Teeny Weeny Lies on Application Forms!

[Rhubarb]

I've got some application forms, one notably from a charity that I wouldn't mind working for. It says on it educated to GCSE standard including Maths and English and asks for grades of exams. Well, therein lies the problem! I have every other qualification and experience that they are looking for, but I do not have my Maths GCSE. I have failed 3 times , in my defence I think I have number dyslexia, or maybe I just made that up! I do have a shitload of other qualifications including Law and Economics! Would they really dismiss my application if I don't have Maths GCSE? Or should I put on it that I do? The job doesn't involve book-keeping or anything! I took my GCSE's over 15 years ago, would they really check?

Just bung it on your cv. I can't imagine they'd check.

FWIW I have O-grade maths and cannot remember a single thing and have never ever used anything I supposedly learnt on that course.

What grade shall I give myself then?

I suppose it'd have to be a C. Ok, I now have a C in GCSE Maths!

It's only a tiny lie isn't it?

B- nice and middle-of-the-road.

And hope to hell they don't have a specific maths-related question written specially for your interview.

Also ensure that they don't expect you to supply certificates as evidence!

Really? They might test me? Oh shit! I am appaulingly bad! Not just bad, but really really shit!
I've put down C now, so they don't think I'm brilliant at it, they know I'm a bit crap but think I passed anyway. Together with the Law and Economics Diploma I hope I can wing it!

I can't imagine they would expect you to have certs from over 15 years ago! I can't even remember the examining board!

Erm, I really don't want to put a damper on this, but a lot of public sector employers these days ask to see certificates relating to any qualification claims on an application form or CV Rhuby :(
In your position I would ring them and ask what their situation is with regards to someone who is as well-qualified as you are in other respects.
You have your quals in economics to back up your views that you are more than numerate enough for the job.
I am sure if you ring them you can get your application past the GCSE sifting stage without lying.

My employer does. And however much I adored a candidate at interview, if it turned out they had lied even a smidgen about their qualifications, my HR department would not let the appointment proceed :(

But I've put it on now!
I used to work in HR for a county council and we never used to check up on qualifications, esp not ones dating so far back!

I have all my other certs but not the GCSE ones, I don't even know how I could get them!

When I worked in recruitment we used to ask for all exam certs on the new recruit's first day and photocopy them and keep them on file. Although, tbh, I can't imagine that many companies do that (I worked in the public sector so paper pushing very hot!) and even if you're asked to produce your documents I'm sure if you hand in a wedge of paper no-one will flick through it and think 'hmmm GCSE maths is missing'.

Maybe I forgot and thought that I did have a GCSE Maths - after all I have taken it 3 times! I'm a mother, it's in my nature to be forgetful!

I've been asked to produce my degree papers and diploma papers before now, but never for GCSE, if you say you don't have them because it was over 15 years ago they usually let it lie.

I think this is a recent policy change, certainly where my employer is concerned. Hopefully your bluff won't be called :)

We weren't quite as rigid as Marina's employer. We used to ask for 'GCSE maths and English or numeracy and literacy proven in the workplace' which covered candidates whose workplace experience superceded their school qualifications and gave us the flexibility to waive the people through in your position.

tbh, it's really common for people not to be able to find their GCSE certs and they're only really relevant to school leavers.

and also, it depends what the highest qualification is that they stipulate. If we are recruiting clerical/support staff with GCSE/A level requirements, then we expect to see those certs, and for the candidate to obtain them at whatever cost, from the Board, if they have lost the originals :(
If it is a graduate level post, then the degree/diploma certificate is needed.
Good luck with it all Rhubarb - you deserve it :)

I was surprised at this new draconianism myself too. The way round it for me, as ProfYaffle says, is to make sure I draft a nice inclusive person spec which values lifelong experiential learning as much as GCSEs
I think it is enforced in other areas of the organisation though :(

We used to be like your organisation Marina, but we were practically battered to death by managers who were p*ssed off at turning down middle ages candidates because they couldn't find their CSE certificates! That's why we changed, nice woolly wording that no auditor can challenge too rigerously

I wouldn't even know where to find my certificates from school tbh..

As they are my lowest qualifications I should hope that my higher ones supersede them. If they question it I'll just have to say that I have no way of finding my GCSE certs now. If they are going to be that picky do I want to work there anyway? Plus my experience is varied to say the least! So they already have plenty to go on!

I hope I get the job too! I had to hand do the application form with a black pen and ruler because the one they emailed wouldn't print out properly and I have run out of ink! So everything was done very neatly in pen taking bloody hours! And I have now scanned it all in and sent it off as a pdf file, with an accompanying letter! It's for the Red Cross as a fundraising assistant, and I have experience, it's in Carlisle, part-time hours, flexible and a good salary!

"If they are going to be that picky do I want to work there anyway?"

Exactly Rhubarb, it'll be a beaurocratic nightmare to work in. Public sector drove me insane.

ooh, sorry not had time to read thread so might be repeating, but be careful!
public/voluntary sector often send x% of applications of to be checked out by a cv checking agency. I guess yours is unlikely to be the one but if so, I hear they check everything!
they do have to tell you they will be doing this though - small print on apllication form or on offer letter.
HTH

. Pre-cisely, Professor. But their national HQ are about 100m from my own workplace and it looks like a great place to work. I have seen an office worker with Down Syndrome coming in and out for starters.
Hopefully the regional offices are as good Rhubarb.

Thanks Marina! I really really want the job and I just hope to goodness they don't to a check and sack me! Or a Mumsnetter dobs me in!

I once rang my maths exam board to ask for a copy of my vert as I never received any of my GCSE certificates and was told that they only keep records for 7 years so not only did they not have my certificate, they also had no record of my grade

I assume this is true as it came form the horses mouth, however it does's make it a bit pointless recording grades on a job app as you could make them up at will!