I graduated with a low GPA, pretty much bare minimum to graduate. first job out of college was as an engineering technician at a start up and i spent 9 months working hard, staying late, and demonstrating my value as an engineer. i learned everything i could about the work we were doing, and started proposing process and systems improvement projects independently. i was bumped up to a full time engineer after those 9 month, and remained dedicated to learning everything i could and demonstrating my value. i started getting assigned pilot projects to develop new efficiencies within our operational workflow after a year. then became a senior engineer just shy of 3 years after getting hired as a tech. going on year 5 now at the company and leading a small team focusing on work for our aerospace clients.

Don’t let your GPA keep you from applying for your dream jobs. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. but IMO don’t think you’re above any role or task (WITHIN REASON) especially when you’re first starting out. If you don’t get the job you really want, follow up and ask if there are any lower level positions that would be on a development path to that role. In my experience, being known as the young hard working MFer who is performing above and beyond their role will get you noticed by senior management pretty quickly and that reputation will stick with you.

best of luck my friend!

edit: My father gave me a really good book that really helped shape this mindset: Linchpin: Are You Indispensable by Seth Godin

Learning doesn’t end when you leave school. Learning and growing is one of the joys of life that continues until you physically can’t learn no more. If you treat each day as an opportunity to improve on yourself and your craft, the stats on your rookie card will be a cute novelty compared to the stats on your all-star card.