New job offer - but spanner in the works - worried

Luke_McDonnell

Hi,
I have just been offered a great new job with a local council I was very excited when I got it but there is a complication that has caused me a lot of stress which is exasperated by the fact that I have Asperger's syndrome. They said that having an NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration was an essential requirement for this role which I have got but I have lost the certificate for I have got my L2 certificate but not the L3 certificate as I left it in the office at my previous employer and the building has since closed and been sold. I said to the HR officer I have got a Level 3 but I lost the certificate and she made it clear to me that she requires proof in writing that I have that qualification before they are allowed to appoint me and she said that the offer of employment could be withdrawn if I was unable to furnish proof. Because of my condition I got worked up about this - and the complicating factor is that this was an in work qualification organised by an external assessor I think I have traced it now but it took some work to find out the name of the company. If it was a college or uni it would have been much simpler as they would have me on record. I contacted the HR department of my former employer and they said they do not have any of my certificates. I have applied for duplicate certificates from OCR but they can take up to 6 weeks and I worried about it delaying my start date so we have asked if higher level management would permit me to start with written proof from my former line manager - I hope they do that do you think they will I did not know employers can be so strict on proof of qualifications because I am a very honest employee any advice?

Luke

Genuineguy03

There's certainly no harm in asking the new employer if they'd accept the letter from your former manager. Though I'd also make it clear you have requested a replacement certificate and that it may take upto 6 weeks.

I can't see why they'd say no, given you'd start employment on probationary period anyway. But they may just as likely hold the position open for you whilst you wait for the certificate.

jobbingmusician

And here's an extra idea - have you asked OCR in an email or letter? And have they replied? Because if I was your new employer, I would feel in any case that you do come across as a very honest employee, and if you gave me copies of the correspondence as proof that you were in correspondence with OCR to get copies I would tend to believe that this copy was going to arrive just fine in 6 weeks' time (or less).

jonnygee2

I have applied for duplicate certificates from OCR but they can take up to 6 weeks and I worried about it delaying my start date

I would tell your employer you have applied for this certificate replacement and give them written proof from your line manager you had it, as you say. Do not worry too much, I think this will be fine.

I think you should phone them as soon as possible (in business hours, so Monday 9.30am!) to talk about this. Because the sooner you speak to them the less worried you will be.

Luke_McDonnell

I am getting even more frustrated now as I have been in contact with the company that assessed my qualification and they only had the NVQ Customer Service Level 3 on record, not the Business Admin - but I am 100% sure that I did that qualification as it was with the same assessor woman I am getting concerned that there might have even been an administrative error made 8 years ago that might have cost me this job - I have been back in contact with HR at the employer today and they said that I cannot start work until I can present evidence if this qualification - an e-mail from my former line manager would not be enough. They also seem very rigid on the qualification - person spec said NVQ Level 3 Business Admin, ICT or similar but I asked if my degree could be used in lieu of that as it included IT and data analysis components but they are still saying no about that this is really frustrating me and I have Aspergers and it is putting me though a lot of stress - why are they so strict on qualifications they are a local authority employer by the way. If I loose my opportunity over this I will be very bitter and upset because I applied for this job in the full knowledge I have got this qualification but maybe it does not exist after all? It will be a shame because I know the interview panel really liked me and would make a great, reliable employee but they may have to withdraw because of this. I really do not want to be going back into the job market again I am worried about getting Universal Credit and getting sanctioned now because a job offer was withdrawn and it is not my fault :-(

Luke_McDonnell

I have been beating myself up over this understandably - it feels like being a kid and having something I really like snatched away from me:-( feels more like that because of my autism/Asperger's. I have now applied to Edexel as I think it may not be with OCR but Edexcel as the customer service NVQ was Edexcel but I am now concerned that an administrative error may have resulted in no certificate being issued at all as I remember chasing up a certificate for months and not getting anywhere when I did the qualification with a previous employer - what are my rights if the offer was withdrawn? As it was not my fault as I applied for the role in the full knowledge that I had this qualification.

Luke

TBagpuss

The employer is entitled to withdraw the offer if you cannot prove that you have the necessary qualification.

I understand that you know you have it, but they don't, and it is not their fault that you don't have the certificate you need.

Most job offers are conditional, they are made subject to you meeting the conditions, which would normally include things such as you providing proof of relevant qualifications, and the employer being able to get satisfactory references .

Luke_McDonnell

Hi,

Quick update on this - I have been in touch with both awarding bodies and I am still waiting on this certificate.

Been in touch with my old training provider they only had the Customer Service certificate no Business Admin at all they even had a copy of my Personal Learner Record help by a government body only Customer Service on that but it only goes back to 2013 and the training provider only keep records for 7 years as per DPA rules. Been looking high and low for this certificate I am 100% sure I did Business Admin L3 before Customer Service. I am getting concerned that there may have even been a clerical error by the training provider nearly a decade ago which meant no certificate was issued.

The employer (a local authority) have now confirmed to me that they have a policy in place that if a qualification is listed as essential in a person specification they have to see it, period basically, before they can have me in post.

They said they will keep the post open for me until January. The person spec says Essential: NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in Business Admin, IT, Information Management or related field.

Considering it says equivalent or related field I checked to see if my degree in Physics which included a lot of IT work could be considered even going to the Uni to give information on modules that I have done.

And the employer said no - it is not suffieient. The hiring manager is probably just as fustrated as I am she knows I can do the job and would be a great employee but if that certificate does not turn up, they will have to readvertise the position.

I know rules are rules but why can't they be a bid more flexible especially if I possesed a higher qualification (a degree) in a technical subject and even more so if evidence of an error made by a training provider that was not my fault arose? I have Aspergers syndrome, and the proportion of those in the workforce with ASD is relatively low, public sector employers like local authotities should be doing all they can to give us a chance I know legally they can withdraw my offer without the certificate but why are they so harsh? I have worked so well to get that job and this mean I could be back to square on having to attend interviews and apply for jobs again, which can be even more stressful for me with Aspergers.

I want some advice over this situation.

Regards,

Luke

Comms69

I must say I have never had to provide certificates for any of my qualifications.


I work for NHS - so a similar public body - I'm sorry I cant offer advice; just surprised

TELLIT01

Unfortunately, public sector recruitment often requires that specific boxes be ticked, and those doing the recruitment have little or no leeway to avoid that.

Luke_McDonnell

Yes I understand that but I do feel down about this situation and having Aspergers makes it feel more difficult to accept - lets hope that this certificate turns up or I am not getting this job. Considering that I have got excellent experience and high level qualifications including a degree in a highly technical subject it seems such a shame that they may turn me down it makes me less motivated to apply for other jobs it is disappointing enough being unsuccessful at interview stage but this is disappointment x10 or order of magnitude more I did a lot including taking the time to fill in that application form attending the interview anxiously awaiting the outcome and being elated when they told me I was successful and now they won't even accept my degree as equivalent to this - and I think I have been even more unlucky to as not many jobs list NVQ's as essential normally desirable with GCSE's in Maths and English as essential - and the academic qualifications have good records as I did them in school not as an in work qualification supervised by a training provider - so most other jobs or any of the jobs I have had, I would have never encounted this problem. They want me to start but they cannot let it happen until thid certificate turns up - so frustrating