KUALA LUMPUR: A professional engineer was left devastated after a government-linked company rejected his job application due to a CGPA below 3.0, despite his 17 years of industry experience.
In a post on the Engineers Malaysia Facebook page, Ahmad Mus'ab shared that his friend, a registered engineer with a Practising Certificate, faced this setback after an interview where the hiring managers had agreed to his employment and salary.
"After waiting three months for the offer letter, he was informed he had been rejected because his degree score was below 3.00 from years ago," Ahmad said.
He said this was a new policy from human resources.
The position was subsequently filled by another candidate with a higher CGPA but lacking similar qualifications.
"It's disheartening to see someone well-established in the industry judged by a score from over a decade ago," Ahmad added.
In a screenshot attached to the post, his friend expressed his frustration, lamenting the time wasted waiting for the offer letter.
"I passed the hiring manager's interview, completed the IQ test, and negotiated the salary, but ultimately it got stuck with HR, leading to my rejection," he said.
Meanwhile, some Facebook users speculated that the rejection might have been influenced by factors beyond just the old CGPA, such as connections or salary expectations.
Nor Aisha Binti Toasing remarked, "Your connections may not be strong. The CGPA is just an excuse. I hope things get easier for you."
Sharizal Salji commented, "They should have prioritised experience over CGPA. Experience isn't gained overnight."
Shahril Shaharoni added, "It's odd that HR makes the final decision; they should filter candidates based on CGPA before interviews. That company's process seems bizarre."