To think not getting a C is maths gcse is affecting my career 30 years later

[Mathsismynemesis]

I've been asked by my boss if I'd consider going for a senior role that's coming up in thr new year. It's a role I'd considered when it came up in the past, but the timing was never quite right.

I'm wondering if now is my time. However, I don't have a C in maths gcse, and although I have 20 years experience in the industry, a degree, can do the arithmetic required in my role, and could probably do the job with training and guidance, I wonder if this would mean the job would never be offered to me. I've been told in the past it's a prerequisite, but not sure if they're so black and white about the process these days.

I can't let on as my current leadership team are not aware. I'm not sure they'd even care. I've proven myself in the role I'm currently in. But the recruitment of the senior role would be done by head office.

I won't have time to do a functional maths course before the application has to be in.

Do I just go for it and hope they don't worry about it, but risk that they do and it becomes a big deal? Or do I just leave it?

Does anyone have experience of not having a C in maths but climbing the career ladder anyway?

I mean, technically my career requires a degree but I don’t have one as I dropped out before completing it. It’s never crossed my mind that I shouldn’t apply for jobs that say a degree is required. I’ve got decades of experience now, as have you by the sounds of it, and I’ve yet to ever encounter an employer that even asks if you’ve got a degree let alone what your GCSEs are in. Kindly, I think you’re being ridiculous. Go for it!

Honestly - most people can't even find their GCSE certificates. They won't even ask for your certificate. Apply for the job, and sign up to do a Functional Skills Maths course at the same time so that you have it for the future (you can do it in 6-12 weeks).

I must be a similar age to you or a little older. Nobody has ever once asked to see proof of what grades I got in school. I would fall off my chair if they ever did at this point let alone if it was a decider in a job application.

I don’t think it should matter but don’t lie. I would sign up to go functional skills in maths.

It depends. I worked for a professional
body whose HR department were absolutely pedantic about requiring GCSE certificates regardless of age, experience or seniority.

I failed my maths A level - as in an actual U for Ungraded. I do have a degree in Economics though and have spent my entire 25 year long career in investment banking. Failing my maths A level has never come up. You need to apply OP!

I don't have a C at maths and spent 8 years at one of the big banks, before moving to public sector where I have worked for nearly 30 years and worked my way through the grades.

I'd just say I had it! The exam boards don't keep data going back that far anyway. (Speaking from experience here.)

Like a PP I also apply for jobs which state they need a degree as I have years and years experience in the role.

It’s never been an issue, I am open about it if asked.

The one occasion someone checked they still offered me the job knowing I didn’t have it.

This is my concern. It's a regulated industry and at the level I'd be applying for I'd have to have certain checks. I'm concerned that proof of gcse grades would be a tick box exercise even if you could do the job with your eyes shut, and the lack of the c would be my undoing. I don't want to open a can of worms by asking.

I'd never lie. The stress of being found out would be too much.

Apply, they probably won’t even notice. If they do notice just say you’ll do a functional skills maths test, I’m sure you could do it standing on your head. You can self study and just take the test, no need for a course.

Depends on the industry - I've been asked every time I've changed my job. Glad I kept my horrendous red achievement folder from my 90s school days 😂

OP, hopefully this won't hold you back this time, but perhaps it's wise to re study for and sit your maths so this is never an issue again?

I can't remember my GCSE results and I don't have the certs anymore (nearly 50). I'd guess them all. Generous guesses, naturally 😉

Please do apply! If you are the strongest candidate, they will appoint you and work out a way for you to gain the maths qualification. A bit of a slap on the wrist here, but I bet a bloke wouldn't see lack of a GCSE at C grade in maths as an impediment to applying!

I work in a job I have no relevent qualifications for but had the employment history and know how. I was upfront at during the initial stages and in interviews. Either they understood my capability and history or didn't care about the quals as they employed me happily.

To be fair there's a few bits I've had to research on an evening or weekend but nothing drastic. I say go for it. They know you and your abilities already.

I got a D in maths. It’s not held me back, I did my nursing in the days before you had to have maths and have been qualified 25 years next year. I can do the maths needed in my everyday life and career, just haven’t bothered to re-sit the exam!

I don’t even put GCSE’s on applications, just my nursing qualifications.

I think the insistence on maths is great for today’s kids but applying that to people who left school 30+ years ago when no one much cared is ludicrous.

I say go for the job and good luck.

It depends. It causes no end of grief that our job values box ticking educational qualifications over experience. We have ended up losing some excellent calibre applicants over it. It is absolutely ludicrous to the point of insanity but “computer says no” happens much more than it should.

Am I the only person who still has their gcse certificates in that red Record of achievement folder?! Im 52! I also have my National Insurance card

My friend couldn't find her A grade O level certificate and couldn't remember what board it was with. She had to retake it in her 60s to get a professional qualification for a job she'd be doing for years.

I've decided whatever happens I'm going to do the functional maths level 2 in the new year.

They stopped doing them by the time I left senior school in 2002. At least in my area. I have my certificates though in the filing cabinet.

With 20 Years of successful relevent experience I think not having GCSE Maths would be held against you. In WW2 lots of women went into teaching, unqualified, to replace the men who were called up, and they were very successful, eventually they were deemed to be 'qualified throught experience'. Go for it, you are probably head and shoulders better than a younger person with little relevent experience but with a myriad of pieces of paper.

I can't imagine a situation where I'd even have to put GCSEs on the application

I had to swear an affidavit that I had my O level Maths when I said I no longer had the certificate.

I never understand the need for gcses when older folk are applying for jobs because even if someone did get an a - c grade 30 years ago it doesn't mean they remember that subject much at all. So much has changed in the past few decades (how many can really understand their dc's homework in maths for example) so any employer relying on certificates 30 years ago over years of proven experience is nuts imo.