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!

They very well could have a 1st and all those extras, and would be given the interview.

and of course, many people with firsts are well rounded. I have a first, and frankly, don’t think it has ever given me the edge or even been commented on. I don’t think it converts into better performance- I had a contemporary on my graduate scheme years ago who had a 2:1, but was much better than me at the hands on work. He seemed to pick it up much easier than me ( I was envious!).

work experience, contacts and reputation are what people really look at.

We go for 2:1 and above in my industry, so I’d tend to lump them together as good degrees. It’s more a tick box - do they meet the requirement for graduate scheme or not, then look at other areas.

That's a good point too

Yes, the girlfriend will very likely be found out and it’s such a silly lie when she’s actually achieved a perfectly respectable 2:1.

I wonder if her parents have told her that everyone lies on their CV’s and that no-one checks? Such bad advice if that’s the case.

It didn’t used to be so common but within the last 10yrs or so, virtually all employers looking specifically to recruit recent grads will ask for evidence and some will also contact their old Uni to confirm the result. (Obviously, the candidate will have signed a form allowing the Uni to release the info.)

Yes, agree with all that.
It’s slightly different from your initial post, though

It isn't a white lie.

Lying about qualifications is taken very seriously by most employers and is gross misconduct.

I've never been asked for a single proof of any qualification but I suspect employers in some sectors do routinely check.

I do wonder why YOU are so interested in this issue though.

I'm 50, and I've never been asked by an employer for either of my degree certificates or proof of my school exam grades.

Five years into employment no one will care what mark/grade you got. It ceases to be relevant. Your academic paperwork fades from relevance very quickly and your work-based performance and achievements become more critical.

Presumably the daughter and girlfriend are living together so if the girlfriend is unemployed, the daughter will end up subsiding her?

That’s how I interpreted it anyway. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Well that's not at all what you said initially, which was some employers see a first as a potential warning flag that this person may be less of an all-rounder.

No employer is seeing a first, and thinking "potential warning flag!!".

You reminded me about this case - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-62591282

He had to pay the money back due to his lies. Apparently the guy was actually good at his job.

I've never once been asked for my degree certificates

I suspect that for jobs where they actually care about what you got at degree level, they may check. But there are industries where every advert says "essential: relevant degree 2:1 or above" but really they don't give a toss and are just looking at experience.

It really pisses me off how people always shit all over people who got a first. It's such a race to the bottom all the time.

Typed in haste on train!

I meant that I’d be thinking what are their social skills like? I was quite shy at uni and was swottier than many of my friends. I was up every morning to study, and treated it like a 9-5 job. In hindsight, I might have gained more from uni experience letting my hair down and getting a 2:1! Doesn’t mean everyone is like that, but I’d be aware of that possibility.

Being driven is great, but even in very corporate jobs, people are looking for candidates who work well in a team

@SauviGone read my updates

My last job (I'm retired) was in my 50s and they still asked for my certificates!
Lying will get found out and no, not everyone lies.
After all, why bother getting a degree at all. Just write in on your CV as though you've got one?
I would be disappointed in her.

I don't think it IS a small, insignificant thing, and as others have said, the worry is that it could signify a propensity to lie about other things.

Nor do I think it's an exaggeration to say we're sad and shocked. We're shocked by her blase attitude to the lie, and sad because we were beginning to assume that she was becoming a fairly permanent part of DD's life and we supported that, but this rather casts a cloud - for both us, and DD (she says).

What's interesting is that these days when graduations don't mention the degree class the other students often don't know what results the others got, so she's unlikely to be called out on it by her peer group.

They aren't living together, and won't be over the next year, so I guess we'll need to see where their relationship goes...

IME, depressingly, they usually did!

I think that used to be the case when firsts were as rare as hen's teeth.

You’re still flogging the notion that only those who study 24/7 with no semblance of a social life manage to get a first, though.
It’s patently not true.

Weird question?

I'm interested because my daughter told me about it and asked what I thought.
I'm interested because I'm concerned if my DD is in a long-term relationship with a proven liar.
I'm interested because this is someone we regularly welcome into our home and this lie has slightly changed my opinion of her.

I worked 9-5!

But others didn’t and still managed it 🤷🏻‍♀️

Employers increasingly ask for certificates.
Years ago, when I first graduated, I was rarely asked. Now it seems to be the norm.

As someone else has indicated, a 2.1 will be good enough where a first is so the same doors usually open. But lying about it would result in a door slammed shut.

Hmm I’d be surprised if they did. Most people capable of getting into a top university have what it takes to get a first. The fact they don’t is because they aren’t doing a lot of work.

everyone I know who got a first worked bloody hard for it. Certainly compared with their peers.

in the grand scheme of things, none of us worked as hard as we did in our graduate jobs
though , so we aren’t talking 24/7 at all.

Well she's a tube as I still have to provide my certificates for jobs at 38 years old.