High School GPA in Interview?!

So I have a story for you. 

I’ve been in talks with a private equity firm. They approached me. They liked my background and wanted to build a role around me to oversee their sales strategy across their portfolio companies. After 15 interviews, a full day in-office sprint on one of their portfolio companies, 4 solid references, and a fully negotiated offer sent in writing (not the actual agreement), they came back and said the last step is to talk to the CEO and he has final say. When I had the call with him, he DRILLED me on what my high school GPA and why I went to a community school before going to a 4 year school, and how come a transferred to a couple of schools, and why did it take me so long to finish school. It's like he couldn’t wrap his head around me putting myself through school and not having the luxury to not work.

PE is definitely an old boys club with a lot of MBAs (which I do not have) and lots of people who went to well-recognized schools.

I heard back from them and they decided to pass. They approached me knowing what my schooling was before we even talked, they had all 15 people give me a thumbs up, they negotiated the offer, they talked to FOUR references, and THEN talk to the CEO.

Regardless of what I've been able to build for myself, they pretty much passed on me due to the educational path I chose for my career. 

I've never been asked about my schooling, let alone my high school or college GPA.

Anyone ever been asked about their schooling when interviewing for a leadership role with 20 years of experience?
🧠 Advice
🗣 Interviewing
🏋️‍♀️ Leadership
33
ADudeBeingAGuy
Politicker
17
Account Executive
CEO got bullied in High School. Change my mind.
SaaSsy
Politicker
2
AE
Totally! My feedback was going to be that CEOs are just like prospects - few are amazing and many are crazy/suck.
StartupGuy
Catalyst
1
VP of Sales
110% true— Not every CEO is amazing.
StartupGuy
Catalyst
1
VP of Sales
Oh man. Now you got me curious. Lol
xxx
Valued Contributor
1
CRO
Yes. 100%
CuriousFox
WR Officer
14
🦊
Imagine what your life would have been like if you worked for them. You dodged a bullet friend.
StartupGuy
Catalyst
2
VP of Sales
110%.
TennisandSales
Politicker
2
Head Of Sales
bullets dodged for sure!
SaaSam
Politicker
10
Account Executive
Shit, I'd be tempted to bill them for my time for sure. Some bullshit.

I don't even remember my HS GPA and dipped out after one semester of community college. Throughout my career I've worked with several people with much higher levels of education than myself and never felt like that made them any more successful. 

It's my opinion that college degrees aren't worth the paper they're written on. Unless you're a doctor or a lawyer, I'll wipe my ass with your degree.
StartupGuy
Catalyst
1
VP of Sales
So agree. I am (obviously) on the same boat. I’ve been able to build a very solid career and have had the success to show for it (said like a salesperson, right? Lol). I was baffled to even see it came up. I was even asked about my school size— how many kids were there in the school and how many kids in my graduating class. Ridiculous.
Skrtskrt
Good Citizen
1
AE (Account Executive)
Hahaha.
TennisandSales
Politicker
1
Head Of Sales
HA! I like the idea of billing a company for your time if they dont hire you.
alonzoharris
Politicker
7
Partner Manager
15 interviews is 14 interviews too many
Pachacuti
Politicker
4
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
3-4 yes, 15 no.
StartupGuy
Catalyst
1
VP of Sales
Definitely felt like it after it was all over with.
Pachacuti
Politicker
6
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Old school elitism is still alive and well.  Never mind being rewarded based on your merits and accomplishments.  

Alexander Hamilton faced the same.  He had to work 3x harder then the guys who came from wealth and family status.

You don't see this as much on the West Cost USA, but more East Coast and somewhat Europe, especially in in Fintech.

AND WHY IS High School EVEN ON A RESUME!!!!???!!!
StartupGuy
Catalyst
0
VP of Sales
True— was a wake up call to see there are companies that still care about what school someone goes to. I get it for certain professions, but not for most.

High school is def not on my resume.
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
4
SaaS Eater
CEO hasnt sold anything in their life. Nor do they understand talent evaluation. Its a shock they are the CEO of a PE fund. Or not, if it was founded by their dad. 
StartupGuy
Catalyst
3
VP of Sales
I also found it interesting how the CEO still gets involved for a large org and for a role that doesn’t even report into him and why one thumbs down from him negates all the 14 other thumbs up. Doesn’t seem like there is any checks and balances.
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
4
SaaS Eater
You probably dodged a bullet but weird process no doubt. I agree
Oldskool
Personal Narrative
2
Senior AE
Wow, what a circus performance. Just based on that CEO interaction alone, be very glad they passed. They are going to put some jackass MBA with no street smarts in the role and you can sit back and laugh when he/she fucks it all up. 
StartupGuy
Catalyst
2
VP of Sales
It’s crazy to see an industry so dated. We’re in a world where someone who never steps a day in school can learn more online (and faster) than someone who went to a prestigious school.
Rallier
Politicker
2
SDR Manager and Consultant
Yeah all of this is just insane 
StartupGuy
Catalyst
0
VP of Sales
Yeah- I seriously have trouble trying to figure which part of my entire experience is the most insane.
jefe
Arsonist
2
🍁
I didn't think the story would get crazier than the title.

That whole process is wild.

I've experienced the opposite and had a hard time working in awards I got in post grad in interviews when I was new to the game. 
StartupGuy
Catalyst
0
VP of Sales
Interview process was over 7-8 weeks too! Just nuts.
JDialz
Politicker
2
Chief Operating Officer
PE is lame and way too slow - hence the 15 interviews. Go work for a hedge fund where there is real money and far less bullshittery.
StartupGuy
Catalyst
0
VP of Sales
Hmm. Now you got my wheels turning. This was a unique that oversees sales strategy. Do hedge funds have a similar role?
JDialz
Politicker
1
Chief Operating Officer
For sure. Many would be titled “partner relations” or “partner management/relationship management” (investors in hedge funds are ‘limited partners,’ or LPs). It’s a salaried position that is bonused based on retention and fundraising, typically the former; not unusual to be involved on both sides though.
StartupGuy
Catalyst
1
VP of Sales
Solid. Thanks for the info. Will definitely look into this. Thank you.
JDialz
Politicker
2
Chief Operating Officer
I’m here for you, SG!

My fund launches July 2024, so maybe we’ll find each other irl.
StartupGuy
Catalyst
1
VP of Sales
❤️ it’s a small world. Have no doubt the paths will cross.
iHateMyself
Valued Contributor
1
Head of Business Development - Investment Fund
if your interview for the PE firm was to design sales strats for their portfolio companies, and their portfolio companies were segmented into D2C or rather niche, your skill set may not exactly correlate. Besides, the Investor relations jobs on wall street are some of the most unnecessarily overqualified/over "barriers to entry" as I have ever seen. They want you to be as skilled in financial modeling as the research team while also being a salesperson, and you actually start off making less than the midlevel research people for a much more visible role. (jr. researchers have zero autonomy usually and will rarely be trusted to compose investment theses. Bizdev/I.R. is a lot of hands on work as the team is smaller.
Not trying to knock you down. you seem very capable. I'd just expect a similar level of snobbery. You'd also be "selling" to stiffs in fundoffunds or family offices, pensions, etc. Its a bit dry.
StartupGuy
Catalyst
0
VP of Sales
It was an actually an extremely fitting and mutually aligned role with my experience. While my experience runs the gamut with startups, PE is definitely a new industry for me so your insight is very valuable. Thank you. I’ve come to learn most of the investment firms operate like a old boys club. I’m sure some have a much more progressive mindset— but I’m sure it’s like finding a needle in a haystack.
iHateMyself
Valued Contributor
0
Head of Business Development - Investment Fund
The value you'd be able to bring to a hedge fund is moreso evaluation of sales teams/processes at IPO or afterwards. Whereas you could say "I think this SaaS with a market cap of $X per share earning $Y a year in profit with Z major contracts could land 2Z contracts equaling 3Y therefore trading at 3.5X$ per share by next year due to this sales teams experience etc.

Its an underlooked portion of evaluating newer companies, those that have so much room to grow with performance on the shoulders of sales teams over or underperformance, IMO
crazycooter
2
BDM
That's a 3 ring cluster fuck and you're lucky they didn't move you forward inside of that circus tent.  Sweet relief. 
StartupGuy
Catalyst
1
VP of Sales
Hahaha! 💯
TheIncarceration
Politicker
1
SDR Manager
You dodged a bullet imo 
StartupGuy
Catalyst
1
VP of Sales
110%. Can you imagine if they made an “exception” and I joined? I’d be judged the whole time by the CEO about my high school GPA from 20 years ago.
migisamoneymaker
Member
1
Sr Account exec
That is the lamest excuse I have EVER heard for not hiring someone.  If he couldn't trust the judgement of 15 of his employees that says it all right there.  Go grab a drink and be thankful you aren't working for a complete Douchebag! ...notice I even put a capital "D" in there!
StartupGuy
Catalyst
0
VP of Sales
So agree— any CEO/Founder I’ve worked for would have done what you just described and trusted the team. It’s 2022 for farts sake— why worry about a worthless degree from 20 years ago that taught me far less than the actual experience I got after school?
rharris415
Contributor
1
Founder
They’re big enough that I’d write a nasty-gram to their HR department. I’d consider copying him, and BCCing everyone else you interviewed with.
StartupGuy
Catalyst
0
VP of Sales
Sounds so tempting, but don’t you think that’s burning a bridge? Not even particularly with them but more so with who they know… it’s a small world.
rharris415
Contributor
1
Founder
Yes, they burners it. 

They piled up the kindling, then poured a bunch of kerosene on it, and they lit the match.

Who are they going to tell exactly?

How are they ever going to know I’m connected with them? LinkedIn, puh-leeze.  Done, disconnect and block them on LinkedIn. 

I guarantee if you posted this story on LinkedIn, and yeah, leave names out of it. You’d find a job 10x faster anyway. 

look at all the other comments that are saying “dodged a bullet”, which is true.
StartupGuy
Catalyst
0
VP of Sales
Ay yay yay! So true @rharris415
SalesMofo
Big Shot
1
Head of Sales
I had about 5 years of B2C Sales Experience when I interviewed as an SDR with the AE I'd support (#1 in the company out of ~1,000) and his Sales Manager.

SM: So what was your college GPA?


Me: Honestly, not great.


AE: Me too! Let me guess: you partied too hard, drank too much?


Me: That's the one.


AE: Yeah I actually got kicked out of college because my grades were so bad.  I had to go to community college for a year and live with my parents before I could transfer back.


SM: Really?  I never knew that about you.

AE: I love a redemption story more than just someone who never had any challenges.

I couldn't believe my luck. 1 hour intro interview runs 2.5 hours, they basically promise me the job on the spot, I go on to be the top SDR in the company for 2 years straight, was a goal-hitting AE for 7 years.

My GPA?  2.0.  I barely graduated in 5 years with a degree in a bullshit field.  Moral of the story?  None of that matters if you're years past it, but you need someone smart enough and risk-seeking enough to get it.  Most hiring managers aren't that.
StartupGuy
Catalyst
0
VP of Sales
That’s an awesome story. Would rather have someone who is genuine and shows humility than someone who has a sense of entitlement.
iHateMyself
Valued Contributor
1
Head of Business Development - Investment Fund
Imagine he'd heard a story of a true hardship instead of a self-imposed hiatus. Still a cool story
CatMom
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Gtfo 😡 yeah I’d be tempted to tell them to kiss my ass asking for high school gpa and absolutely send them an invoice for wasting all that damn time!
StartupGuy
Catalyst
1
VP of Sales
I should have put all the questions back his was and asked him what his high school GPA is and how come his parents didn’t give him the opportunity to have a real life experience of working through school like some of us.
countingmyinterest
Politicker
1
Account Executive
ugh PE is an old boys club. That needs to change.
StartupGuy
Catalyst
0
VP of Sales
Definitely needs to change… and just as all is changing… it’s a matter of time, but there is a reason why they still call it the old boys club. Unfortunately.
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
1
Bravado's Resident Asshole
I still haven't had any questions regarding my schooling at all. even for a job that required a degree.
NotCreativeEnough
Big Shot
0
Professional Day Ruiner
sounds like a great company to not work for. This is the company that's a complete bro culture and expects you to work yourself to death.

Anyone who cares about a college degree if you aren't in STEM is just trying to justify their own wasting of 4+ years and tens of thousands of dollars
AnchorPoint
Politicker
0
Business Coach
Guarantee there was a method to his process and something did not ring true for him. If you really want the position, ask for another meeting. You may get another shot.
StartupGuy
Catalyst
0
VP of Sales
Good point. I’ve definitely have pushed back with my main contact and the person I would have reported to, but never asked for another meeting with the CEO/Founder.
TennisandSales
Politicker
0
Head Of Sales
holy.fuck. this is insane.
1. FIFETEEN INTERVIEWS??? jesus.
2. I cant believe they care about high school never-mind college GPA. I wouldn't be able to tell you ether to be honest.
3. i think you ended up dodging a bullet here.
saaskicker
Celebrated Contributor
0
Enterprise AE
Sounds like the Darktrace recruiters asking for college transcripts as part of the interview process.
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
0
Sales Rep
I almost think the question was to throw you off, it’s almost as if he is asking a riddle
1

Did you go to college before you got into Sales or did you dive right into it after high school?

Question
8
College Educated or Straight out of High School?
87% College
13% Straight out of High School
55 people voted
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