Do grades matter after college?

Depends on what you’re doing.

I’ve hired many people for very important positions and never asked that question.

I supposed if I were hiring for the type of position where I had a bunch of newly college graduated applicants, I may begin comparing grades but that would be very unlikely.

I agree with @avvooooooo that it depends what you’re doing.

Having said that, I think it is always important to do your best and get good grades, if at all possible.

I think after a few jobs and a few years, employers don’t look at your grades anymore. Relevant job experience takes priority.

I’m an engineer by the way

If you’re ever going to apply to grad school, your transcripts will be looked at.

I applied for jobs at a college and they wanted your full transcripts. Other jobs don’t require that level of information. If you’re doing anything with academics (or applying to NASA or something), grades matter. Doing other things, not so much.

NASA wants to know if you got a “C” in astrophysics! :D

@jackm you should ask people in your field. Like people above said it really matters on your line of work. Pharmaceutical companies frequently ask for your GPA, Engineering I’m not sure.

Your grades matter for your first job or two, if only as proof that you are intellectually competent. Even in finding the first job, they only matter if you have a high GPA and you want to use that as a differentiator to demonstrate accomplishment. If they’re just so-so, I wouldn’t show them on your resume.

After the first job, your work experience takes over. As @Likeradar said, they will matter for grad school.

They certainly matter if you want to get into grad school.

I graduated after one summer class in May, and have a full-time position now. They didn’t ask for transcripts, but I get the impression that my listed grade-point average helped me get the position. Ultimately it was the experience they were looking at.