Q. We're hiring somebody for an entry level position. My boss rejected the person I liked most because her GPA was a little low — 2.12. Is GPA really that important a predictor of performance? We had chatted a bit about her school experience during the interview, and she explained that she had a rough initial couple of years, but that she'd really pulled it all together in her final few years.

A. Has your supervisor met with the person that you're recommending? It sounds like she may be able to diffuse some of those concerns. At the very least, meeting with somebody brings other variables into play that may create a better impression than the way the person looks on paper. You might also ask her to provide a major GPA instead of a total GPA to see if that would present a better picture for your supervisor. Ultimately though, it may be better to ask yourself how important it is for you to change your supervisor's mind on this. Hiring somebody always carries some risk. If you can convince your supervisor to hire somebody despite their own reservations, then the personal consequences of a mistake may be magnified.