Good Grades Do Count


CANDIDATE: Jeff
POSITION: Financial Analyst

I see it way too often now. I have just completed another dynamic interview with a "newly graduated" college student. His interview was very strong on the following areas:

• Great Communication Skills


• Eye to Eye Contact


• Clear Goals and Plans


• Understands the Industry he is pursuing


• Has Real World Experience
  
  

...so what's the problem?

It's Simple: GRADES

For all of the positions that directly use the Accounting and Finance Skills obtained in College, the hiring manager requires a copy of the candidate's Transcripts.

Why?

For one open position in this area I will receive as many as 50 Resumes for consideration. Using the 10-3-1 Formula of the Recruiter, that means that I will interview 16 of the 50 candidates and then end up hiring 1 of the 16 interviewed. What it boils down to is a Skill-to-Skill comparison for the final 16. Basically when all things are equal the manager will compare the grades obtained for the related Accounting and Finance Classes.

Do I believe that this is the best way to determine the right candidate?

The truth is that the candidate with the "Best Grades" is not always the best candidate. I personally can never put myself in this category; but, I have to be honest in telling you that I have not received job offers in the past due to my grades in school.

Bottom Line: It is a factor. I have argued with the hiring manager many times to never use the candidate's grades as a "litmus test", but I can't deny that when all of the qualifications are on the table and a manager has to make a decision the overall grade point average of a candidate can be the "tie breaker" or the talent that makes the decision.

Keep up the Good Grades!!

See you back here again, After The Interview

copyright 2007 Human Dimensions of Michigan