DD's girlfriend lying about her degree result

[WhitePolarBear]

DD (22) just graduated and is applying for jobs. Has been updating her LinkedIn profile etc. She worked so hard at uni and was delighted to get a First Class degree, which she has put on her education section.

DD's girlfriend 'Jen'* of 2 years (who we've met, had to stay etc and had become quite fond of...) has also set up her profile, but has listed her degree result as a 'First' when actually she got a (still very good) 2:1.
When DD casually mentioned it, Jen laughed it off and said 'everyone lies on their profiles and CVs' and claimed 'nobody will ever know'.

We're both sad and shocked I think. DD said to me it feels like a 'slap in the face' for those students who REALLY got a first class degree, and we feel sad that Jen thinks nothing of her lying and deception.

Nothing can/will be done, but just wondered what folk thought?

*not her real name!

All jobs I’ve applied for (mainly NHS) have asked to see originals of degree and masters certificates. So it might catch her out!

Sone people do check, and you may have to show your certificates.

I’ve recently had to find my GCSE maths certificate from many many years ago! Most employers check!

She will get found out. HR departments will ask for a copy of the certificate as part of pre-employment checks.

Most employers will check.

If the employer cares enough then they ask for the original paperwork. If they don't then it's kind of their own fault not checking. LinkedIn is notoriously rammed full of bullshit.
Of course it's cheeky. And a bit foolish as a good 2:1 would be decent in itself, but being caught lying? You may as well not have bothered doing a degree at all.

I’ve never been asked for a certificate for any degree or any other exam in my life so depending on what she’s doing she’s right, she may never get found out

My last employer checked and the job offer would have been withdrawn because of the dishonesty. Silly move on her part.

Employers will ask for certificates. If you put a degree in your CV they will ask for proof.

Depending on the type of job they will also do a social media trawl.

They definitely do in education and this kind of 'discrepancy' will be picked up on.

SME business here; my newbies are required to bring evidence of their highest qualifications on their first day. For grads, that would be their degree cert. She'd certainly be busted if she came to us (and promptly shown the door£. Even if she'd aced her interview, I'd be wondering what else she'd be capable of lying about going forward.

I suspect it might depend on the sector. But I wouldn’t think it worth the risk. I would also find this difficult at the personal level.

We employed someone who had lied about their degree result. Once HR found out a few weeks after he started he was dismissed immediately. We were gutted as he was really good at the job and we would have employed him without the lies. Unfortunately HR policy was instant dismissal. It's not worth it as she could miss out on jobs that she could get without lying.

I've had to send a copy of my degree for a job.
Literally no excuse to lie and the example above from a PP sumps it up so well.
It's quite concerning she's okay with lying.

Hope she doesn’t want to be a lawyer!

I’ve been asked for all my certificates (from O levels all the way up to PhD) in the past too (in fact, one employer wanted me to bring them to the interview!)

If it’s a job that requires a degree she will have to provide evidence when she starts (I had to a few weeks after I started). Whether they will be that fussed between a 1st or a 2:1 (or even realise as it’s usually someone in HR just photocopying and putting on file) is another matter.

If it’s a job that doesn’t require a degree I doubt they will check at all.

It’s up to her really, she’s the only person who is going to be affected by this so let her crack on.

Most employers check. Many won't accept a degree certificate because there are so many forgeries, so they check with the university via UK ENIC.

She'll be found out.

Oh and CV fraud is a criminal offence. Fraud by misrepresentation carries a maximum 10 year prison sentence in England and Wales.

She badly needs to rethink her foolish approach.

Joining the Greek Chorus to say that many employers will check as standard, not just checking certificates but with the university records dept. Even decades and a name-change-by-marriage later.

As others have said, this will come back and bite her. I work in recruitment and we have had offers rescinded in the past as qualifications haven't added up.
@Meadowfinch is correct in regards to not just accepting a certificate. It will be checked out, especially for Grad roles.

Also, as well as employers checking, putting an elevated but wrong degree classification so publicly on your LinkedIn is foolish because there's the off-chance that another student or person who knows the truth will notify the company and the company will find out that way, even if they didn't check themselves.

If you need a degree, it will be checked otherwise anyone could say they had one, regardless of degree class.

My sister has consistently lied for a civil service role (universal credit type role) that she has GCSE passes and they’ve never checked but obviously different to a degree.

My new neighbour was full of "DH went to MIT" so when I met him I asked about his experience. Though MIT was on his Linked In as one of his Universities, he was forced to admit he only did a two week summer course, and seemed suitably embarrassed. Another neighbour is senior recruiter and was less than impressed. I got the feeling that discovering a candidate is stretching the truth is an automatic rejection. It seems that the wife also over-egged her Linked in. It only gets you so far. Sooner or later people, whether employers, colleagues, friends or neighbours will find out and they will think less of you.

The 'slap in the face' thing is I think a bit silly. Someone else lying doesn't impact on those who really got a first, though I can appreciate your DD might not be too happy to go out with a liar.
Similarly, no future employer is going to care whether Jen got a 1st or a 2:1. In my line of work (where we hire pretty high achievers) it makes no difference as long as they have at least a 2:1. However, we wouldn't hire a liar. I've been working for 20+ years and the last time I moved jobs still had to provide various certificates and they also contacted a university I attended for one postgraduate year in 1997 to check my certificate was real. Jen is likely to get caught eventually if she plans to work for anyone else.