Growing up, we were told that in order to find a good job, we need to study hard. Well apparently we were lied to. It seems that your college GPA doesn’t matter after you graduate. Therefore, those hours and sleepless nights you spent studying were all in vain.

According to CareerBuilder.com’s “College Job Forecast 2008,” the majority of employees don’t have a minimum GPA requirement for hiring college graduates. In other words, a graduate with a 2.0 GPA has as good of a chance of being employed as someone with a 4.0.

Don’t completely abandon your studies though. You do want to graduate eventually. Plus, employers want to see that you have a strong academic record. "For employers, GPA is just one factor in their decision to interview or hire an applicant," says Amy Diepenbrock, director of career services at Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla.

According to the executive director of cooperative education and career services at Pace University in New York City, potential hires need to be prepared to explain their educational background, which should show that the student was studious but also involved in extra-curricular activities.

Someone with work experience but a poor GPA will dazzle an employer more than someone with just straight A’s. Basically, employers are looking for a well-rounded individual with real-world skills, a strong work ethic and a good head on his or her shoulders.