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!

It's the attitude, though. I'd be cautious about the friendship, actually. It would be difficult to know where the line is with her.

This is so dumb. Any job in which the degree matters will want a copy of the degree certificate. If I was recruiting for that job I would take an extremely dim view over somebody lying, much more so than someone getting a 2:1 rather than 1st. The chances of this girl making life any easier for herself with this lie are so slim I really wouldn't even break a sweat over it

In fact, some employers see a first as a potential warning flag that this person may be less of an all-rounder.

I believe this to be apocryphal fantasy.

There's not a hiring manager out there who sees a first as a warning flag.

When I was accepted on a grad scheme they checked my degree.

99% of grad schemes want a 2.1 or better I’ve never known one only want first class degrees so it seems even more silly that she’s take the risk.

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

What kind of vindictive nutcase would actually do that

I had to provide copies of my degree and masters certificates for a very basic job. It is due diligence

My very pompous relative tells everyone they qualified from such and such a university when in fact they just attended it and did not cut the mustard.

All the large companies I've worked for have 'onboarding' teams that check all the information provided prior to your start date. This includes asking for copies of my degree certificate. Micro companies probably wouldn't check if the job was something like a NMW admin role.

I'd be interested to know why she thinks this is worth it? Unless she is going for very academic jobs most employers wouldn't care if she got a 2:1 or a 1st. And if it is very academic then surely she will be found out? Baffling!

Well Jen is someone with a great degree who doesn’t quite feel good enough, does she? Whether she gets found out or not, she’s taken a major achievement and trashed it. She should be proud of her result.
I have a feeling there is a bit of envy involved here.
A good friend of mine gave her A level grades on an application a few years ago. She missed out right at the end because one grade didn’t tally. She took the exams in 1981! It wasn’t an error, she knew she had lied. End of job offer.
Jen has a lot to learn in life and that will unfold in time. People who lie on purpose like this lack self worth.
Whether your daughter thinks less of her is up to her. I know I couldn’t look at someone who pulled stunts like this but I am a bit of a stickler for rules.

To be fair, I think this could also be the folly of youth.

22 year olds and still prone to stupidity ( the brain doesn’t stop developing until 24, and it’s the executive function that is the last to form fully)

we all know that some rules are considered more important than others ( we’d judge someone for drink driving, but not so much for parking ticket)

I suspect that Jen thinks that lying about certificate is no worse than parking illegally, but is in reality more like drink driving.

In fact, some employers see a first as a potential warning flag that this person may be less of an all-rounder.
Well, this is pure nonsense…

You are clearly fortunate enough not to have come across anyone who would do that, but they definitely exist! Especially perhaps when young and impulsive and competing (if only in their own minds) for jobs…

I graduated the first time in the early 90s and I STILL had to provide my certificate for a new job a year ago.

Absolutely pointless lie too as I can’t think many employers will care if she got a 2:1 or a 1st. A 2:2 to a 2:1, I could almost understand as in my field we want a 2:1 minimum.

I agree with that - not the same scenario, but I had a pen pal (a man) and one day he admitted he’d lied about his age. I had no intention of dating him but it made me feel really uncomfortable and the friendship fizzled out soon after.

I'd be additionally worried that Jen will lie to your DD about something else...like an affair, a disease, money, etc.

Reminder of the bright young thing we hired with mba from a one -year London MBA programme. She put fluent French on her CV. Discussed at interviews, though no French speakers to interview her. We hired her for the French. We sent her to Paris 2nd week of work & she didn’t say a word.
She went to Paris, her French was non-existent to poor. Client was very upset, we brought her home and fired her.

She was so confident about French & everything else in interviews, we concluded that she was some kind of crazy.

Let me qualify- they don’t sift it out. No one is marked down for a first. It won’t lessen your chance of an interview. It is a good thing to have.

but people on interview panels weighing up a ton of top quality graduates from top universities will not be only looking at people with firsts. They will be looking at well rounded CVs.

It Is not nonsense because I look at graduate applicants and I’d want to see more than a 1st - if I was deciding between someone with a 2:1 but relevant industry placements during summer and extensive extra curricular activities vs someone with a 1st in theoretical physics, but no hobbies, I’d give the interview to the 2:1.

It’s not school- highest mark doesn’t mean best candidate.

Agree- I was recently asked for my degree certificate

Why wouldn’t someone with a first have all those extras too?

She is likely to get caught out with this. Integrity goes a long way with most companies

This is really depressing, not the fact that she's telling a white lie, but you actually felt compelled to post here over such a minor issue...

Most jobs will ask for a copy of the certificate.

We have withdrawn job offers on finding that people have lied on their CV.

It's not the difference between the 2 degree classes that's the issue, it's the lie. Lying blatantly on a CV is not a good look.

It’s not a minor issue though. It shows her child’s partner is willing to lie. It may have repercussions that affect her dc eg if they rent a flat together and gf loses her job and can’t pay rent.
My friend secured a graduate role. Put she had a 2.1. Her uni tutor was contacted for a reference and said she had a 2.2. She was called to a meeting it was taken very seriously. Got sorted as tutor had mixed her up with another girl same first name.

Every job I've had has asked to see my graduation certificate and other qualifications. She better change it before she is caught out & her job offer rescinded.

Show Jen this link and specifically the second point under dismissal related to capability.

https://www.acas.org.uk/dismissals/types-of-dismissal