Sunday, December 07, 2008

Of Grades & Interviews.

I have been approached with this question on quite a number of occasions before - how much role does good grades play when it comes to job interviews? Would it increase the chances in securing a much sought after opportunity due to, perhaps, better first impressions? We all know how important impressions are during these one-to-one or one-to-many sessions aight?


Well, before I begin, let me just stress that the following opinion is based solely on my perception as well as experience (limited to the IT industry) after having gone through numerous interviews but yet to be sitting on THE OTHER side thus, might not be entirely accurate. Phew, long sentence.


I will say that good grades might only matters when it comes to your FIRST EVER job interview - unless the next one comes very next month - and then hopping again the following month - and the month after... you get what I mean. Some companies made it very clear firsthand, you are welcomed to apply if academic qualifications is of certain level else don't bother, save some trees instead.

To be honest, with my below mediocre results - I dreamt of remaining unemployed for the longest time while looking at my coursemates securing jobs one after another constantly - I was scared shitless.

Good grades also leads to better first opportunities - I used to hear coursemates (those with good results) getting like 2.5K or 3K as starting pay while mine was only 1.8K - after minus loans and EPF and Jacklyn's expenses and all that shit, it was bread and butter for meals every month and needless to say, I was dead jealous. But not anymore, hehehe full-stop noktah dot.


Anyway, I mean, it makes sense what - freshie - zero working experience thus, good grades = higher chances unless your interviewer miang lah. Two on-par potential candidates, one single opening, definitely its the one with better grades having better chances end of story.


During my first interview, my academic transcripts and relevant certificates were studied through, questions were mainly targeted on FYP and technical projects. Subsequently, its ALL and EVERYTHING about previous work experience, these stuff are either quickly browsed or flipped through, can see that the interviewer is like totally uninterested in them.

There was once that I totally forgot about the academic transcript and the interviewer enquired about this missing piece. I casually replied, would it make a difference and she smiled, then answered not really, just wanted to know if I had really graduated from the mentioned university. I LOL-ed on the spot.


Well, not forgetting, all the above would not be applicable if you're unable to communicate with the interviewer, seriously. Was once involved in one of those candidate (freshies) filtering process - lots of yes/no ones, a handful stuttered madly, repetitive answers, talked too much on irrelevant stuff/diverting from questions and a few were even shaking/shivering in fear. Some, I repeat, some and not one, of these candidates have a CGPA of 4.0, grades that I can only dream of, lols. None of the abovementioned made it, ta dah! Its  a cruel world we live in.


So, I'm not saying that you should just flunk your papers like that - just, do your best loh. Maintain a healthy balance between play and study - don't just spend every night in the library burning the midnight oil (unless accompanied by hot chiq - nerds can only score chiqs during campus life) or convert your rented home into a cybercafe and DOTA everyday, like I did - kena poison by housemates, damn.


Anyway, my conclusion like not really relevant also, sorry for wasting your time reading this lols.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

My first basic pay with a higher diploma was only RM500 !! Yes, LIMA RATUS SAHAJA !! Even those with SPM level got higher pay than me o_O Talking bout freshie *sigh*

*LOL* sotz

Jed said...

Never mind lah since now earning lima puluh ribu already as in RM50,000.00.