To leave my degree off my CV

[Beelzebop]

I am a trained teacher, desperate for a career change but every which way I try, I am blocked by my shitty third class degree. Which was crap, but it is a result of undiagnosed mh problems after being abused. Ironically, these same problems, having worked successfully through them now, are what inspire me to go into child protection. Nobody is interested in any of my child protection experience, my deputy headship and more. Each time I just come up against someone who says something like "Well, to do the BA you need BBC at A Level but we have to consider your degree...".
AIBU to ask if I can get away with forgetting my degree? I just want to be a Social Worker, I'd be brilliant I know it! Does anyone know any other way other than starting a degree again? I would obviously have to pay and that just isn't possible, even with Open University installments. Feel sad, old and washed up. 😢

I don't think there's any problem with leaving it off your CV from an ethics POV. Obviously, you would not be able to lie if asked directly about it.

I have always been a well behaved, honest type but this is so annoying! I wouldn't lie to claim anything obviously that's not why I need to "omit". If any slacker students are around, show them this! I am now stuck due to my inability to do anything useful at University!

You're not allowed to over exaggerate your quals, but. There's no law against under exaggerating them.
I find it sad though, when. People feel the need to do this as. Theyve/, you've worked hard to achieve their degree

Can't you just say eg. 2004-2007 BEd, University of Warwick and not give a classification?

I have left several qualifications off my CV, mostly because I was being told I was over qualified for the job I had gone for, but under qualified for other than entry level. Left them off, got the job. realised I hated it, so going back to university now

Beelzebop What grade of 'someone' are you coming up against? Can you push it upwards to a professor or course co-ordinator, rather than an admissions bod? Do you have any post grad qualifications?

I don't see that what you achieved in your degree reflects the person you are now and your years of experience in the workplace.

Do you have to put the classification? I've just got BSc (Hons) Subject on mine, I didn't want to put in 2:2 in case it got slashed at the 'need a 2:1' stage, they could ask if they were fussed - no one ever has.

DH just has BSc in Subject on his as he didn't even get a 3rd, so not an hons degree.

I seem to recall stories from the 80s, when jobs were scarce of people with degrees leaving them off to apply for lower-paid positions, and being sacked when it was discovered.

By all means leave it off your cv - the key will be in the wording of any question you are asked when you have to fill in whatever forms your (potential) employer gives you. I'm pretty certain I have seen the instructions to list all your qualifications. So at that stage, omitting a degree is lying.

A lie of omission is still a lie.

Are you applying directly to be a social worker? Or to do a social work degree?
I'd be wary of leaving your degree off, because I would assume that a teacher (especially one who was a deputy head) must have a degree and would wonder why you were hiding it.
It would be better to give some reason as to why they need to ignore your degree classification if that is really what is holding you back, pointing out how you have improved since - e.g. did you have to study to get qualifications to become a deputy head after doing your degree - show you have learnt to study since.

A third class hons is a higher qualification than BBC at A level - so you are more than qualified to do the course. Where you have problems is the ELQ rules - Equal or Lower Qualification. This means no student loans and higher fees if you are doing a second degree that is of equal status or lower than your original degree.

Look at the OU - fab SW degree and you'd start with some credits for your first degree. Win win.

I would put in the degree and not the classification as PP said above. With the experience you mention I don't see why it would matter (unless they specifically ask). Can you do any other courses which would make you more 'attractive'? I'm pretty sure there are quite a lot of short courses that are relevant to social work.

I moonlight as a CV writer. Unless you graduated very recently, or the grades are relevant to the application you're making, I would leave it off (not just for you, but for Joe Bloggs with a 2.1 - it's just not relevant). AFAIK it hasn't affected my clients in getting interviews.

Yes, you do obviously need to be honest if they ask for your grades directly.

www.open.ac.uk/courses/qualifications/q32

It's work based learning, so you'd have to get a job in social care - but if that's what you want to do it would seem a good route in.

DD and her boyfriend often leave their degrees off their CV if they're applying for work that doesn't relate to the degree. They both have several CV's. One for degree based work, and a few for things such as retail, supermarkets, and offices. It's not always appropriate to put everything on your CV, and you should tailor your CV for the role you're applying for.

I met a very successful person recently who had an ordinary degree instead of an honours one, again due to MH problems whilst at university; the degree wasn't graded but the exam results he had achieved within that level were at 2:1 standard. He told me that he had never lied when applying for a job, but had simply said that he had a BA degree at 2:1. Throughout a long career no-one had ever asked for proof of his qualifications, and he reached a point where he was being head-hunted for jobs and they didn't even ask what his qualifications were. So I would say go ahead and leave it out.

You want to go into a profession where honesty about your background is going to be important as you will be dealing with vulnerable people. I think if you leave your degree out and later get found out, it could be the death knell for your career.

This was how I got my first job when I immigrated.

Watching with interest

I think the real issue here is they will wonder how you were a teacher?

I've left a post grad qual off mine because it was giving people the wrong impression and making me look over qualified
There's no gap though because I did it at night school
It's not an MA so I figure it's okay and most of the time I forget I have it anyway

I don't tell employers I have a certificate in screenwriting either, it's not relevant. In your case I think the issue is, it is relevant

How many years work experience do you have? I would hope your degree result would be irrelevant.

Judy
I work in Financial Services and quite often they ask for copies of your degree certificates in your early years in the profession.

it is a result of undiagnosed mh problems after being abused. Ironically, these same problems, having worked successfully through them now, are what inspire me to go into child protection

Couldn't you cite this as both the explanation for your degree classification (it's still a degree!) AND your suitability for the career you want?

I am sure someone will be able to help you word your applications and your interviews to spin a positive slant on all this.

can you tackle it head on in your personal statement? I reckon you should explain it upfront, and agree about needing to try and talk to someone about your application to make sure they've read about the special circumstances and later work history.

I suppose the bottom line is, you can't be a Social worker unless you have trained in social work or have a degree in Social Work or a Masters in Social Work. I presume your first Degree is in Social Work or a related area?

Depending what subject your undergraduate degree was in, you can do a one year MA in SW at some universities.

If you were a teacher, they are going to know you have a degree.

I would imagine that, much like teaching, you have to account for every month/year of your life since leaving school. So how will you account for that 3 or 4 year period if you miss it off? And the fact that you need a degree to be a teacher?

What about the effect on funding and fee classification?

There are 'ELQ' fee rules.

Of course you don't omit your degree. It is relevant. They will expect honesty.