Do companies verify qualifications?

[church's pew]

So a very good mate of mine has a bachelors first class degree in a 'numerical' subject, which he recently acquired. He's genuinely earned this degree, and in October of last year he began applying for jobs in his field. Given his exceptional degree performance, he thought he would land a very well paid job with no problem what so ever..

Unfortunately things haven't worked out as my friend had hoped, and after applying for ~30+ jobs in his field, he's had one job interview - of which he was not successful - and a number of rejections from the employers that bothered to notify him.

My friend is convinced that the fact that he has a bachelors degree instead of a masters degree is holding him back, but he's not in a position to fund one. Additionally he thinks a masters degree is a waste of time, he believes that life is too short to waste another year in academia and he's positive he won't return. It's noted that a masters degree is required for chartered professional status by the industrial institute, which is why he believes he's having such a hard time gaining employment in his field with a bachelors degree.

Time has taken its toll, and my friend is now in a very poor position. He's returned to live with his father of which is developing friction between the two, frankly he's close to being homeless, and he's down to his last few hundred in savings. My friend now feels like he doesn't have much to lose, and telling the truth about having a good degree hasn't hasn't gotten him very far. His solution is to lie about his credentials - exaggerate his A-levels, say he's got a masters, make up work experience, the lot.

As you can imagine, my friend needs some advice with regards to employer verification of employee credentials. He wants to know if employers actually bother to verify credentials, and how the strictness of verification varies between SME's and large corporations. Are large corporations more likely to verify/Do SME's have the authority and resources to even do so? What methods are used to verify? He also wants to know how common it is for employers to ask to see an employees certificates upon taking a position.

My friend welcomes additional advice..

[Eric Mc]

I've NEVER been asked to provide evidence of my qualifications to any employer.

[grumbledoak]

I, too, have never been asked for proof.

Remember, it will be instant dismissal if they later find out.

[bomb]

We always verify all certificates and ensure they are bona fide. We also carry out reference checks too. ALL of the time.

[RichB]

What degree has he got, what does he want to do?

p.s. No, I was never asked to provide proof or certificates.

[Mobile Chicane]

If I were him, I'd do temp work in the interim rather than be tempted to lie.

Incidentally, organisations which require Chartered status do tend to verify qualifications. I've been asked to show my certificates even for roles where they aren't relevant.

[LimaDelta]

I not only have to present my professional qualifications on starting a job, but also at least once per year at audit time, just to make sure they are still there. Plus all the accompanying paperwork and supporting evidence.

Nobody has ever asked to see my non-professional qualifications however.

[Countdown]

bomb said:

We always verify all certificates and ensure they are bona fide. We also carry out reference checks too. ALL of the time.

Same here. We also check for "right to work in the UK" and occasionally CRB depending on the role.

[Number 7]

I work in banking and when I started my current job 3 years ago I was asked to supply copies of GCE O level certs that were 35 years old. I did so, but I found it incredible to be asked.

[Sir Bagalot]

A few years back I was applying like mad for jobs in my chosen field.

I also applied for a run of the mill job in a restaurant which I got. This gave me beer money/holiday money/kept me active in stopping me going mad as I had no job. I lasted 7 weeks.

I only resigned as I had managed to get a job in my chosen field. Perhaps your friend should get any job to merely gain life experience/beer money and then look at getting his dream role. Or is that beneath him?

[Mr Gearchange]

Never been asked past my first job out of uni.
After that experience was far more important that qualifications

[stevenjhepburn]

church's pew said:

he thought he would land a very well paid job with no problem what so ever..

church's pew said:

Additionally he thinks a masters degree is a waste of time, he believes that life is too short to waste another year in academia

church's pew said:

He's returned to live with his father of which is developing friction between the two

church's pew said:

His solution is to lie about his credentials - exaggerate his A-levels, say he's got a masters, make up work experience, the lot.

church's pew said:

My friend welcomes additional advice..

It sounds to me like he should lose the sense of entitlement and be prepared to work to get where he needs to be. Having a look at his personality issues which rub up his father the wrong way and which seems to come through in his applications might help him too.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Eric Mc said:

I've NEVER been asked to provide evidence of my qualifications to any employer.

It all changed when we went decimal though

[Crafty_]

My employer took up references, one of which was from my last employer (basically verification of how long I had worked there & the post I held), they also needed proof of every job going back 7 years and also check any academic qualifications and ran a background check.

Granted some of this was for security clearance but nevertheless I wouldn't have been able to get away with even a little white lie about anything.

If he's done "numbers" stuff suggest he looks for work as a data analyst or engineer. Data analytics is a growing area and will continue to do so.

[oldcynic]

It sounds like he needs to be asking for genuine feedback from the employers who have turned him away so that he can get some clue where he's going wrong - and/or seek professional advice about jobhunting (which would probably be free from his university careers officer)

He also needs to show initiative by getting some kind of job in the interim. I hear a rumour there's a recession on, so work in his chosen field may be thin on the ground right now.

[rog007]

I have on numerous occasions had to provide evidence of qualifications held. Equally, I demand evidence of those I hire.

Your friend may well need a Masters if it is listed as an essential requirement in any job spec; if he hasn't got one he cannot usually hope to be filtered in. If the job spec does not require a Masters and he is still being filtered out, then either something else essential is missing or his CV is poorly presented. Good luck!

[hyperblue]

church's pew said:

Given his exceptional degree performance, he thought he would land a very well paid job with no problem what so ever..

"Your friend" needs to get into the real world! Any work experience?

I'm guessing (from the Chartered requirements) it's some sort of Engineering? I found it harder to find a job without a (institution accredited) Masters, you'll lose out every time to someone with one. I was asked for my original degree certificates when I got my first job.

However, if you get past that and the company puts you on a scheme for Chartered status, the institute will verify your qualifications against their list of accredited degrees. I think this is where your friend would get caught out.

I don't envy the situation, I've been there and it is tough!

[bga]

church's pew said:

As you can imagine, my friend needs some advice with regards to employer verification of employee credentials. He wants to know if employers actually bother to verify credentials, and how the strictness of verification varies between SME's and large corporations. Are large corporations more likely to verify/Do SME's have the authority and resources to even do so? What methods are used to verify? He also wants to know how common it is for employers to ask to see an employees certificates upon taking a position.

My friend welcomes additional advice..

I co-own an SME and we are at the end of a graduate recruitment campaign. My thoughts are:

Masters - not a differentiator, especially if it's in a subject that isn't related to the undergrad degree.

Verifying credentials - we require original certificates of GCSE's, A-Levels and Degree/s. No proof = no job.

Should it happen I wouldn't be too pleased as hiring a grad for an SME is quite a big deal. We've had well over 200 applications for 2 positions and to go through the effort to hire for that person to be a liar would be annoying.

[RichB]

Sir Bagalot said:

A few years back I was applying like mad for jobs in my chosen field.

Funny I always wanted to be a surveyor too.

[98elise]

i've never been asked for any verification.

I don't have a degree, but do have certain professional training and certification which is a pre-requesite for a lot of jobs in my field. These are jobs paying up to 100k, so you would think they would check!