Best way to respond to low GPA at job fair?
My school is having a career fair where there will be quite of a number of first tier financial firms. I am looking to get an internship next summer, and want to secure a few interviews at this fair. My major concern is that my GPA is pretty low (below a 3) so I won't put it on my resume. There will probably be at least 50 kids with a 3.5+ also trying to secure one of these spots, so obviously competition will be fierce. Anyone have any strategies to neutralize recruiters' attacks on my low GPA. I know it sounds ridiculous, but surely GPA is not everything and people have gotten jobs before with low GPAs. All I want is to just secure an interview.
I am looking to work in equity, S & T or prop trading, not ibanking. Dream firm would be Jane Street Capital, and I know that their interview process is very intense and they really test analytical and problem solving skills. This is where I am pretty certain that I can outperform other applicants. I just need to somehow overcome my GPA to secure that first interview, and I will be able to take it from there.
Any advice would be appreciated
T.I.A





dude you sound a lot like
dude you sound a lot like me.
You will take a lot of flack on this board as most users that post go/went to good schools and have/had stellar gpas.
The easiest answer to your question is to network. Find someone that does what you want to do and find a way to get them to take you under your wing. Really learn from this person. As they see growth in you they will be more likely to help you out. The fact of the matter is if you dont have a connection your resume simply will be tossed because they have to skim the pile. Your object is to not land in the no pile before your given your shot at an interview.
"Oh the ladies ever tell you that you look like a fucking optical illusion" - Frank Slaughtery 25th Hour.
Have a story
Below 3.0 is pretty low, but if you have:
a) a good reason for why you have a low GPA and
b) have a plan to turn that around or substantial progress in more recent classes and
c) show aptitude in your economics/related fields of study, and
d) otherwise are an OUTSTANDING (read: you must compensate) candidate, I think you have a shot.
If you did poorly in quantitative classes, though, you're in for a rude awakening.
trade4size is right, networking will help.
jane st cap
I don't know why you want to work at Jane St. Capital of all firms, but one way you can really grab their attention is to become a Functional Programming fanatic.
http://ocaml.janestcapital.com/
Jane St. Capital is all about OCaml and the idea of functional programming which is centered around functions, rather than objects such as C++ or C#. They have a OCaml contest, and if you excel in that, I guarantee they will try to hire you.