Exam certificates

[imnotthatkindofmum]

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?

I don't think it's archaic to ask for proof of qualifications. Otherwise people could just make stuff up! But then I've never worked in a job where qualifications weren't important.

I didn't word that well. I just mean the system of having a piece of paper that you might lose is archaic.

Obviously I understand proof of qualifications as relevant to the job

Frustrating but I'd take the opportunity for a visit home and a rummage

I don't feel YABU.
I get with some jobs such as teaching but, if not relevant to role, GCSE/ o level results from 30+ years ago should not be needed if you have further credentials and/or experience, IMO.
I think the only time I needed to show my certificates was when I went to university as a mature student.

I did my O levels in 1977 and A levels in 1979 and still have my certificates for those exams and my degree.

I needed to prove I had English and maths O level when I first started work in 1983.

Thankfully, I have never been asked to show my A-level certificates because my mum lost them before I ever saw them (away at university).

I had to reorder mine recently, and it wasn’t that expensive.

It was also cost per examining board. Most of my GCSE’s were under AQA so I paid one cost and all the subjects and grades were listed on one certificate.

Yup.

If you claim to have the qualifications then you need to be able to prove it.

Especially for jobs in schools. It's a safeguarding requirement.

Oh that's interesting I definitely misunderstood that.

Why is it safeguarding? I thoughts what a dbs was for?

In searching my emails to see how much I paid but not having much luck!

Havnt a clue where mine are….nor do I care!

many thousand of people do not have their certificates and places orders for lost certificates at the cost of £50 a certificate

Same. Granted I don't work in a professional industry that requires them as standard but I think at this stage if someone asked me for my GCSE certificates my first instinct would be to laugh.

you seem to be implying that only an idiot would not have kept their exam certificates safe.

I kept mine safe until I was in my late 40s, at which point they got put into a supposedly secure storage unit (for just 3 months when we did an extension) - and the whole storage unit burnt to the ground (thanks, Shurguard Croydon).

I'm sure there are many other valid reasons why people may not be able to find their certificates. Especially if they haven't needed them.

I haven't bothered to replace mine, but then again I haven't been asked for them since my first job post-uni. Many private sector jobs do not require to see them as evidence.

OP, I hope you either find them or manage to obtain replacements without too much trouble (and expense).

I’m team HR.

Believe it it not OP some people lie about their qualifications. It’s definitely a safeguarding issue if they are teaching people things they are not qualified for.

I don't have mine from mid 80's either. I've read about it from mn many times. But I have my BA, and no one's ever asked for it.

Think I only ever had to show O/A levels for a role in banking - c. 40 years ago.
Generally asked for my professional qualification - I don't have it, I just provide the annual receipt for professional membership, and a link to the register of members.

@ThursdayTomorrow

It's not a teaching role, I don't know why people are assuming it is 🤷🏻‍♀️

I do understand that people lie about qualifications so we need to prove the qualifications needed for the job. (I honestly do get that, I realise it may sound like I don't because I am miffed about it being tricky for me!)

BUT These qualifications aren't relevant to my new role but my experience is, they also haven't even asked my actual qualifications though I did put gcse and a level generally on my application. So what I don't understand is how in my circumstances it's safeguarding. I appreciate it may be procedure. But I've proved my experience through references and I've done the dbs application.

Either way I'm getting the certificates because obviously I have to if I want the job!

I’ve got mine (from 1992 and 1994), in a folder along with my diploma and degree. They’re in the cupboard with my son’s GCSE certificates, my daughter’s just finished uni so I had to post hers to her for job interviews. I think they’re quite important to keep safe.

OP, you can go through an online service to get your qualifications verified. There's a site called qualificationcheck that checks your details with the original school or exam board. I think they do the service for UK ENIC for the govt. It would be cheaper than £50 an exam but check first, that the employer will accept them

Did you say you were involved in recruitment and didn't verify your clients qualifications? That's the very least I expect f om a recruiter.

Yes I've got mine and have had to show them for jobs a few times usually just to prove Maths and English GCSE. My company asks for them as part of the recruitment process. I have my children's safely stored as well until they move out permanently and I will hand them over!

Mine are somewhere in the loft - maybe...?!

Have never been asked for proof of qualifications for any job in the past 35 years - but I guess if they need it you need to provide it

High time they were all available electronically online - would prevent lying too