After the diploma is in their hands and the cap has been thrown in the air, students may not have to worry about finding a job just because they didn’t have a 4.0 grade point average in college.

Jean Callary, assistant director of the Career Planning and Placement Center, said a high GPA is not the sole factor that determines whether or not a student finds employment.

The importance of good grades may be important for some fields, while experience is more important in others, she said.

Junior English major Matt Rathwell said he believes grades are important.

“It’s really the only way you can judge how well you did in comparison with everyone else,” he said.

Callary pointed out that some majors require more book knowledge, while others require experience and people skills.

“It depends an awful lot on the job and the major,” she said. “But, you need some evidence that for the last four years you’ve done something well.”

NIU Ombudsman Tim Griffin agreed that experience in some fields is more important than in others, but it is important to be well-rounded.

“Both are important, of course,” he said. “A weak resume in either [GPA or experience] can be a detriment in finding employment.”

Thelma Vega, a senior sociology and political science major, said she doesn’t worry too much about grades.

“I think for the most part, as long as you have a 3.0, you’ll be OK,” she said.

Vega stressed the value of an internship.

“I think [internships] are important because it’s where you acquire networks,” she said. “It’s more who you know than what you actually know if you’re average.”

Callary agreed that networking is important.

“All things being equal, why would an employer choose someone who doesn’t have career-related experience over someone who does?” she said. “An internship is just about the best career-related move itself.”