Secured a meeting/interview... then they ask to bring a transcript!
I met a senior manager of a consulting company at a school event and we talked for some time, and he offered me his card. I emailed him asking for a summer internship (although it's pretty late in the game) and he sends my resume to HR with his recommendation. HR says they can't now as all the interns have already started, but he sends me an email back he'll see if there's anything he can do.
Yesterday, I got a call from another senior manager wanting to set up a meeting with me. So we set up a meeting time; he sends me an email where to meet him. Then he sends me another email asking to bring a transcript.
I've scored an interview with a company that usually would look at your gpa before giving an interview (because i have low gpa) but now they want to see my transcript!
My gpa is really low.. I even have a few courses I failed in there.
I'd say my resume is pretty strong though.
What do I do? I'm sure it will be a dealbreaker if he cares about marks (which I'm sure he does if he asked for me to bring it)
Should I say I only got the first email and forgot to bring it?
I would take it, you would only be delaying the unavoidable (you will have to show them your transcript sooner or later). That said it is all about how well you can spin it: maybe you didn't get great grades because you were managing your own portfolio or teaching young kinds or some other stuff...
HF hit it spot on. I Don't think you can avoid this so have def have a solid story. My grades sucked but I worked 2 jobs all throughout college and that sold me pretty well during recruiting season.
Thanks for your response. Do you think it really will be unavoidable? Perhaps if they like me during the interview, they won't ask for it again?
Hopeful thinking, but worry about the meeting first.
A bad transcript can be spinned/explained. Completely ignoring an email (and saying you "didn't get it") will make you look like a dumbass in a way that will be impossible to recover from as he will see through your bullshit.
Bring the transcript. And have a good story to explain it.
If anyone has actual advice on what to do in this situation, I'm also interested.
FWIW, last year I interviewed at a BB for a banking role and was put in the same position. I took my transcript in but was never asked to go over it - I thought I was coasting into the clear. Right before leaving, one of the VPs came into the room and asked for the transcript. She said all the "thanks, yada yada" formalities and I was walked out. This was the final round of interviews.
My transcript was horrible (I'm 99% positive yours is better) - needless to say, I did not hear back. You know a partner though, whereas I was just picked up by a recruiter, so your mileage may vary.
Thanks for all the responses. I guess I will have to bring my transcript. How does this usually work - would he ask me to pull out my transcript in the beginning? If he doesn't, should I volunteer myself and bring it up so I can have the chance to tell him the story? Just so that I can avoid Kassad's situation.
I just need to work on my story now. Does anyone have tips on this?
What kind of jobs did you work throughout college? I did as well, but most were minimum-wage jobs like retail sales rep, and serving at bars/restaurants, neither of which I put in my resume. If I mention this, how much would it help? Could you clarify what you mean by spinning/get a good story? Since I can't exactly make things up, exaggerate what I have done over the years? I've worked on a some entrepreneurial projects and hopefully talking about them will help, and exaggerating?I have a really, really low GPA... so I feel like this will be a really big challenge. I have an ADHD mentality, and I tend to get focussed in one thing really deeply and I would neglect other things until I get that done, which could be days or weeks. Is this a bad thing to mention? Is there a different way to phrase it? Should I show regret? or don't and make it sound as if I think things I did were worth it?
How I really feel is that, although I've kept myself busy with many other projects and extracurricular activities, I could've and should've worked harder in school. But I'm unsure whether to say that and be truly honest. Which route should I go when telling them?
Explain things I did outside of school. Tell him that, although I had a lot of other commitments, I should've worked harder. Show regret.
Explain things I did outside of school. Tell him that I had no way to do all that on top of doing well in school. Show that I don't regret because I gained valuable experiences that I couldn't from school.
I would probably go with number two but tell him that you have now learned your lesson and are definitively focus on improving your GPA for the rest of your course. Spinning is just that; find the edge in your story that makes it all seem good, for example: I really needed the cash from my part time job so I really made an effort to conciliate work with school but despite the success I have achieve on the part time job due to my effort, the academic side suffered considerable and clearly does not reflect my true capabilities and I am sure I will be able to prove that to you if I am offered this summer internship. Tap dancing is the ability to think on your feet, ie. reply to answers you didn't saw coming
Do transcripts matter at interviews? (Originally Posted: 01/19/2012)
I have an interview in a few weeks and I have been asked to bring a transcript to the interview. I have not lied about my grades but I do have a W on the transcript. Does anyone know if this is a big deal or not?
Doubt it will be a big deal.
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