A few years ago, I was working with a private student, an entrepreneur who ran a growing business. He wasn’t there to study theory. He was getting in-person tutoring in Phoenix, AZ, for a foreign language to support his business expansion.
During one session, our conversation shifted. We started talking about his experience hiring new employees. That’s when he told me a story I still think about.
A Job Interview That Said It All
He had posted a job opening for a database manager. His company needed someone to handle real-world data tasks—no hand-holding, just competence. He interviewed several candidates, but one stood out for the wrong reasons.
The candidate was a recent university graduate. His résumé looked good. His GPA checked out. The degree matched the role. On paper, he seemed like a great fit.
So my student decided to give him a simple, hands-on test.
“Just Open Access and Make Me a Database”
He set the candidate in front of a computer and said, “Here’s a set of data. I need it entered into a new database. Just open Access and make me a database.”
But the candidate froze.
Looking uncomfortable, he explained, “I’ve never worked with Access. My university used a proprietary database app, and that’s all I’ve ever worked with.”
There was no drama—just a pause. Then the interview ended.
When Skills Matter More Than Credentials
My student wasn’t angry. He wasn’t even shocked. But he was clear: the candidate wasn’t the right fit.
He didn’t care what the student hadn’t learned. So, this wasn’t about potential or intelligence. It was about the ability to sit down and solve a real-world problem with a common tool.
What Employers Are Really Looking For
This story made a strong point. Employers aren’t looking for perfect transcripts or memorized definitions. They want people who can think, adapt, and apply what they know.
It’s not about what you haven’t learned—it’s about what you can’t do with what you’ve learned.
The résumé might open the door, but the interview proves whether you can step through it. That’s what separates candidates who get hired from those who don’t.
Grades Open Doors. Skills Keep You Inside.
In school, grades feel like everything. They drive your schedule. They shape your stress. So, they fill out your report card.
But in the working world, grades fade. Employers don’t ask about your GPA after the first conversation. They ask what you can do on Day One.
In that interview, the business owner didn’t need someone who could talk about databases. He needed someone who could build one.
A Quiet Wake-Up Call for Students
That graduate may have done well in school. He might’ve passed every course with in-person tutoring in Phoenix, AZ. But without practical, transferable skills, he wasn’t ready to work.
Students need to understand: it’s not the paper that gets you hired—it’s the proof of what you can do.
When the test isn’t multiple-choice and the stakes are real, skills beat scores every time.
So, How Much Do Grades Really Matter?
This story doesn’t mean grades are useless. They can reflect effort, focus, and progress. But they’re not the full picture.
When it comes to employment, grades don’t solve problems. Skills do. At Be A Star Tutoring, my job is to prepare my students for professional life.
So next time you study, ask yourself: “Can I use this in the real world?”
Because someday, you won’t be graded—you’ll be tested.
How much do grades really matter?
Stay tuned…