Having worked hard to complete your degree, it's understandable to want to present your qualifications in the best light. But outside of university, is your GPA really that relevant? And if you didn't receive a 4.0, is it ok to exaggerate your score and tell a little white lie?

In short, No. You should never lie about your GPA on your resume. Instead, if your GPA is less than 3.0 or you have enough relevant experience, you should leave your GPA off your resume and focus on other relevant skills.

In this article, we'll discuss when to include or exclude your GPA from your resume, how to handle a low GPA honestly and efficiently, and why lying about your GPA is never a good idea.

Avoid lying about your GPA on your resume; instead, concentrate on showcasing your relevant experience and transferable skills. For a thorough evaluation, upload your resume to the tool below. It will provide suggestions on how to enhance the representation of your strengths.

Should you include your GPA on your resume?

It's a good idea to include your GPA on your resume if:

• You're applying for an entry-level position
• You're a recent graduate with limited experience
• The application specifically requests it

Consider leaving your GPA off your resume and focus on hard skills and relevant experience instead if you

• Have enough relevant work experience
• Are a mid to high-level candidate
• Have a GPA lower than 3.0

Make sure to tailor your resume to each application by including relevant keywords and hard skills. Use our Targeted Resume tool to identify any skills or keywords missing from your resume and receive personalized feedback on areas that can be improved.

Do employers actually consider GPA when hiring?

For entry-level candidates with limited experience, recruiters do consider your GPA when reviewing your resume. For positions that require a degree, recruiters often look for candidates with specific scores, and if you leave your GPA off your resume, a recruiter might assume you received a low score and reject your application.

The more work experience you have, the less relevant your GPA becomes. For positions that require 2 or more years of experience, or if you graduated from university over 10 years ago, including your GPA is optional, as recruiters are more interested in your recent work history than your university achievements.

Is GPA relevant for international applications?

GPA is a term mainly used in America, and other countries have different grading systems. For example, in the UK, degree certificates are classified into four categories: First-class Honors (equivalent to a 4.0 GPA), 2:1 Upper second class (equivalent to a 3.3 - 3.7 GPA), 2:2 Lower second class (equivalent to 2.7 to 3.0) and a third class (equivalent to 2.0 to 2.7 GPA).

For international applications, consider including your GPA alongside the domestic equivalent to make it easier for an international recruiter to understand the relevance of your qualification.

Can you lie about your GPA on your resume?

A little positive promotion is acceptable on your resume, but lying about facts is not. While not all companies check your GPA during the hiring process, it's easy for recruiters to check if they request a transcript from your university. It's, therefore, essential to present your GPA truthfully. Even an exaggeration of 0.1 can hurt your professional credibility if discovered.

Is lying about your GPA on your resume illegal?

While lying on your resume is not technically illegal (unless applying for a state or federal position), including false information will harm your professional reputation and discourage an employer from hiring you. Harmful lies can include lying about employment dates, claiming qualifications you don't have, or exaggerating your responsibilities beyond the bounds of your actual skills.

How to present your GPA on your resume

If you are including your GPA on your resume, write your score next to your degree in your Education section, as shown in the example below:

Recent graduates or entry-level candidates

For recent graduates or those applying for entry-level positions, your education will likely be your most recent experience and is very relevant to your resume. Include your resume GPA next to your degree, either at the top of your resume or after your work experience.

Mid to senior-level professionals

For mid-level candidates (with 2+ years of experience) and senior-level candidates (with 10+ years of experience), your GPA is not so relevant to recruiters as they are far more interested in your practical work experience and more recent accomplishments. At this stage in your career, it's better to omit your GPA from your resume and focus on more relevant expertise.

Students with incomplete degrees

If you are mid-way through your degree, you can include an "Expected GPA." This will be an average of your GPA over the last few years, generally rounded up. For example, if your previous two year's GPAs were 3.25 and 3.70, you can state your expected GPA as 3.6.

If you didn’t complete your degree, you can include it on your resume as "incomplete" and exclude your GPA. You can also list the first year of an undergraduate or bachelor's degree as a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE), and if you completed two years of a bachelor's degree, as a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE).

How to handle a low GPA on your resume

If you received a lower GPA than you would have liked, you can choose to include it or not, but note that if you omit your GPA, a recruiter might assume you have a lower grade than you do.

If your GPA is 3.0 or below, consider leaving it off your resume and focusing instead on transferable skills, relevant projects, and other qualifications. Highlight both professional and personal projects you completed during your course and relevant coursework to incorporate competitive keywords and hard skills.

Make sure to read the job application thoroughly, as you might have a GPA that meets the requirements, even if it's not a 4.0. For example, if they ask for candidates with a GPA above 2.5 and you have a 2.7, then you should definitely include your grade on your resume.