Question

Michael just graduated with a degree in Accounting from State University. He worked hard in school but could only achieve a 2.95 GPA because he worked 40 hours a week to pay his own way through college. Unfortunately, Michael was unable to get a job because the recruiters all had a 3.0 GPA cut-off point. Michael stayed with his college job for another year but is anxious to start his public accounting career. One day he reads about a job opening with a local CPA firm. The entry-level position pays little but it’s a way for Michael to get his foot in the door. However, he knows there will be candidates for the position with a higher GPA than his so he is thinking about using his overall GPA, which was 3.25 including two years of community college studies, rather than his major GPA and the GPA at State, even though the advertisement asks for these two GPAs. Michael asks for your opinion before sending in the résumé. What would you say to Michael and why? Mintz, Steven. Ethical Obligations and Decision-Making in Accounting: Text and Cases (p. 93). McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Kindle Edition.

Answer 1

According to Ethical Obligations and Decision-Making in Accounting, Michael should not use his overall GPA of 3.25 that includes his two years of community college studies. This is not what the application asks of him, and because of it, he might encounter some problems. If he is able to get an interview by using this information, then it is very likely that the hiring committee will look into his documents more carefully. This will show that he was dishonest in his application.

Instead, the best thing he can do is apply to the job without lying about his qualifications or his GPA. If he is called for an interview, then he can honestly present his case and explain why he thinks that he could be a suitable candidate despite his lower marks.