Discussion
A little bit of history first. Not digging for sympathy or whatever, just telling it as it is so maybe you understand.
When I was in senior school I was bullied pretty much the entire time. Throughout year 10 it got worse and I started not turning up for school at all. Year 11 started and before xmas something happened and I bailed. I "left school" with no GCSEs at all. Totally qualification-less.
I'm 29 now and for the last 10 years or so I've put that I achieved 5 GCSEs of C grade or better. It seemed to be the only way I would be considered for job interviews. It's not like I put false O levels or masters degrees on there. Anyway, I've flitted from job to job and not once has the employer double checked or requested to see my GCSE certificates. I didn't even consider it a thing any more. Until today.
I'm in the middle of applying for a job with a large UK company. I passed the online application and I passed the telephone interview about an hour ago. Next step is a half day at their training centre and they have requested that I take my GCSE certificates with me. I tried to wriggle out of it saying it was 13 years ago and I'd lost them in a move. Then they asked if I could apply to have them sent out to me.
I've spoken to a friend who got me to apply for this job and he said that a couple of other applicants had failed grades on their CV so were made to take the equivalency tests. They passed and everything continued as normal for them. I'm worried that because I outright lied that I won't be given such an opportunity.
A few years ago I took a few NVQs while I was in a retail job. Funnily enough the woman who I did the course with didn't even check my GCSEs, she just took my word on it and put me on the appropriate level NVQ.
I suppose my question is can I actually get past this? I'm hoping when the day comes that I need to give the certificates in that I can just tell the truth and it falls on a sympathetic ear and not a jobsworth. It's not the end of the world if I don't get the job, I'm already employed but this new position is with a friend and doing something that I have more of an interest in.
Anyway, inb4 flames.
When I was in senior school I was bullied pretty much the entire time. Throughout year 10 it got worse and I started not turning up for school at all. Year 11 started and before xmas something happened and I bailed. I "left school" with no GCSEs at all. Totally qualification-less.
I'm 29 now and for the last 10 years or so I've put that I achieved 5 GCSEs of C grade or better. It seemed to be the only way I would be considered for job interviews. It's not like I put false O levels or masters degrees on there. Anyway, I've flitted from job to job and not once has the employer double checked or requested to see my GCSE certificates. I didn't even consider it a thing any more. Until today.
I'm in the middle of applying for a job with a large UK company. I passed the online application and I passed the telephone interview about an hour ago. Next step is a half day at their training centre and they have requested that I take my GCSE certificates with me. I tried to wriggle out of it saying it was 13 years ago and I'd lost them in a move. Then they asked if I could apply to have them sent out to me.
I've spoken to a friend who got me to apply for this job and he said that a couple of other applicants had failed grades on their CV so were made to take the equivalency tests. They passed and everything continued as normal for them. I'm worried that because I outright lied that I won't be given such an opportunity.
A few years ago I took a few NVQs while I was in a retail job. Funnily enough the woman who I did the course with didn't even check my GCSEs, she just took my word on it and put me on the appropriate level NVQ.
I suppose my question is can I actually get past this? I'm hoping when the day comes that I need to give the certificates in that I can just tell the truth and it falls on a sympathetic ear and not a jobsworth. It's not the end of the world if I don't get the job, I'm already employed but this new position is with a friend and doing something that I have more of an interest in.
Anyway, inb4 flames.
NNH said:
I'm sorry that you've found yourself in this awful situation. As someone who was bullied, I can empathise. As someone who hires a lot of people, I want to yell at you.
Your first loyalty needs to be to your friend: don't make him look bad in front of his employers. If your industry is as small as mine, it could affect both of you for a long time.
Next, don't try faking certificates as that takes you into seriously fraudulent territory.
In your shoes, I'd either withdraw from the whole process or turn up without the certificates and ask to be allowed to do the equivalency tests "because you can't find them and it's expensive to order new ones".
Do not, under ANY circumstances, be tempted to turn up on the day and tell the truth to a junior HR flunky who has absolutely no ability to bend the rules. This will not go well...
Good luck, and I hope you've learned a lesson from this.
Thank you for your kind words. This seems to me to be the best course of action (or at least my preferred). I don't want to drop out of the application process because it's for a job I think I'll enjoy and the sooner I'm out of where I am, the better.Your first loyalty needs to be to your friend: don't make him look bad in front of his employers. If your industry is as small as mine, it could affect both of you for a long time.
Next, don't try faking certificates as that takes you into seriously fraudulent territory.
In your shoes, I'd either withdraw from the whole process or turn up without the certificates and ask to be allowed to do the equivalency tests "because you can't find them and it's expensive to order new ones".
Do not, under ANY circumstances, be tempted to turn up on the day and tell the truth to a junior HR flunky who has absolutely no ability to bend the rules. This will not go well...
Good luck, and I hope you've learned a lesson from this.
If I'm unsuccessful with this application then I'll look into doing the equivalency exams.
Thanks all for your advice. I was expecting a lot more hate to be thrown my way for being a blagger.
I've been looking into it and apparently my NVQs act as GCSEs anyway. I've got:
Level 2 Application of Number
Level 2 Communication
Level 2 Retail Operations
Level 2 Retail something else
I may have totally read it wrong but from what I could gather those first 2 NVQs will act as my GCSE equivelants for Maths and English.
Level 2 Application of Number
Level 2 Communication
Level 2 Retail Operations
Level 2 Retail something else
I may have totally read it wrong but from what I could gather those first 2 NVQs will act as my GCSE equivelants for Maths and English.
longshot said:
I think the OP has already decided to blag it.
Hmm, somewhat.I've contacted the people I did my NVQs with and confirmed that my Communication and Application of Number do in fact act as equivalents to English and Maths GCSE A-C.
I've just now contacted the recruitment department of where I'm applying and asked if I can present my NVQ certificates in lieu of my 'lost' GCSE certificates. If its a yes, then happy days. If its a no then I'll come clean and tell them the truth (apparently my emails have been going through to the head of HR, not some random bod).
I guess I'll find out today whether or not I'm continuing with this application.
The Moose said:
CasuallyDressed said:
Hmm, somewhat.
I've contacted the people I did my NVQs with and confirmed that my Communication and Application of Number do in fact act as equivalents to English and Maths GCSE A-C.
I've just now contacted the recruitment department of where I'm applying and asked if I can present my NVQ certificates in lieu of my 'lost' GCSE certificates. If its a yes, then happy days. If its a no then I'll come clean and tell them the truth (apparently my emails have been going through to the head of HR, not some random bod).
I guess I'll find out today whether or not I'm continuing with this application.
So, what happened??I've contacted the people I did my NVQs with and confirmed that my Communication and Application of Number do in fact act as equivalents to English and Maths GCSE A-C.
I've just now contacted the recruitment department of where I'm applying and asked if I can present my NVQ certificates in lieu of my 'lost' GCSE certificates. If its a yes, then happy days. If its a no then I'll come clean and tell them the truth (apparently my emails have been going through to the head of HR, not some random bod).
I guess I'll find out today whether or not I'm continuing with this application.
My email was sent on Monday morning, we are now on Wednesday afternoon. I'm due an email or phone call soon regardless of this separate email because I'm due an invite to the half training day.
So yeah, nothing's happened, yet.
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