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!

I think you're being absolutely ridiculous to be "sad and shocked".

But are these serious job offers from serious, professional firms? Maybe it's different in different industries, but whilst I probably get "offers" most weeks, none of them are from organisations I would seriously consider.

Lots of people don’t put their degree classification on LinkedIn, so I doubt anyone is doing searches on firsts with any hope of accessing the ones they want.

And this is where the person the OP is talking about will fall down.

Plenty of companies cross check you online. So if you blatantly lie about your class of degree then you get found out.

I am linked to people who I worked with closely that have lied about their job title and the technologies they have used. However as I don't have a full profile their lies cannot be proven and if I'm asked about them I talk about their personal skills.

None of them have lied about their qualifications or dates of employment.

In the last 10 years all the companies I have worked for and am currently working for have tried to recruit through linkedin.

As my linkedin profile is skeletal if I apply with a CV through linkedin I am rejected. Yet when they have got my application through an alternative method I get interviewed.

So yes they are serious as some of the companies are well known including household names.

Also the recruitment teams are made up of people of a mixture of ages, both sexes and ethnicities.

Yes that’s right older people don’t tend to but the younger generation do.
My son is 24 works in a specialised area high security and I can 100% say that he has had a lot of offers via LinkedIn also from abroad and from two huge technology companies so it definitely is used as a first line of screening in some industries by head hunters wanting the top people

Yes they are. I think older people use it differently just like they do instagram and facebook.
These are headhunting companies with a specific criteria and it’s their job to find candidates that match.
LinkedIn is changing shape from merely connecting with people to provide people with opportunities and a way to showcase their talents. Different industries will use it in different ways but in Media and Technology it is absolutely used to find the right person for a particular job

She'll get caught out. If you claim certain qualifications, regardless if GCSE or a Degree etc, on a CV or application form, an employer will ask to see the certificates. I only have GCSE, and NVQ qualifications and work in a support role in a school and my employer wanted to see my certificates!!! I left school/college years ago!!!

Most times I've had to provide either my highest qualification or all my qualifications for screening. Ive had jobs across different but linked sectors.

A 2:1 won't reflect badly, buy dishonestly and a lack of integrity will.

I think it's fair enough to be shocked and saddened that someone you thought you knew would be dishonest like this. It shows a dubious side to their character - what else would they lie about to further themselves?

Even if her first employer doesn't check thoroughly (most likely though, they will, it's so easy to do now, and a lot of employers outsource this), if she ever applies for a more serious job - anything public sector (which is the majority of jobs nowadays) defence sector, consulting, banking and finance, etc.,where checks are carried out, she'll be found out. Once it's on LinkedIn, it's there for good (and serious employers will check Social Media accounts and history as a matter of course). She's being really silly, and could easily end up unemployable, and even land herself with a criminal record for misrepresentation.

Probably going to become an MP they are good at lying.

For first job/grad programme, likely to get found out. Later on in her career in my experience unlikely to be asked. But why do it? A 2.1 is a very good result

Prospective employers will check, she'll never get a job telling untruths. "2.1 is great what's the matter with her?

Sad and shocked?

She's obviously an idiot if she thinks the first job she has out of uni isn't going to ask for proof.

Every corporate role I've had has asked to see my degree certificate! I got a 2:1, but I don't think any of them would have cared if it was a 3rd, but a lie would have been a huge issue.
This doesn't detract at all from your daughter's brilliant achievement, but could result in a very embarrassing and damaging situation for Jen, which will be all her own fault.

I’ve always had to take my degree certificates to be photocopied at every interview I’ve attended, whether or not I was offered the job. She’ll trip up at some point. Even if they didn’t check (unlikely), she’d always be on her guard and would be in breach of contract if found out later.

I think you are being over the top with your reactions, it’s her lie and her problem if she gets found out

Sure “everybody lies on a CV”…but smart people lie about stuff that isn’t necessarily checkable, or will just slightly ‘elevate’ the truth perhaps. You don’t lie about a degree classification, that’s so easy to be caught out on. I mean, I barely scraped a 2:2 and even I’m not that dumb! 😂

She’ll either end up doing a job where a degree doesn’t matter and they won’t have checked, or if it does and they ask for a certificate, this will bite her in the arse.

Congrats to your DD on her first though!!!🙌

It could be a bit embarrassing for those who got a 3rd (or it could be called a ‘pass’ nowadays), to be called last after seeing lots of people getting higher grades.

They absolutely will know she’s lied. These things are checked. Let them find out the hard way though 😂

I had a colleague who lied about their degree result and actually they were never found out. But personally I thought a lot less of them and it is something that I would never do. I do think it is not your business though but you could mention to your DD as it says something about someone's character.

Oh I didn't realise they checked these things. I think I'd better scrub off 'Pope' as being one of my previous jobs.

Given the fact she is your daughter’s long term partner makes it difficult, because it says something about her ethics / personality. I wouldn’t want to be with someone who lies about their qualifications. It’s fraud and I couldn’t be with someone who has such a different moral compass to me.
I think your daughter has to make up her own mind whether she’s comfortable being with a lier /fraudster. You can’t really decide that for her, but you can tell (the friend) that it is legally fraud and that she risks losing out on a nice job or (worst scenario) risks being reported for fraud (with whatever consequences that has), and that you don’t appreciate her putting your daughter in a position where she is potentially with a convicted fraudster. Whether she listens is up to her, but I do think you and your daughter do have a right to call her out on this as she is a long term partner, and if she gets caught the result can affect your daughter (partner not getting a job/ partner doing jail time…).

I think it’s rather stupid to lie about a qualification. Some employers won’t check, some will. But you can be sure that those who check will also not offer her a job / pull back a job offer when they find out. She’s basically putting herself in a potentially very bad position and risks losing out on a job that she might have otherwise been well suited for.

I wonder why she did it, because her logic just doesn’t make sense. If she believes no one checks, then surely employers are not interested which result a candidate has, so why bother stating your result??

she just sounds young and stupid to be honest. Pretty immature behaviour.

I think it says something about her character and I can see how that might change your view of her.
It will depend on the employer/sector whether they check. I've always had to show mine; my partner never has.
It would annoy me and I'd be hoping she does get caught out by karma but I wouldn't necessarily do anything about it.

I literally could not care less. It’s just LinkedIn. Any employer requiring a degree for a job will be checking her degree result anyway.

It does not impact your DD or anybody else so I genuinely don’t care.

I do think she is being stupid to lie because any job requiring a degree is going to verify - I graduated in 2003 and still have to present evidence of my degree and grade when applying for jobs and they conduct background checks. But not my circus, not my monkeys.