Lying about degree on CV?

[tropicalbird]

I completed 1 year of university 3 years ago and took a 1 year break due to pregnancy. I've attempted to complete my second year in 2 years and have failed due to lack of support around me and other personal difficulties.

I want to withdraw and get a full time job in an industry I'm interested in and I think my degree is now useless as its not directly related.

I got a high 2:2 in my year at university (58%). Could I put this on my CV as BSc(Hons) X subject 2:2 2014-2018 even though I didn't actually successfully complete the degree, or would that be misleading and dishonest?

Honesty and integrity

Two qualities I'd want from anyone working for me.

Just saying.

A lot of companies want graduates or those with a university education

Yes. They want graduates who’ve actually done the work. You haven’t got the skills or knowledge. A degree is more than a piece of paper - it’s skills, knowledge and experience.

You don’t have that and you’re contemplating lying as if that’s ok.

YABU

Sounds like you have made the right choice OP, but just in case you are still tempted to do something really stupid, this is section 2 of the 2006 fraud act.

Fraud by false representation:

• made a false representation.
• dishonestly.
• knowing that the representation was or might be untrue or misleading.
• with intent to make a gain for himself or another, to cause loss to another or to expose another to risk of loss.

If you got the job it is extremely likely that when they found out you would be prosecuted.

You do not have a degree but your time at university is not worthless.

Put something like: completed 18 months of a three year BSc in Mechnical Engineering at Glasgow university, had to defer returning due to family bereavement.

Then you are totally honest, can explain if required in person at interview if required and they will get a chance to see your integrity and resilience.

Best of luck..

A lot of those saying they've not been checked for a long time, if you ticked a box on an application form or signed a separate form that says the employer/recruitment company can store your information and check it's correct, they can then use that as permission to contact exam boards/universities to check your quailfications without having to ask you again.

Being asked for the orginial certificate is pretty uncommon these days (outside of the public sector), because they can be faked so easily, so most will go straight to the uni.

Talk to your uni, you can probably convert the modules/units you have completed to a Certificate or a Diploma or sometimes and HND or HNC.

I changed uni so I got a Dip(HE) from the first one and then used the credits to get my BA(Hons).

It looks better on a CV to have a completed qualification even if it is not a degree.

I now someone who due to the exceptional grade and experience went from an HNC to an Msc. She didn't lie about not having a degree.

As OrdinarySnowflake says, most large companies and many smaller ones now employ background-checking firms. These will verify your qualifications and previous employment without you ever knowing or having to bring certificates. If you are found to have falsified or lied, it's generally an immediate sacking/withdrawal of offer and blacklisting from future consideration.

sashh

That’s bloody impressive! I went from an HNC to third year of a BA, graduated with an ordinary BA and am now doing an MSc. That’s tough enough, I can’t imagine skipping that year of university level study!

I’ve worked full time throughout too, I must be bonkers

(I should say my work experience was taken into account at each step, hence the accelerated entry to each programme)

I went to uni, completed 2 years but only got 220 credits, failed one module. I was awarded a Certificate of Higher Education from the uni. If I had got 240 it would have been a Diploma of Higher Education.

On my CV I state:
20xx - 20xx
University of ......
Certificate of Education in ....... (220 Credits)

Everyone assumes as I have been to uni I have a degree, but I never lie, I always state the above.

If you haven't had your Certificate & Transcipts, call your uni and they will issue them to you. I had to ask rather than it being sent to me automatically.

amusedbush

She is an impressive person, she has a photographic memory, or claims to. I've done some courses with her and when she is asked a question she pauses and then recites the text book answer.