Lie on application form re: qualification

Rachylou1981

The title of thread is quite strong but to be fair, it is the truth. I applied for a job in a hurry because of the closing date. I could only add 11 qualifications and I wanted to put the best admin qualifications I had. The secretarial diploma I studied for at college was in 4 parts but I only passed 3 of them. I therefore used to get round this by putting on my CV, for example: Secretarial Diploma: A - Pass B - Pass C - Pass whereby I wasn't lying, just omitting the fact that I didn't actually get the qualification i.e. diploma. No-one has ever questioned it nor asked to see any certificates. So on the application form I put the diploma and put pass as the mark .

I have been called for interview and have been told to bring my qualification certificates. I am now hugely worried as I obviously don't have a certificate for this, just a piece of paper with the 3 passes and a 'referred' part for the fourth part. I never got to re-take the exam due to moving from the area.

Any way of explaining with confidence that I actually passed 3 of 4 (what I plan to do) without them just thinking that I have lied and it going hugely against me?

NB: I have a 14 year career with lots of experience, excellent references etc and so I am hoping that will make up for this silly mistake

AP007

You should have really only put the qualifications that you have passes in and certificates to back them up.

doinkthemonkee

Alas I can't take all of my qualification/exam certificates to interviews as my SCHOOL ones were lost in a move over 15yrs ago. So I can only take more recent things. I haven't had an issue so far, tho my degree certificate does supercede my GCSE/A Level ones.

Rachylou1981

AP007 wrote: »

You should have really only put the qualifications that you have passes in and certificates to back them up.

I do know this now, hindsight is a wonderful thing. I have only ever applied for jobs via CV not application forms so wasn't really thinking straight, especially since it was a ticking clock because the job closes when it gets to a certain amount of applications and I was a day off closing date

Rachylou1981

doinkthemonkee wrote: »

Alas I can't take all of my qualification/exam certificates to interviews as my SCHOOL ones were lost in a move over 15yrs ago. So I can only take more recent things. I haven't had an issue so far, tho my degree certificate does supercede my GCSE/A Level ones.

I had considered saying something along those lines but I don't really want to be dishonest, I have never ever lied in interviews and don't intend to start now. I could really kick myself for being so silly and I am going to worry about this all week now

Two4Tuesday

AP007 wrote: »

You should have really only put the qualifications that you have passes in and certificates to back them up.

I don't have any of my O' Level or A' Level certificates, or my degree certificate as I also lost them over the years. I still put down my qualifications.

I was asked for my certificates in 2011 when starting a project management job, but I explained that they were lost. Nothing more was said about it.

So yes, if you have the qualifications but not the certificates, do still mention them on your CV. If the employer wants to verify them, they can do the legwork themselves. If they have offered you a job anyway, then the certificates are unlikely to be that important.

AP007

Two4Tuesday wrote: »

I don't have any of my O' Level or A' Level certificates, or my degree certificate as I also lost them over the years. I still put down my qualifications.

I was asked for my certificates in 2011 when starting a project management job, but I explained that they were lost. Nothing more was said about it.

So yes, if you have the qualifications but not the certificates, do still mention them on your CV. If the employer wants to verify them, they can do the legwork themselves. If they have offered you a job anyway, then the certificates are unlikely to be that important.

The OP has put down something they do not have a qualification in, is that not right?

They can still check with the board who you took the exam with if you actually did it and pass.

Not totally true, you can be offered the job and then they say they want to verify the quals and let you go when they can not.

Mojisola

Rachylou1981 wrote: »

The secretarial diploma I studied for at college was in 4 parts but I only passed 3 of them. I therefore used to get round this by putting on my CV, for example: Secretarial Diploma: A - Pass B - Pass C - Pass whereby I wasn't lying, just omitting the fact that I didn't actually get the qualification i.e. diploma. No-one has ever questioned it nor asked to see any certificates. So on the application form I put the diploma and put pass as the mark .

I have been called for interview and have been told to bring my qualification certificates. I am now hugely worried as I obviously don't have a certificate for this, just a piece of paper with the 3 passes and a 'referred' part for the fourth part. I never got to re-take the exam due to moving from the area.

I would take what you have and tell them what you've said here - you passed A-C and couldn't retake part D because you moved away.

Rachylou1981

Yeah AP007 is right, I do not have the full qualification. I wrote pass when in fact I only have a pass in 3 of 4 parts so therefore I have been dishonest. Never been questioned on CV but I managed to tweak the wording but now I have wrote it on an application form in a different way, it will appear like I have just lied

Rachylou1981

Mojisola wrote: »

I would take what you have and tell them what you've said here - you passed A-C and couldn't retake part D because you moved away.

This is what I intend to do and just hope I can get away with it without looking really bad. I may say that I was planning to put pass 3/4 parts but thought it looked a bit odd so best explaining at interview?

AP007

Rachylou1981 wrote: »

This is what I intend to do and just hope I can get away with it without looking really bad. I may say that I was planning to put pass 3/4 parts but thought it looked a bit odd so best explaining at interview?

Yes so you have passes in 3/4 parts so just explain that. Not 100% a lie but just explain.