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 graduated 32 years ago (now I feel old) from a Russell group university and we graduated in alphabetical order. No classifications. However those with Firsts had an asterisk by their name in the programme.

Some employers will ask, some won't. It's bound to bite her on the ass sooner or later though.

1. It's not your business
2. Lying usually comes from a place of shame or guilt.
3. Employers will check.
4. Why did you check out her LinkedIn?
5. Why did you and DD call her out?
6. It's still not your business.

I really can't think why you would give this any attention. It's her problem, her mistake - and has absolutely no bearing or relation to your family!

It's not your business
She's my DD's long term partner who has just been proved to be a liar

Lying usually comes from a place of shame or guilt.
Yes, possibly, and my DD, as her partner, would probably want to understand this and help her, if she can.

Employers will check.
They may, they may not. This isn't the biggest issue, as far as I'm concerned. It's unlikely to affect her job applications unless she is found out afterwards.

Why did you check out her LinkedIn?
Read my posts - I didn't. My DD brought it to my attention. I presume Jen asked her to connect on LinkedIn?

Why did you and DD call her out?
I didn't, my DD did. She's her long term partner. Wouldn't you call out a long term partner who you'd found out was lying?

It's still not your business.
I disagree. Read my previous post. My DD asked my opinion. I'd want to know if my child's partner was lying about stuff, wouldn't you?

In the September after I graduated I started working for a global tech firm (American, with three letters) as part of their graduate intake for that year. I was one of around 80 or so graduates recruited into their graduate programme that year. All of us were taken on under 4 year (I think) fixed term contracts, not regular permanent employees. The unwritten/unspoken understanding amongst us grads was that, if the company liked you then you would have been converted to a regular employee long before the contract term was up.
I had gone through their multi-stage graduate recruitment programme earlier in the year, receiving my job offer around June time I think. Certainly before I had completed my finals, or received the result. The only proviso made in the letter of offer was that I needed to have graduated successfully. So, as long as I passed, I had the job.

I had been there about 9 months when I heard that one of the people, that I had started with back in September, had been removed from their team and has lost their job. No land had ever asked to see my degree result, but apparently someone there had asked to see his, and it became evident that he had failed to graduate, and therefore lost the job. A significant loss of something so promising for a young person.
it just goes to show, it’s NEVER worth living a lie. If it gets found out then so many things can be lost. On to of that, for me personally, I would never be able to sleep well at night if I knew that I had something like that lurking around in my background, just waiting to be discovered. Not a smart thing to do.

You sound pretentious.

Similar. I've got a few degrees <cough no life cough> and it's only my non-degree, vocational qualifications anyone ever asks to have copies of. 🤷‍♀

I have had to provide all my original qualification certificates for several job applications.

Plus
passport
Driving licence
Bills in my name
References from previous employers
Right to work in UK check
DBS check

There is no reason for me to lie

It's such an unnecessary lie that I think it makes you wonder what else she's willing to lie about.

If she puts that on her CV, she will get found out and have her job offer withdrawn. I'm 36 and have changed 3 jobs, the last one being a year ago. In spite of working in my profession for over 10 years, I still had to provide my degree certificates to HR and my job offer was contingent on HR's checks.

It's a strange thing to do and it shows insecurity and immaturity. I'd have my reservations about her too and look at her in a new light.

Thanks! I'll take that as a compliment!
(Got anything useful to contribute?)

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.

This all feels a bit overblown and hysterical.

Back in the dark ages when I was at uni, everyone's results were still published by name publicly on a board in the university department. Degree results time rolls around, and there we stand, an assembled throng, trying to place a face to the name of the one person in our year (a small cohort) who got a third.
None of us could manage it.

About a month later, I am temping in the admin office of the local police HQ and meet a very nice young man who says he has just graduated with a degree in xxx subject from xxx university. "Oh!", sez I brightly, "so have I! I don't remember you though." Turns out he is the mysterious person with the third that no-one could remember ever meeting. And the reason we couldn't place him was because - according to him - he never attended lectures (hence, presumably, the third).

Over tea and a chat, I asked if he was concerned about his future employment prospects (we had an especially pointless arts degree to begin with). Not a bit. He said that he recorded it as a 2:1 on his CV.

Yes, he was obviously a liar, but I was semi-amused at the time and still am. I can see why YMMV, but my thinking was he was 22 and stupid, and if he applied for a job where he needed to present his degree certificate, he'd be in trouble.

Likely the same will happen to 'Jen', or hopefully she'll grow up and get over what looks like an immature reaction to the disappointment of missing a first. I don't think it necessarily implies anything terrible about her character or speaks to her unworthiness as a girlfriend for your beloved daughter.

Employers will check qualifications, it's not even a case of waving a bit of paper. I've called professional bodies to check that the qualification was awarded and the person concerned is a member in good standing.

My children had to show degree certificates to confirm achievement.

One friend did lose a job offer as they did not meet job offer requirements, the 2.1 was not enough.

If a person lies then it just shows they are untrustworthy

You sound a bit enmeshed. Your daughter is young and it’s highly unlikely they’ll be together forever. But either way you either trust your daughter to make a judgement or you don’t.

It is completely unacceptable and in some careers could mean the end of the career. She needs to change it. Even if she changes it later people could still search the historic internet to see the lie. Also what is the point in saying you have a first when you already have a 2/1? Most jobs including top jobs in law etc are perfectly happy with people with a 2/1

It's likely she will be found out. I've had to show my degree certificate many times over the years.

I am 48 and in the past month I've had to scan it in twice - once for an application to do an MA, and once for work when we have to upload our qualification certificates because of an inspection.

DH is going through the process of getting a new job and he had to scan in his degree certificate too. He is 59.

It's an odd thing to lie about because I wouldn't have thought it makes much difference!

Never been asked for evidence.

I’ve recruited graduates for years arcane we will always withdraw a job offer if they can’t evidence their exam results - including A levels.

We've also withdrawn offers if there’s a discrepancy- even as minor as someone saying they got a B in history A level when they actually got a C

This.
my new job ( 9 years ago) wanted my school certificates (!)
I'm in my middle 40’s and they wouldn’t accept them due to how they presented them that year.
I had to redo math and english even though I had top marks!

I had to show all my certificates- O levels, A level and Degree - for a minimum ish wage, zero hours contract about 6 weeks ago. Have had to show them multiple times before in more graduate type jobs.

I got asked for certificates issued in 1987 and 1998 last year. I'm in my late fifties.
I couldn't find the oldest so I ordered a new one.
Just be aware sometimes they are asked for so conpanies don't have to pay notice if they cancel your employment and there is any mistake. This was tried on me but I had the correct paperwork. Ditto further references after you start work.

I'm 56. I recently had to produce all my university certification for a job I applied for. It is the first time it has happened; I'm not sure if it is on the increase due to ease of access of information.

What?

I understand where you are coming from. My sister used to lie about being a teacher. She isn’t a teacher never even went to Uni but put down she had teaching qualifications when she was a childminder. It makes light of other people’s efforts when it seems you can just lie and get the same results.
However she will likely be caught out in any decent job as they do ask for your certificate when starting.