who has the thorough memorization of every tax scenario and its applicable laws, that it requires to ace the Federal Taxation Final. I guess thats why they invented the readable version of the tax code......amazing.
Its funny because, Ive created massive financial and analytical projects that Im sure 90% of the people graduating with a 3.5 GPA couldnt follow, and in rediculously short amounts of time. Yet that matters not, because, obviously those people with the 3.5's are truely much more talented, their test scores say so. You want to know what else? If I get the slight bit stuck, I consult my Accounting book, because for some reason, it is allowed in real life.
posted by Lethal_Poison at 7:22 AM
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