Lying On a CV - Peoples/Employers thoughts/experiences

[mattf93]

This is by no means what I am doing, however:
I was speaking to a an acquaintance of mind that is some sort of compliance manager for a bank in London, was talking about degrees and the fact I think I am going to struggle to get a 2:1. He said Just lie and make out you got a 2:1 and re arrange your results accordingly.

This is by no means what I am going to do but Im wondering if
1) Anybody has done this before?
2) If anybody bothers to check an individuals grades with the institution they get their degree from?
3) Whether people regularly lie on CVs to this effect?
4) And whether people actually get found out and possible repercussions of this?

I have an uncanny back if I lie of getting found out pretty quickly, and Ive been brought up not to lie, however just wanting other peoples opinions? Sounds silly but at uni we are under so much pressure to get 2:1s or above - if you don't you're basically st!
In 'the real world' do employers actually turn their nose up with people that gain 'just' a 2:2? I should point out I'm doing a Law degree and i absolutely hate it now, not what I set out to feel like but thats ultimately where I'm at.

Any advice would be nice, but try and keep responses pleasant Im just a 'stressed' student looking for answers or advice.

[mattf93]

NNH said:

I've hired quite a few people for my team in a large UK bank over the last 18 months. We check degree results for everyone I've hired, including some people who graduated over twenty years ago. Any company working in a regulated industry will do the same, as it's just too risky to do otherwise.

A 2:2 won't do wonders for your employability, but it is a good market for jobhunters right now so even if you don't manage to improve your degree you'll have a decent chance if you can show some other evidence of things that employers value such as leadership.

Well I've always worked since 13, but recently left a retail/catering job as a team leader to focus on my exams. I enjoyed and enjoy responsibility, managing etc.

[mattf93]

Thanks for the responses guys, just really wanted to get some proper advice from people that have done well. as I stated I'm not going to lie on my CV if I get a 2:2 So be it. I am naturally gifted at geography surprisingly (never got less than 90% in an exam at gcse or A-Level and full marks in all my courseworks (amazing at bullstting with regards to rivers and case studies).
I chose law as the employability projects afterwards, and transferable skills afterwards seem to be more important to employers and give me more options after. I did law at A level and did ok but not exceptionally, my final exam let me down and I came out with a B so decided to continue. In hindsight it perhaps may have been better to change but I wanted to 'prove to myself' I could stick it out and do a degree. - sounds silly now but oh well.
I just don't want to end up in a crappy local job at home (Rutland), I'd like to get a decent job/career but appreciate I may need to get some experience under my belt of o get a 2:2.

I now hate law (bores me to tears now). So any advice as to where to go from here would be great. As I said above I have no intention of lying to get into a position just need pointers of where to go next. That said I am planning on doing a ski season this winter (was going to do before uni).

Thanks Chaps for your responses - hope I don't seem too much of a giant dick head 😬

[mattf93]

DeuxCentCinq said:

My company fired someone who accidentally put that they got a B in GCSE Geography and a C in History instead of the other way round. He was a 42 year old finance dept. manager with two degrees and a bunch of professional qualifications, but they literally fired him from an £80k a year (+ bonus) job for that mistake.

Surely that's leaving the company liable for an Unfair Dismissal Claim? Especially if it was an honest mistake in his CV? I have no idea of the complete facts but prima facie that's harsh.
I guess sometimes life literally will just bite you in the ass if you're not careful!

[mattf93]

Matthen said:

Here is a case for you to study:

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/the-top-city...

Do you want that to happen to you?

WOW. How an earth? I wonder whether he does have a degree and if so from where?
He must have earn considerably looking at his previous positions so he couldnt have been bad at his job (even if gained by deception).
You don't become a partner etc by being unskilled or ungifted!
And are there people that actually have that many degrees? Doing one for me is bad/hard enough!

3 oxford degrees? how do people have the time?

[mattf93]

Jasandjules said:

Do you have a good reason to not be getting a 2:1?

Are you applying for TCs or pupillage?

If you lie and are found out (and you will be) your legal career is over.

No, not planning on practicing at all.

And 1) It appears I'm not bright enough
2) Stress/Depression (but stupidly never went to a Dr about it) - So that will have no bearing on my classification.
3) very poor teaching on one module.
4) poor time management at uni.

[mattf93]

Frio3535 said:

4 of my mates at university who were studying Law got 2:2's and ended up at recruitment companies. I think attitude and aptitude is more important then degree subject with those guys. My brother studied criminology and went down the recruitment route prior to doing what he really wanted to do.

Funny you should say that - its something I do fancy doing!

[mattf93]

PedroB said:

I wouldn't ever consider lying on a CV, the risk of getting caught is just not worth the ramifications.

That said, I haven't put the grades of any of my public exams or the result of my degree on my CV for the last 3 jobs I have had. That isn't to hide anything, just that the industry I'm in, experience and track record holds way more sway than exam results from 10+ years ago. None have done any background checks or asked for references. Mind you, they are all smallish companies with under 100 employees who outsource their HR.

I think it is apparent from this feed that after a few years in industry employers don't really give a st about your grades, after all its you, your personality and work ethic that works not your grades (although to some employers it proves something).
It would appear as soon as you become more specialist in an area the less grades count and its your level of experience that matters, or in Sales it will be your sales performances/evidence that counts.
As it stands now I just want to finish uni and get gone, I feel like if anything now that uni is holding me back, like I'm literally just here for a piece of paper. As long as I get a 2:2 or above I'm not fussed anymore. (sounds like a bad attitude but this years been quite tough on me)