[MRaber10]

I was hoping that some of you guys with interview experience could give me advice on my interview yesterday.

I went on an interview yesterday at a midsized firm for an entry-level staff accountant position. My resume was given to the HR recruiter (with whom I interviewed) by a tax partner in the firm.

Personally, I thought the interview went well. I made sure to look presentable. The interviewer made many references to her children, as well as explaining the program that they have in place for new employees. When she asked if I had any questions, I ran a few by her, to which she told me they were good questions.

The only time I started to question the interview was towards the end. I did terrible as an undergrad, and the last question I asked was “Have you seen anything that concerns you?” at which point she made reference to this. She said “I wasn’t going to say anything, but since you bring it up…” which IS what I wanted so I could explain myself, and show that since I’ve gone back to take extra classes at another school, my GPA has been over a 3.0 (my undergrad was a 2.24 – I know, I did nothing). After all was said and done, her response was that I’d be in touch with her to update her with my classes and exams, but no mention of when or if I’d hear back.

I may be overanalyzing everything, but I was wondering what you guys thought. Do you think I may be ok, or would my low GPA have turned her way off, and knocked me out of the running for getting a job?

FAR - 68, 82
AUD - 78
REG - 57, 67, 11/24/14
BEC - 81

[jgrfan1]

They would not have interviewed you if they were not interested. They knew about the GPA when they brought you in. You are selling yourself in an interview. The low GPA is a potential point of rejection. You made it a point to address it and indicated what you are doing about it.

They may like that and bring you on or they may have a candidate with your same qualifications but a higher GPA. The interview is the final gate to an offer. You should expect to have 3 or 4 interviews for every one offer. Don't bum if you don't get an offer. You gained valuable interview experience and think now you only need to do 2 or 3 more interviews before you get an offer.

The job market is extremely tough but be presistant. I've been laid off 3 times in the last 6 years and always managed to interview and find another job. There is a lot of pressure but everyone has to go through it. The economy is MUCH better today than in 2008 – 2009. Still not good but better. Be glad you are searching for a job now and not then.

Good luck.

BEC - 5/2012 - 91
AUD - 8/2012 - 89
REG - 1/2013 - 90
FAR - 5/2013 - 88
Wife, 2 kids and a job

[FlipACoin]

How much experience do you have (if any) if you don't mind me asking? The only time I've seen the GPA be a make or break deal is if you have literally zero experience and are completely green out of college. In that case, your approach is the best. Use your low GPA as a tool to show how you have stubled and are working to pull yourself back up. Everybody screws up, especially so when we are young and most companies realize that. What they want to see is what you do about once you do. How do you recover?

All other times, even after only one job, it might be a discussion point but employers are FAR more interested in what you can do for them now (i.e your experience) than how you did in college (i.e having a theoretical understanding of the material). The two just don't align enough for them to put GPA over experience. But when GPA is all they have, it's what they use.

For what it's worth, my undergrad GPA was 2.25 overall and just under 3 in my major (Finance). Once I got into a room though and explained how it was from working 30+ hours a week while taking 15+ credits a semester, most employers understood and some in fact respected the work ethic. After my first solid finance job, the GPA came off my resume and it has never been discussed again. For applications that ask for it, It helps that my MBA GPA was 3.5 so that's the one I put down while subtly leaving out my undergrad GPA;). Good luck!

[MRaber10]

Thank guys for the reinforcement.

@jgrfan1

I did not follow the traditional approach of sending my resume, filling out an application, etc. My resume was given to the tax partner, who in turn gave it to the HR Recruiter – so they didn't know about my GPA before I went in for the interview.

@FlipACoin

I don't have any public accounting experience, but I have been working in a position for a private company for 2 years now. That was one of the things I though t went over well with the interviewer because she asked how I got the position and I told her that I was placed as a temp, but then hired a little over a month later. When she asked why, I told her it was because I was a hard worker.

Like I said, the interview seemed to go well and the interviewer seemed impressed if not at least satisfied. It was just the way she left things and the comment about not going to ask about my low GPA that threw me off. While I'm not putting all of my eggs in this basket, I have found it hard to even land an interview with any accounting firms after they see my GPA. It sucks because I've never been a bookworm, but when you throw me into the work and situation, I'm one of the hardest working people around. Hopefully it all works out in the end.

Thanks for your guys' advice and reassurance.

FAR - 68, 82
AUD - 78
REG - 57, 67, 11/24/14
BEC - 81

[FlipACoin]

Don't let the little things bother you. I once had an interviewer end the interview giving me career and interview advice. I had a verbal offer 2 hours later.

[Author]

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