Interview document problems

wigglebeena

I have an interview for a job I would like to get, hurray!

Trouble is, they are asking for a lot of documentation at interview. Which I am fine with: I just can't find all of it. I did get 'O' level (yes! I'm decrepit!) Maths and English, which would be fine, except I lost the certs ages ago, I think in a house move. Plus I've never been able to locate my long-form birth cert which they also want. (God knows what my Mum did with it). I have my short-form but apparently that isn't good enough. I don't have a current passport to substitute for it and no time to get one: didn't get much advance notice of the interview.

What is the likelihood of being able to sort this? I'm sure I remember when I got my 'O' levels (back in the dawn of time) being told that it was important to take good care of them as they couldn't possibly be replaced!! Might my old school provide a transcript? Has anyone had this accepted instead? What about the exam boards?

An agency worker told me recently that it was possible to get a long-form birth cert from 'the Registry' - whatever that means. (Somerset House?) Is this true? She reckoned 'they just print it off'!!!

I think my degree foundation course was equivalent to level 2 Maths, so I might be okay for that. But I'm stuck for English - no equivalent or higher qualification whatsoever.

Any suggestions guys?

liney

You will be able to get a full birth certificate by request from your local registry office - costs about £8, and arrives within a couple of days.

Looks like you can also request online http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/

It is possible your Mother only bought a short version when she registered your birth, as it is the parents choice which to pay for. You will need a full length version if you ever apply for a passport too.

No help with the quallys, sorry.

TEDDYRUKSPIN

You can actually obtain certificates for your education also. You just have to remember the board you took the examination. Obviously, a charge for each certificate.

i.e. NEAB, oxford and cambridge etc etc

SueC_2

Heavens above, what kind of job is this? I'm also ancient enough to have taken O'Levels, and can honestly say I have never once been asked for my certificates. You have to wonder about the relevance of an exam you sat over 20 years ago! Sorry, I can't be much practical help, but just had to pass comment! Good luck!

alyth

Sue I started at college last month aged 39, and I had to provide god knows how much stuff to apply for my bursary, including the long birth certificate, driving licence, originals of o levels, etc. I'm really organised so could get all this stuff to hand, however I had to then provide documentation for the Disclosure Scotland thing, and I had to provide my electricity bill with my supplier number on it, which I don't have as I get my bills electronically - thus was unable to apply for the disclosure!

It's unbelievable what documentation you have to provide for any kind of job nowadays.

Good luck with the interview Wiggle.

Savvy_Sue

liney wrote: »

It is possible your Mother only bought a short version when she registered your birth, as it is the parents choice which to pay for.

When the boys were born, the 'short' one was free. :money: DH insisted I paid for the long ones though, and I'm glad he did, whenever a short one is OK that's the one I send off because it's less critical if it gets lost!

Oldernotwiser

As many of the examination boards have been taken over since O levels finished, you need to find who is now the board to ask. I'd start off by contacting your school who should have this information and then post back on here if you need help in finding who is now responsible for the board you sat.

You can get copies, although it's expensive, but I don't think that this would be possible in a very short period of time.

SueC_2

alyth wrote: »

Sue I started at college last month aged 39, and I had to provide god knows how much stuff to apply for my bursary, including the long birth certificate, driving licence, originals of o levels, etc. I'm really organised so could get all this stuff to hand, however I had to then provide documentation for the Disclosure Scotland thing, and I had to provide my electricity bill with my supplier number on it, which I don't have as I get my bills electronically - thus was unable to apply for the disclosure!

It's unbelievable what documentation you have to provide for any kind of job nowadays.

Good luck with the interview Wiggle.

I'm flabbergasted. I can understand the reasons for having to prove it is legal for you to work/claim in the UK, but the rest has me absolutely baffled. Good luck to everyone having to jump through these hoops, it makes me feel very lucky to be in a lovely secure job!

greenspark

Hi

I had the same situation a few years ago regarding lost school qualification certificates needed for an interview. I ended up calling my old school to see if they had any documentation that might help. They had copies of the little results slips that are sent to pupils in the post and they let me take these. As it was so long ago, and I had other higher and more recent qualifications with proper certificates, the employer was okay with the results slips for my O and A levels.

Don't know if all schools keep things like this and how long for (mine was about 14 years after I left), or whether many employers would accept anything other than the official certs, but would be worth calling school and maybe employer to see if there's anything they can suggest. I bet schools get the occasional request like this, am sure those old certificates must go astray quite often.

Mrs_Ryan

When I needed copies of my certificates when I enrolled at uni, I requested a copy of my GCSE ones from the exam board, but this was horrifically expensive (about 30-odd quid and this was well over 5 years ago) but for my A-Level ones, the administrator of my college wrote a letter on college headed paper confirming my results and that I had indeed attended that college, which was fine. Maybe something like that?

Also when I needed a copy of my long birth certificate for my CRB check, my mum was able to go to the local registry office and request a copy of my certificate - they did it while she waited and it cost her about £8.

Good luck with the interview!

wigglebeena

Cheers to one and all, thanks guys. I have been in contact with the company and they are willing to give me a bit of leeway although of course I will be doing my best to fulfil all documentary requirements as far as possible. My old school have been really helpful and absolutely done their utmost.