As higher education becomes more accessible, getting hired straight out of college isn’t as easy as it used to be.
Recruiters now put more emphasis on candidates’ academic performance and often require them to submit their college transcripts.
Employers want to see college transcripts to compare new graduates against each other and ensure the candidates they interview have relevant experience and great work ethics.
Let me give you nine reasons why employers look at college transcripts.
According to Pew Research, 37.9% of adults now hold a bachelor’s degree. This makes it more difficult for employers to choose candidates based on their degree alone.
As a fresh graduate, you are likely to have little to no professional experience. This is why employers will ask for other documents, such as certifications or transcripts, that could give a glimpse of how you would be as an employee.
College transcripts reflect a student’s work ethic and commitment. If your transcript shows a stellar academic record, it’ll imply that you can work hard for a specific goal.
Fortunately, straight As aren’t the only way to prove one’s perseverance. You can make up for that with extracurricular participation, internships, or other certifications.
Large companies are bound to have hundreds of applicants per job posting. Grade point averages (GPA) or transcripts are a way for HR departments to narrow the pool.
Susan Adams from Forbes mentioned in her article that most big and known companies like Procter & Gamble or Kellogg consider applicants’ student grades when assessing their applications. It’s a way to screen every applicant and only select the best.
Most of the time, they’d only consider applicants with a GPA of 3.5 and above. However, that doesn’t mean they will automatically reject anyone with a GPA below 3.5.
If you were below average but had tremendous extracurricular experience and valuable skills or are great at multitasking, you have as much chance as a top student.
Some jobs, such as those in IT or graduate school, can be highly technical or specialized. You’d have to prove that you’re capable of the job’s demands and have the knowledge needed to deliver an excellent performance.
In these cases, an academic transcript can illustrate your dedication and excellence in areas where an employer needs the most help.
For instance, suppose you’re applying for a job as a programmer, and the job specifies that you need to know Python or Java. If you already have experience as a Python programmer or a certification as one, then your employers most likely wouldn’t look into your GPA.
However, suppose you don’t have any of the required accreditations. In that case, your transcript is the only way to verify that you have the knowledge and skills that a company wants in an employee.
Transcripts are also a way for employers to verify your background. Whatever you say or claim to be must be consistent with the documents you present, including the transcript. If you assert that you have a 4.0 GPA, you must expect your employer to check with your college and see if that’s true.
If an employer discovers that you have lied about your GPA or experience, they probably won’t hire you. So, this component of the hiring process is an excellent way for employers to gauge whether you are trustworthy or not.
College transcripts reflect all the courses you took in college and how well you performed. This record is helpful for employers of graduate schools or other educational institutions who need to determine an applicant’s workload.
For instance, if you want to become a Biology instructor, you must either have certification of your knowledge, pass a screening exam (if there’s one), or have an academic record showing you’re knowledgeable on the subject.
If you’re applying for a graduate school post that requires the employee to have a Ph.D., they may use your transcript to see what subjects you specialize in. Most likely, they’ll assign you to those to ensure that an expert is indeed teaching those subjects.
Transcripts are also an excellent way to see if an employee has any specializations, which they can see through the major or minor courses you take.
For instance, biology is a vast degree by itself since it covers a lot of fields like botany or zoology. However, if your transcript shows that your major area of study is cell biology or some other specific area, it may help you get an edge over your peers.
You can also use your transcript to point out higher-level or complex subjects that you’ve taken. These won’t just show your academic excellence but also show that you’re willing to challenge yourself by undertaking more complex topics.
For instance, taking and passing Mathematics 301 would help you stand out against someone who only took Mathematics 101. Most likely, however, this would only apply to courses that are relevant to the job.
Your transcript is also an excellent way to prove that you are multidisciplinary. These documents can reflect whether you’re a well-rounded or holistic individual because they reveal your interests and passions to employers.
For instance, you could showcase that while taking a business degree, you also took data science courses or even minored in some communication courses. These can help show your employer that you can bring something unique and valuable to their business.
About The Author
Nathan BrunnerNathan Brunner is a labor market expert.
He is the owner of Salarship, a job board where less-skilled candidates can find accessible employment opportunities.