[Anonymous]

So I completed my recent office visit with the out-of-state KPMG office, and I thought it went well (though I know they try to make the experience as pleasant as possible by default, so feeling good about it isn’t any indication of how you did). I felt like I really got along with the people there. Most of my interview with the partner consisted of him asking random things about my state (not that it was a bad thing, but that it seemed almost TOO casual/relaxed, like he was trying to test me–I tried the best I could to steer the conversation to accounting, while still being responsive to his questions.)

Also, neither the partner nor manager took any notes while they were interviewing me–is that a sign of anything? I hope it meant that they were just trying to gauge my personality, and not that they had written me off before the start. Anyhow, I won’t find out whether I get the offer until a few weeks later because of the restrictions by the schools in their state, which don’t allow firms to extend offers until X date. I guess I’ll just have to keep hoping until then.

Anyhow, onto my actual question. As I was looking through my course selection for next semester, I noticed that I had mistakenly categorized two of my graduate courses as undergraduate courses on my resume (I had taken them over lastt summer and had an easy time with them, hence me not having thought about them as graduate courses). My school requires a separation of graduate and undergraduate GPAs, and if I made the correction, my graduate accounting GPA would rise a full .33 points.

I am SO frustrated and mad (at myself) right now because I’ve been terrified for a long time that having my incorrectly “low” graduate GPA on my resume would cost me a job (and I’m sure it’s already cost me some interviews), and it turns out that it shouldn’t even be the low number that I put on there. I’m sure I’m the first person to have wrongly put a LOWER GPA on my resume than it actually is. -__- I’m hoping that GPA won’t matter in the second-round, since it was apparently “good” enough to get me an office visit, but I’m thinking it had more to do with the fact that my first-round interviewer really liked me than my qualifications on my paper.

So the question: should I bother e-mailing the recruiters with my corrected resume (with the correctly-higher GPA), or would it make me look even worse if I did so?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't bother. Your GPA and resume get you the interview. After that, it is up to your personality and social skills.

[Anonymous]

Does a HiYa! count as a second? If not, I second Brovall's comment.

The resume proves you are qualified for the position and secures the interview.

Your interpersonal/interview skills convincing them you are the best candidate win the job.

I would not contact them about the change in the resume for 2 reasons:

1) They probably don't care.

2) They could consider it a reflection on your work ethic / professionalism and would hope that a candidate for the position had double checked their resume before submission for any errors.

Potential 3rd reason.. They have probably already made their hiring decision.

[Anonymous]

Your GPA got you your interview. Your interview will get you your job.

The only way it would matter is if your GPA dropped due to said error.

[Anonymous]

Okay, well I guess I'm going to keep hoping. It just sucks because my school has an integrated undergraduate + Masters program, in which I've taken accounting and concentration-specific courses throughout all the years. My undergraduate degree was in a “Bachelor's of Businesses Administration,” however (even though it's part of the overall accounting program), so it just really sucks that my GPA seems so low for my actually accounting masters.

My interviewer actually did ask about the program at my school, since I'm interviewing for out-of-state and I guess they aren't as familiar with schools not in their state (I can't say which school I'm in, exactly, but it's program is VERY highly-ranked), but to someone with not as much knowledge about the way my school/program works, it just looks like I did well in undergraduate, but hit a gave up/slump for my actual accounting Masters, which is not true. I just wish I had been able to clarify it more, now that I realize what his concern might have been. 🙁

[Anonymous]

And I guess I'll just put it out there because, at this point, I doubt that they'll making a hiring decision based on whether I've blown my cover over an internet forum, but the graduate accounting GPA that I had listed incorrectly on my resume is a 3.0. It SHOULD be a 3.33. Not that huge of a difference, I suppose, but a 3.0 looks more like borderline failure, whereas a 3.33 shows that at least I'd put in effort.

*sighs* I guess I should I assume to go back to the drawing board. It just sucks that the accounting career seems like it's “Big 4 or bust,” and the big 4 doesn't usually give entry-level applicants a chance once they're out of school, so I'm out of luck I suppose.

[Anonymous]

FYI-

It's not Big 4 or bust. I've met plenty of successful accountants that don't even have their CPA license, much less Big 4 experience.

Big 4 and/or CPA is no guarantee for a successful career. There are plenty more important things like people, political, and technical skills. It's having these three AND a CPA that is a “golden ticket”.

[acamp]

“Most of my interview with the partner consisted of him asking random things about my state (not that it was a bad thing, but that it seemed almost TOO casual/relaxed, like he was trying to test me–I tried the best I could to steer the conversation to accounting, while still being responsive to his questions.)”

That will probably hurt you more than any GPA discrepancy. The partner is interested in your interpersonal skills, not so much in your accounting knowledge (that's what the GPA was for).

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[MydnightDarkfyre]

I have to agree with acamp – if the partner was discussing non-accounting topics, you should have went with it. They have literally dozens of applicants qualified on paper. They want to see what your personality is and if they can stand to work in a conference room with you 60 hours a week during busy season…

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[Anonymous]

I just read elsewhere that a 3.2 GPA is the minimum that the Big 4 will consider in the area that I'm applying (big city in the West Coast). My cumulative GPA is around 3.59, but my grad GPA is 3.1, so I'm wondering how the heck I even got the interview, then (though I know California doesn't require a Masters for the CPA, so maybe being on track for a Masters made up for my low GPA a bit?) It just sucks having been “given a chance,” despite knowing I probably won't make it.

I'm just really discouraged about the prospect of graduating college with a Masters and CPA, but no full-time employment. I'm hoping that those credentials will help me in the independent job search in the worst case, but I don't know. 🙁

[Author]

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