As we approach the internship season, students start working hard on their resumes, trying to make themselves look as impressive as possible. There’s so much more to a person than words on paper. So is your CGPA or GPA all that matters? Or is your overall work experience more important?

Sectors such as finance, tech, accounting, and engineering are highly competitive, and your CGPA is one of the principal indicators of your competence. These industries consider CGPA as they provide an easy shorthand for HR departments to whittle down large candidate pools.

It’s also important to remember that employers are looking for skills, qualities, and experience that your CGPA doesn’t always capture. Your creativity, interpersonal skills, critical thinking, and communication abilities are factors that are likely to be far more relevant than the grades you received in college or university coursework.

Experience usually trumps other factors when you’re applying for work. As a recent college graduate, hiring managers may look at GPA as a metric of success, but after you’ve been in the workforce, your most important credentials will be your accomplishments and experiences. 

Sabira Mehrin, Global Business Manager, Base Technologies Limited says, “When you are opting for the first job, CGPA plays a crucial role as a selection parameter. However, having focus on only high CGPA with no focus on ECA or experiences wouldn’t be much beneficial as the job market is way more competitive now than ever before.”

It is necessary to ensure that you have relevant experiences, formidable skill sets, and solid professional networks, because no matter what your CGPA is, these are the factors that employers value the most. Regardless of where your GPA falls on the four-point spectrum, post-university job hunt is about demonstrating your holistic value and cultural fitness.