Dear Cindy – I Was Asked About My GPA!

I was just asked about my GPA in a job interview. Can they ask that? Why would they ask that?

Sincerely,

Wondering

As we mentioned in an earlier query, yes, an interviewer can ask that question.

As for the "why," it depends. If you're a new grad applying for a position, and you have little or no work experience – or none in the field, it's a reasonable thing to ask about. And, of course, if competition is stiff, and two new grad candidates have the same educational background, similarly good personalities, etc., an employer may start to look at specifics to make a decision. In the case of new grads, GPA may be one option, and prestige of the school and/or program may be another. However, it's a rather pointless thing to ask if the person hasn't attended school in years. I couldn't even tell them – my schools used letter grades, not GPAs.