Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Exam certificates

160 replies

imnotthatkindofmum · 04/07/2024 16:59

Long story short.

Getting a job in a field I am not experienced in but the job description fits my experience of over 15 years.

I do not have a degree. And I left school 30 years ago.

For the new job which they want me to start asap I have been asked for gcse and a level certificates. I do not have these and they have said I have to have them or I can't start. If they are anywhere they're in my parents loft. My parents are in their 80s and live a 2 hr drive away.....and they might not actually even be there. I was also divorced 20 years and a lot of stuff is just gone forever.

I can get certificates but it's going to cost £50 per qualification, take over 20 days and I don't even know what exam boards I did.

The HR contact is aghast that I've never had to show my certificates to anyone. Obviously if it related to the job I could understand it.

So my questions are should I still have my certificates? Does everyone else still have their certificates after 30 years? Have you been asked for (unrelated) certificates to do a job you have experience in?

AIBU that they are BU?

OP posts:
LottieMary · 04/07/2024 17:00

I have all mine from 1995+ but I am in teaching and need to show them at every interview

Br1ll1ant · 04/07/2024 17:01

Yes, I had to find mine for my last job and I’m nearly 50. Fortunately I found them. I hope you do too

Original poster
imnotthatkindofmum · 04/07/2024 17:06

Br1ll1ant · 04/07/2024 17:01

Yes, I had to find mine for my last job and I’m nearly 50. Fortunately I found them. I hope you do too

But what was their reason? For me the reason is for identification and security but I've already submitted for a dbs.

OP posts:
Original poster
imnotthatkindofmum · 04/07/2024 17:07

LottieMary · 04/07/2024 17:00

I have all mine from 1995+ but I am in teaching and need to show them at every interview

That's fair enough. Does that include gcse as I know someone who's a teacher and she just said her degree and postgrad certificates.

OP posts:
frightenedmum1 · 04/07/2024 17:08

yes of course! i have kept them safe for 40+ years and i dont know anyone who hasnt

NeverDropYourMooncup · 04/07/2024 17:14

My ex 'couldn't find them' after I left him. Which meant they'd had close contact with a bottle of lighter fluid and a Clipper. Along with a framed photo of my grandparents.

I have never been asked for certificates in 30 years. For one interview in 1997, I had a letter from my old school confirming my results (I think that's still in the loft somewhere), but the place I'd got that for didn't even bother asking to see them.

seagullsky · 04/07/2024 17:19

I haven’t got a clue where mine are and have never been asked to show them.

k1880 · 04/07/2024 17:22

Yes, I do, GCSE, A level, degree and postgrad. From mid 90s onwards. Each represents so much work I am amazed people don't keep them safe. Been asked for them rarely but sometimes over the years, usually only degree cert.

Arguably your school ones are more important when they are your highest qualification. I really hope you can track them down.

jmh740 · 04/07/2024 17:25

I'm almost 50 and have had to show my certificates 3 times for jobs in the last 10 years, they are in a box other important Info birth certificate marriage certificate etc

Hatty65 · 04/07/2024 17:26

imnotthatkindofmum · 04/07/2024 17:07

That's fair enough. Does that include gcse as I know someone who's a teacher and she just said her degree and postgrad certificates.

Show quote history

I'm a teacher and every interview has always needed all of them. You can't teach without GCSE (Or O level in my case as I'm old) Maths and English, so they want to see everything.

Depressedbarbie · 04/07/2024 17:28

imnotthatkindofmum · 04/07/2024 17:07

That's fair enough. Does that include gcse as I know someone who's a teacher and she just said her degree and postgrad certificates.

Show quote history

You have to show your maths and English gcses for teaching too

Nilk · 04/07/2024 17:28

I am in early thirties and have no idea where any of them are, however I've got a degree and I know where that is, it's the only thing I've needed to show

ButterflyBitch · 04/07/2024 17:29

I started working in a school five years ago and needed to show my gcse certificates. I threw them out when I was a teenager I think so had to pay out to get them again. Bloody expensive as had to get two exam boards. They are safely put away now.

Onelifeonly · 04/07/2024 17:31

Yes have all mine. I was more organised 40 years ago than I am now! Can't recall the last time, if ever, that I had to show them though. I'm a teacher but as far as I know the DfE number each teacher has (if trained in England anyway) guarantees you have the right qualifications. But I have worked at the same school for a long time, so maybe I was asked back in the day.

clarrylove · 04/07/2024 17:34

Yes, yes and yes. Hope you find them.

caringcarer · 04/07/2024 17:39

I'm over 60 and I've still got my all of my exam certificates and post grad certificate. I would have thought everyone would need them for interviews. I've also had to provide my marriage license as original certificates in maiden name.

ExtraOnions · 04/07/2024 17:40

I don’t have mine .. whenever I’ve been asked I say I lost them in a housemove.

I think once you have a higher qualification, and if the GCSE isn’t relevant to your chosen career .. they become fairly pointless

ChessieFL · 04/07/2024 17:41

Yes, I’ve got mine and have had to show them a few times over the years for various jobs.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 04/07/2024 17:42

Yep. Teacher. I have had to show my GCSE, A Level, degree and PGCE certificates for every job I've had.

Original poster
imnotthatkindofmum · 04/07/2024 17:42

Interesting mixed answers.

Obviously I want the job so I'll have to sort it but genuinely if I'd had a house fire or something surely there's another way? It just seems such a big deal for something I did 30 years ago when I didn't really give a shit about my education.

OP posts:
combinationpadlock · 04/07/2024 17:46

YABU

you can be asked to show your exam certificates at any time in your career, in a new job or in an existing job. Everyone should keep them very carefully. if they are lost or damaged, such as in a house fire, then get yourself sorted out with new ones straight away, before you are asked, because it can take a while.

I've got mine in a fireproof safe. I think most of my family and friends keep them in something similar. I also have photocopies, and photographs of the stored online. You normally have to show originals, but not always

Juicyapple44 · 04/07/2024 17:46

Yes I have all mine and had to show them for last few jobs and also to start my apprenticeship through work. I also interview and we always ask for them. I am in my 40s.

MigGirl · 04/07/2024 17:47

Yes, I work in a school and have to show the all the original copies of my certificate for every job I've applied to and I don't even teach.

DH had been lucky and hardly needed his although has kept them safe and was very glad he did when his company asked for proof of his GCSE English a few years ago. Those who couldn't produce it had to site a basic skills course and exam.

I hope you find them OP.

Original poster
imnotthatkindofmum · 04/07/2024 17:53

Ok I see on the whole I am probably BU. It does feel archaic to me. Full disclosure my background is recruitment and I have never ever asked for certificates so my industry area is obviously very different to others.

Do people generally think it's a reasonable request in these circumstances given that they never actually asked about my qualifications on interview and that wasn't a requirement for the job?

I have set the wheels in motion to sort it in case anyone thinks I'm just being bolshy I was just really pondering how relevant it was!

OP posts:
2magpies4joy · 04/07/2024 17:54

Yes, I have had to provide my original certificates for various job applications & interviews over the years

I have moved nearly 20 times, so I keep all my important documentation in an easily accessible place.(not in someone else's loft)

The last couple of jobs, I have also had to provide identification like passport, driving licence, bills in my name, P45 and references.

Plus the right to work in UK clearance.

All normal things to provide