Q I enjoyed reading the article 'Building a resume with substance'. Reading the points really had me thinking about grade point average (GPA) and employment.

I hope you can provide the answers to my questions below. I have just graduated from university and I am wondering how important is your GPA to employers? Does it play a major role in employment decisions? What matters most to employees, is it the GPA or is it that you have a degree (Bachelor's or Master's, etc) and you have the necessary experience to carry out the tasks? Thank you.

- Curious

KITSON: Thanks for asking this very important question. Many résumés do not include the applicant's GPA and, in fact, it is best not to include this unless that average is over 3.4. When it is stated it will generally not bear greatly on an employment decision except when:

1. You are new to the job market - that is, have no work experience - and you are entering a highly technical field or one that is mainly knowledge-based, for example, information technology, law, medical fields such as pharmacology, laboratory technician or radiology;

2. Prestigious companies, for example, law firms and companies involved in creating and manufacturing new products, are scouting universities and other tertiary institutions to recruit top academic performers; and

3. Employers are flooded with a pool of applicants with similar characteristics and use GPA as a means to decrease eligibility for the position.

Outside of the above circumstances, GPA scores are not that important to employers, as there are many persons who are brilliant on paper only. They are, instead, more concerned with the fact you gained a significant qualification (diploma or degree) and that you can demonstrate the needed skills and abilities (such as interpersonal, communication and leadership skills) acquired through your involvement in school activities and associations, or through work experience.

These are better indicators of your capability to learn on the job; relate appropriately to customers, managers and peers; perform at acceptable productive levels; and remain a valuable contributor to the organisation over time.

Patricia Grant Kitson is a human resource consultant based in Kingston.