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!

Yeah, I wouldn’t like that lie either. It’s silly and unnecessary. I also wonder if it signifies a little bit of jealousy about your DD’s First. Jen’s reaction to comments was weird too. I can understand why you’re wary.

Tell your DD to trust her gut. Sometimes when we get to know people better, we realise that deep down we’re quite different.

Just answering the question.
What's wrong with YOU?
(Because someone who thinks 'boosting their degree' by lying is acceptable is clearly the one with the problem here, not me).

That is fascinating - thank you. I know that your NHS number isn't a foolproof record because if you spend time overseas for whatever reason it doesn't always link back. I didn't know it was possible to have more than one number.

I remember having an absolute heart attack when I first applied for a replacement degree certificate and my Uni said they didn't have digital records going back that far (I'm 52!) so might not able to find any record of me. That's a small stress in comparison to the Windrush generation.

And yes, I get that many people don't leave with certificates thus no proof of education.

Eye opening. Thanks for replying.

Worked In education and would never accept a copy, had to be an original certificate.

I’m with those who say that the DD being in a relationship with someone who lies about quite major issues is the main problem. What else would she lie about?
Also, can’t believe all these people who don’t keep their educational certificates safe!

But she’s not lying to the girlfriend or her mother. It’s on her linked in. To the people she cares about she’s being completely honest.

@Sparklywhiteteeth exactly and she hasn't put it in an application. Probably a slightly childish (she is only 22) reaction to the judgemental and competitive environment she finds herself in. I am sure she's already changed it.

I have never in my life been asked for copies of my qualifications (I’m quite old) other than when I enrolled on a masters course and then it was only my undergraduate degree. I know a number of people who’ve fudged qualifications on their CV and no one has ever said anything for years. Depending on jobs they are applying for, I would imagine they would very much get away with changing their degree classification. I wouldn’t think anything of this other than it being their business. It may or may not come back to bite them but that’s on them 🤷‍♀️

Exactly. I can’t get my head round how so ott some people are being, but most of all the op. Bloody hell the lass put on LinkedIn she got a first rather than a 2.1 never lied to one person in real life and the ops on here giving it her views have changed and she’s a proven liar and how sad they both feel and how it detracts from her own kids first.

its so so bad,

We do a screening check for all our employees - their educational and employment experience must reflect reality. Their LinkedIn is not part of this. We ask for a 2-1 or above, I don't think I could draw a line between the employees or either grade. Congrats to your dd, it's a shame you and your dd think someone else lying about getting a qualification diminishes your dd's achievement, imo if I knew that your dd thought that way - it would give me concerns about how she views her own success in terms of other people - it feels unhealthy. I'd think both of them sound like trouble.

Part of me thinks it's LinkedIn and not an actual CV so it's not actually fraudulent unless Jen submits a CV for a job with it in.

Then again, if you lie on LinkedIn, does it become harder to admit to your actual degree classification?

But I'm mainly thinking that putting your degree classification on LI is a bit of a dick move anyway. Don't most people just put their uni, then their jobs? I can't think of anyone in my network who does it. Not that I've noticed, anyway.

For us the problem with having a LinkedIn profile that didn't reflect reality would be an issue of accuracy and attention to detail. I assume the candidate would say it was a typo - but typos suggest sloppiness in your professional presentation, when job hunting it's not great. I have uncovered a few lies with our candidates and I have quietly discarded them - we would never confront or ask for justification, once we have a niggle, their application is in the bin.

I don't condone it and wouldn't myself but I have to say, I have never been asked to show any of my certificates (got a 1st). Could be because I was a mature student and so had worked before. Maybe if you go for a grad job they'd ask but I suspect that once most people have had their first 'proper' job, after that they will just ask for referencs for that job.

There was a case a couple of years ago where a "psychiatrist" had been practising medicine without a medical degree for about 20 years. After they got their first job, it was assumed that a proper check had been done initially and the fraudulent doctor had moved through several different jobs with no one checking - as an employer we do a proper identity check for every single employee - we do not rely on the previous employer to do our job for us.
Wasn't there another case of a Chief Constable recently too - their CV was a complete fabrication?

Seriously though people she’s not aplied for any jobs falsely she’s simply said on LinkedIn she got a first. A few points more than she did.

@JoyousPinkPeer
"Worked In education and would never accept a copy, had to be an original certificate.!"
I answered earlier on this upthread, and yes, although I am retired, when I changed jobs at the age of 45 and then later at the age of 52, I was asked for my original certificates (not photocopies).
It clearly depends on the job you are applying for, and so it will be a matter of luck whether the friend works in such a place or maybe is never asked.
Most universities would be able to supply details of someone's degree, or copies of certificates (for a fee), though I am not sure how long they would keep them for.
There was a time when my DH was asked for his A level certificates, but he insisted a former employer had kept them, and had to apply to the exam board for duplicates.

I think there is becoming a grey area between LinkedIn and an 'actual CV' these days as if you apply to a job through LinkedIn it submits your profile summary as part of your application (unless you opt out of this feature).

Similarly, I think the LinkedIn algorithms encourage new grads to share a 'graduation story' when they update their education section. Over the last few years I've seen a real trend in the summer posts which go 'Thrilled to have graduated ABC university and excited to be starting my career with XYZ company' with the obligatory grad photo.

In fact the careers/ alumni depts of both my DCs universities encouraged setting up LinkedIn and doing this in the last term/ after graduation as a way of keeping in touch with their university network and beginning to connect with their new career one.

I find LinkedIn all a bit OTT these days to be honest, with lots of personal over-sharing, but as they say, 'you gotta be in to win' and lots of jobs are posted there.

People have house fires or their homes suffer flooding.

When you hear like the recent fire in the flats in Dagenham that "sentimental items were lost" this includes things like exam and professional certificates.

Also people's parents move home or die. Some people's parents are able to give their adult children months to sort out belongings they stored for them, while others have to move or die suddenly. If the child doesn't live near by or even in the same country it means that items that educational certificates can be lost. I remember my mum used to store things in odd places to "keep them safe" until myself and a sibling spoke to her about it. We also had to tell her to put people's names on the back of photos especially baby photos. Luckily we did this all a good decade before she died.

BTW I have lost one of my degree certificates. I have a photocopy but can't find the original. I though on of my older siblings had it to keep it safe but he says he no longer has it. Luckily it has been superseded by other qualifications.

This! In may work (third sector) we'd check and she wouldn't get the job/would lose the job if we found out she'd lied. And we would find out! Whether she has a first or a 2:1 would make no difference as to whether we'd interview so much more likely to hinder her than help I'd have thought

@Reugny to add to your list : my framed degree certs were damaged in an earthquake that destroyed my parents’ home. We hadn’t seen that one coming!

Well so far, but in the future who knows?

I think there is becoming a grey area between LinkedIn and an 'actual CV' these days as if you apply to a job through LinkedIn it submits your profile summary as part of your application (unless you opt out of this feature).

Interesting. It goes to show how people view LinkedIn differently. I see it being mainly for networking / stalking / general nosiness and haven't ever applied for or recruited to a role using the platform. I always shortlist from actual CVs and check qualifications. Meanwhile, our recruitment team check candidates social media for anything dodgy.

People are headhunted via LinkedIn. My son has had several offers of interviews just through them looking at his LinkedIn profile and qualifications. He even had a straight out job offer, so what you write and put as qualifications counts more than some people realise depending on the job sector and how specialised you are.
A lot of agencies will go through LinkedIn with an initial criteria which could include a First not a 2:1 in the chosen subject.