New job offer - but spanner in the works - worried

Ja7188

Frustrating though this may be, try to look on the positive side if you can - they've offered to hold the position open until January, when they could easily have just offered it to the next-placed applicant.

Luke_McDonnell

Edexcel have just contacted me to say they had no certificate on record I am very upset about this I have applied for certificates from OCR but I have a bad feeling that even though I did the qualification the training provider did not sign me off and apply for my certificate and it has cost me a job 10 years later very annoyed and the employer gives no room for maneuver at all given the circumstances I feel awful about this :-( I knew this as the training provider had Customer Service on record but no Business Admin on record no records on Business Admin at all.


Looked everywhere high and low no success it certainly has been bad luck :-(


Any advice?

Luke

jobbingmusician

I feel really bad for you. I wonder if there's an online course you could do in a month (as you've already done it once). I couldn't find anything at a quick look, but there are sometimes courses where you can bash through them as quickly as you like. A real pain that it would cost money, but worth considering?

Les79

jobbingmusician wrote: »

I feel really bad for you. I wonder if there's an online course you could do in a month (as you've already done it once). I couldn't find anything at a quick look, but there are sometimes courses where you can bash through them as quickly as you like. A real pain that it would cost money, but worth considering?

This, though OP may be wise checking what is "equivalent" and check those courses too.


I have super skim read this post so don't bite my head off it isn't applicable, but one line in your original post which stuck with me was "she requires proof in writing that I have that qualification" - Can this be interpreted in terms of an official letter from the previous employer which states "I can confirm that XXX attended course YYYY and passed"?

kazwookie

1. scan and copy al lthe certificates you do have
2. send them to your proposed new employer
3. you might need to accept you did not do the course you thought you did do.
4. could you ask the new employer if you can re do the qualification one day a week or what ever and resit the exam, or just re sit the exam.

Fireflyaway

Where did you do the course? In an adult learning centre, college or online etc? I'm thinking you could ask that institution if they know what exam board they use?
I actually agree with you that it does seem a bit over the top that they require this exact certificate seeing as you have qualifications at a higher level and have a level 2 business and admin. Typical council. I've worked for a couple of council's and they do like to do things by the book! Even when it doesn't seem logical.
If this were happening to me I'd email HR. Explain you are currently tracking down a copy of your certificate. To be fair, you will have a probation period so if they found for some reason you were not up to scratch they have a get out clause. I'd understand if your job required a certain certificate due to regulations/ law but something such as admin seems harsh. However if it's been determined its a requirement then it's a requirement.
Good luck. Things will probably work out ok.

[Deleted User]

Luke_McDonnell wrote: »

it has cost me a job 10 years later very annoyed and the employer gives no room for maneuver at all given the circumstances


Any advice?

Sit tight, you haven't lost much, least the problem is happening before you even start - as you could have done the first few days or weeks to be greeted by an employer asking where is the certificate to prove your qualifications... Less then 2 years service I can tell you where that would end.

You are actually in a better situation then you realise. Free to job hunt in the knowledge you got one job and now know if Certs are mentioned, then you make sure they are in your procession before applying.

Not having the Certs to prove may be considered akin to deliberately lying especially if the advertisement commanded this as necessary - why should an employer over look something which is important to them in proving you have the skills to do the job. Years ago I recall an agency sending me to a job where only 'basic excel' skills were needed, oh boy I wished the employer had asked for a cert of proof on that one, as I got to the placement to find it was actually only serious excel knowledge needed, way out of my depth and come day 5, I was simply told the assignment had ended.

Luke_McDonnell

Hello,

Regarding an e-mail or letter from my previous employer I asked the lady from HR and she said that would not be sufficient spoke with the manager yesterday and she said that as it was listed as essential on the person spec they have to see that certificate I am still waiting to hear from OCR aswell. I also asked them if I could start pending the certificate turning up but then it was explained to me that it was HR policy that they can't appoint until they have proof of essential qualifications. Just that I feel so unlucky I am sure that if this was a private sector employer and they had a similar stipulation they would work with me to get around it especially if they really wanted me do you agree with that? I know its their policy but I am annoyed that there is so little room for error when it comes to public sector employment and they can't even make exceptions for mistakes - I could understand it if Iied about my qualification but I genuinely believe I have this qualification.

Person spec says NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in ICT, Business Admin, Information Management or related field.

Person spec does not specify what related field means but non of my other quals seem acceptable to them including my Physics degree which included a lot of work on IT packages and data analysis - but they confirmed that that does not constituate a related field, nor does my Level 3 NVQ in Customer Service which I now have a certificate for. I have proof of every other qualification or could get that except this one and this was the essential one for this role - thinking about it I have been so unlucky to get this got and then I am likley to loose the offer because of this. My Physics degree also included specific IT modules - why can't they even consider that? I even think they may have rejected me if I just had an IT degree lol! I am waiting on the outcome of another interview that I went to on Monday for a data related job I should be ideal for, but you never know with the large number of candidates they get but at least I tried for a possible Plan B, as, if now looks likley, this job offer is going to fall through. I am still upset about this situation because I have great experience and qualifications, and yet the essential qual for this role is my only one that seems does not exist!?


About the suggestion that I could complete the qual whilst in post I could suggest that but I would not expect them to budge on that considering what they have already said - so little room for manouver.


I just want them to give me a chance. Even the FE college I worked for in the past started me pending outcome of my DBS coming through which was a condition of my offer of employment. I think that most other employers would help me find my way around this but I was told that if they let me start without this qual it could potentially be unfair on other candidates do you agree with that?

jobbingmusician

Yes, I do agree with that, just thinking it through logically. There may have been other candidates without that NVQ who weren't shortlisted. From the POV of 'fairness' they have appointed someone who said he had the qualification but can't prove it.

From the point of view of 'equivalence' do you have contact with anyone such as someone from the Uni where you did your physics degree who could write a letter certifying that (for example) the modules x and y from your degree would be equivalent or superior to an NVQ level 3 in IT (or one of the other fields)?

Luke_McDonnell

Yes I have done that but the manager checked with HR and said that would not be sufficient I called the university and they gave a lot of information on my modules but they said they are not enough which I find ridiculous a good employer should be sympathetic in the circumstances and honour the fact that I have a higher qualification the manager wants me knows that I am perfectly capable of doing the job but her hands are tied it is not easy for me to accept this situation considering my condition.

Luke