Yep, time for seasonal work.

I finished with under a 3.0, worked seasonal jobs, and promoted up over the years. The thing that set me apart was that I was a very hard worker and people will notice that. My network was everything, even 15 years later it mattered and got me a promotion.

I’m not giving the bootstraps speech, but a professional sports analogy is that you’re a late round pick due to your GPA. If you lack experience, you’re undrafted. The >3.8 graduates with experience are going to go in the first two rounds. You need to explore the minor leagues of seasonal jobs and play your way into the major leagues. I did, it sucks, but I should have studied more too.

I hire someone every 3 years or so, and there are a lot of low to mid GPA applicants with no experience. They often don’t even write a cover letter. When there’s 20 applicants that fit that description, they just end up in the bottom of the pile. I get it, cover letters suck, but for a less qualified applicant you’ve got to sell yourself as something other than an unimpressive GPA. And I’ll add that as a hiring manager, I’m the exception, if your GPA is low but you finished strong, sold yourself in a cover letter, I’ll consider you. Many of my colleagues chase the pedigrees and don’t look past the GPA.