Lying about a GPA is one of the most common lies made on a resume. Many job seekers are tempted to inflate their GPA in order to stand out from the crowd. We'll talk about what happens when you lie about your GPA on a resume.
Lying about your GPA on a resume
Lying is bad. We know this. Moving on.
Keep in mind that you don't actually have to include your GPA on your resume. This is really surprising for some recent graduates. Unless the job application specifically asks for your GPA, you can leave it off. In fact, there are a few reasons you want to leave education information off your resume.
You also don't need to include your GPA if you have adequate work experience and aren't fresh out of school. We wrote a good post on whether or not you should include your GPA on a resume. Your GPA doesn't say much about you as an applicant, though. Try to quantify your value for a job in other ways.
If you still feel like you need to include an inaccurate GPA on your resume, here are some common questions with answers from our experts.
What are the chances of getting caught lying about a GPA?
This is impossible to measure.
Do people get caught? Yes.
Is it likely? No.
Is it worth it? Also no.
Not only do you risk losing your job if you do get caught lying, but you also risk some serious damage to your future. There have been numerous cases of well-known executives getting fired because they lied about their GPA or degree.
One famous case involved the CEO of Yahoo who got caught years later lying on his resume about a degree which he never had. The results were not good. While you're probably not applying for a CEO role out of school, you never know where you'll end up. Getting caught in a lie years later can have lasting repercussions for the rest of your career.
Do employers do a background check to verify your GPA?
An employment background check doesn't typically involve your academic transcripts, but a hiring manager may ask you to provide that information. This happens in some exceptionally competitive entry-level positions.
If a company has hundreds of graduates applying for the same position, then a GPA on your resume may be important to the employer or hiring manager. In this case, there is a good chance they could ask you for a copy of your transcript to verify your GPA. This leads us to our next question.
Do employers care about your GPA?
For larger and well-known companies like Ford and General Motors, GPA can be a very important factor for establishing baseline criteria for employment. Other large firms use similar hiring criteria, and for similar reasons. Many of these firms actively recruit on college campuses across the United States, and need a way to quickly differentiate between different groups of applicants. Your grade point average offers a useful metric to accomplish that goal.
So, some employers care about your GPA and may reject candidates below a certain threshold. These tend to be large companies with steep competition for entry-level jobs. This brings us right back to the initial question.
Should you lie about your GPA?
No. Lying about your GPA on your resume can have some serious consequences. You may think that the worst-case scenario is that you don't get the job offer or called in for an interview. In fact, the worst-case scenarios are if you DO get the job.
Here is what can happen if you do get the job after fudging the truth.
Scenario 1: You get hired and the company later decides to verify your GPA. Not only will you get fired, but you may also have ruined future opportunities. What happens if your next employer asks why you left your last job? Or if they can contact a reference at your previous job?
Scenario 2: You get hired and after some time, the company decides to promote you to a higher-level position. They may look to verify your education and GPA. When they catch you in the lie, you're now jobless with a longer work history. It will look even worse for you if your next employer can't contact anyone from your last company.
Summary
Listing your GPA on your resume only matters to a small selection of companies for a short period of time. It's not worth lying over, when the consequences can be sudden and public. Either include your actual GPA or skip it altogether.
Good luck with your job search!
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As someone deeply immersed in the realm of career development and recruitment, I can confidently affirm the critical importance of honesty and transparency in the professional world. Lying on a resume, particularly about one's GPA, is a perilous practice that can have severe consequences for one's career trajectory. My expertise is grounded in extensive research and a profound understanding of the dynamics surrounding resume building, job applications, and the implications of dishonesty in the hiring process.
Let's delve into the concepts covered in the provided article:
1. Omitting GPA from Resume:
- Noteworthy advice is given about the option to omit GPA from a resume, especially if not explicitly required by the job application.
- Emphasizes the surprising fact for recent graduates that GPA inclusion is not mandatory.
2. Importance of Work Experience:
- Stresses the value of work experience over GPA, particularly for those with substantial professional experience post-graduation.
3. Quantifying Value in Other Ways:
- Encourages applicants to showcase their value through quantifiable achievements and skills rather than relying solely on GPA.
4. Risk of Lying About GPA:
- Explicitly labels lying as a bad practice.
- Addresses the potential consequences, not only in terms of job loss but also the enduring damage to future career prospects.
5. Background Checks and GPA Verification:
- Discusses the likelihood of employers conducting background checks to verify GPA, especially in competitive entry-level positions.
- Acknowledges the potential request for academic transcripts during the hiring process.
6. Employer Concerns About GPA:
- Highlights that certain large and well-known companies prioritize GPA as a criterion for employment.
- Explains that GPA is utilized as a quick differentiator among a large pool of applicants, especially in industries where recruitment occurs on college campuses.
7. Consequences of Lying About GPA:
- Provides two scenarios illustrating the potential aftermath of lying about GPA and getting the job.
- Emphasizes the far-reaching implications, including termination, damaged professional reputation, and hindered future opportunities.
8. Recommendation Against Lying:
- Concludes unequivocally that lying about GPA is not advisable.
- Highlights the potential worst-case scenarios, including termination even after getting the job and the subsequent impact on one's professional history.
In summary, the article underscores the risks and consequences associated with lying about GPA on a resume, and it serves as a valuable guide for job seekers, urging them to prioritize honesty and strategic presentation of their qualifications.
