Lied about GCSEs now facing an pre employment screening

[LadyV79]

Hi all, please dont judge as Im beating myself up about this and always have but I dont have any GCSE's due to childhood trauma and I didnt sit my exams at all.

I left school in 1995 with no qualifications and had a bit of trouble finding employment due to this so started to lie on my CV of having the basic GCSE passes.

I am currently in employment with a Government ran organisation and have been for 6 years but have been offered another job today which Im thrilled about but have been told I have to have a pre employment screening (I think this is more detailed than a regular DBS check) with Security Watchdog and I have to enter my "highest academic qualification" and Im now really really worried this will be checked and have been so upset as I think my job offer will get taken away.

I know lying is a very bad thing to do but I saw no other way to try and get work and now I am so worried everything is going to fall apart and Im going to lose this job opportunity.

Has anyone had any experience either way with the pre employment screening or this company who does it, will they do it? 1995 was a long time ago so I dont even know if my GCSEs will be relevent anymore. I did obtain a Diploma a few years ago from an online course but doubt I can get away with just having that down as my "highest academic qualification". Guys, I dont know what to do and Im in bits over this. Again, please dont be judgemental, I know Ive done wrong but I just wanted work at the end of the day.

Where I work they run background checks, and in our case they found that one of the interns had lied about his A-Level results. He was still allowed to stay on though.

@strawberrydonuts

Just put down your diploma as your highest level qualification, this is the truth, it is Level 3 and GCSE's are Level 2.

I would recommend for future roles you look into getting your GCSE Maths and English - you can do them online very easily these days. Just Google, there are lots of websites offering them. Your local college may even let you do them for free at an evening class - worth looking into.

The easiest way to avoid this stress in future is to not lie about it. Tbh many employers don't mind anyway once you have experience, but the best thing to do would be to just get them and tick the box for reals :)

Exactly this. Your diploma is a higher level - but employers are increasing asking for GCSE maths and English almost as a tick box. Sadly specific certificates are becoming increasingly important (and GCSE maths and English are routinely requested), so try to sit it or sit the higher standard A/S level in maths and English (some can be done with a large chunk of course work) so that it's there later in life if you need it. Its completely doable with proper support/teaching. If you didn't get it when you were younger its not a reflection on ability, its a reflection that your educational environment failed you. Xx

Five years ago, I had to produce all my certificates for a job, including degree, A Levels and wait for it - GCEs. Thankfully, I'd kept them all, even the one from 40 years ago.

OP - didn't any of your previous employers ask for proof of these 'results'? I think you should put your diploma on the CV and make no mention of GCSEs, particularly as you have worked for the Company for quite a while so have obviously shown your skills off. The only way I think you could become unstuck here is if it is a Government or high security type of Company. I had to be vetted and sign the Official Secrets Act for one role and they definitely went into everything.

I really don't think anyone should lie about their background when it comes to employment and I don't think others should encourage lying.

Totally agree on that point. I learned that lesson early on when I stretched the truth quite a bit in my UCCA (predecessor to UCAS) personal statement. I was struggling to think what I could say were my interests and decided to say I played chess and backgammon. What that actually meant was my best friend was very good at both and had shown me how to play, but I didn't enjoy it and had no natural aptitude, so hadn't carried on. When I got a university interview, I was terrrified they'd ask me about this. Fortunately they didn't, but lesson learned, I never made up stuff like that again. As a very risk averse person, I wouldn't be able to sleep for fear of being found out.

OP - didn't any of your previous employers ask for proof of these 'results'?

They don't necessarily. I've never been asked for proof of any qualification over the course of around 6 different jobs.

We know a great deal more about how childhood trauma affects children and op has the evidence in the fact she wasn’t able to take GCSEs at a time when it was standard. This in itself is a tangible reason for ops behaviour. My best wishes to you. You deserve some compassion.

It was only a matter of time before you were found out. Did you lie to do the diploma? You usually have to have a certain grade to start a level 3 course.

you can do numeracy &literacy tests level 2 at libraries or online which are the equivalent of gcse/o levels & are apparently an acceptable equivalent (& are multiple choice (dd2 knew of people who did these online at college for this reason) you can do practice tests as well

OP, I think I know the company you have an offer from.

My understanding is that an employer cannot check qualifications directly with a university. I know this as was arranging tutoring for my children and the tutoring company said they cannot check qualifications, so they ask the tutors to present a lesson.

In any case a, 'background check,' is usually a DBS/Enhanced DBS check.

@ilovemydogandmrobama2

OP, I think I know the company you have an offer from.

My understanding is that an employer cannot check qualifications directly with a university. I know this as was arranging tutoring for my children and the tutoring company said they cannot check qualifications, so they ask the tutors to present a lesson.

In any case a, 'background check,' is usually a DBS/Enhanced DBS check.

That's not true. I've tutored and been asked to show my uni qualifications.

OP - didn't any of your previous employers ask for proof of these 'results'? I have never been asked for proof of qualifications, even for two different government organisations.

Although it perhaps depends on which kind of job you’re applying for. If it’s a degree level qualification then it’s possible they could ask for all of your qualifications, but if only e.g. an admin or customer service role where “must be educated to GCSE level is almost a standard wording, then they’re less likely to be hung up on it, because they know that many applicants for those kinds of jobs haven’t gone beyond GCSE or a-level qualifications.

I'm amazed that no employer has asked to see your qualification certificates so far. I work in the public sector where we do require maths and English to GCSE level (or overseas equivalent) and ask to see certificates, and take our own copies, of all qualifications you've listed on your application, however long ago. We would withdraw a job offer if someone couldn't produce a certificate. I'm surprised more employers don't do this as a basic tbh.

GOOD LUCK OP

You are to be congratulated for having turned your life around.

I’m with you.

That's not true. I've tutored and been asked to show my uni qualifications.

Yes, of course - you have shown them, but my point is that an employer cannot call up a university directly and check up on a potential employee.

But more to the point the background checks are usually a DBS check

@16purplecolour16

We know a great deal more about how childhood trauma affects children and op has the evidence in the fact she wasn’t able to take GCSEs at a time when it was standard. This in itself is a tangible reason for ops behaviour. My best wishes to you. You deserve some compassion.

The issue isn’t the effect of childhood trauma on the OP’s education. I doubt anyone would deny that would be a major factor. It’s a shame that the school didn’t support the OP to get some qualifications at the time, knowing that she had been unable to take them, but that’s by the by now.

It also isn’t whether GCSEs are relevant for this job, or any other job that PPs have managed to get without GCSEs.

It’s about the fact that the OP lied on an application form, and the implications this would have with an employer in respect of her character. The fact that she’s held a job down for six years but in that time hasn’t pursued Maths and English qualifications that doesn’t look good.

And to the PP who said everything would be fine provided the OP hasn’t put GCSEs on her application for this job, my guess is that she has, hence her being worried about the pre-employment screening.

@Kingstonmumof1

Ime it's not whether the qualifications are relevant. I've seen someone marched out of the office several weeks into their employment due to having lied about their RE results in gcse. If it is going to have blowback, the positive is that in this case it should happen before starting the new job and presumably before handing in resignation to the old job. Good luck op, I would say it largely depends on the industry how deep they look into it and how much they take it seriously.

This is an example of a new starter who has lied so not relevant to OP.

Because @LadyV79 you have been employed for 6 years with presumably no issues, this scenario is vanishingly unlikely to happen to you, especially as you have a higher level qualification.

For now, put down your diploma as your highest level qualification- cross your fingers and hope it’s ok.

For the future.

1. Do not ‘come clean’ - your employers will be forced to discipline you and possibly dismiss you.

1. Remove the lies from your CV

1. Consider making the lies true - study and take your GCSEs - might be a really healthy way to heal too.

1. Get another higher qualification eg OU degree, which will make GCSEs totally irrelevant

1. Sorry but the only way to ‘clean’ your CV without getting caught will be to change employers - using an honest CV. However much you love your work, your safest bet is to start a job search.

Good luck

My husband has a colleague who lied about having a degree. Their employer found out. Colleague is still employed and faced no disciplinary action for lying.
Your Diploma will do fine for your highest qualification.

This is an example of a new starter who has lied so not relevant to OP.

But this is a new job for the OP, so she would be a new starter.

I wouldn't judge if someone had misrepresented their GCSEs but was competent at their job. I think its very different if someone lies about a degree or professional qualification. GCSE English and Maths are evidence of a basic level of skill - you are not holding yourself out as an expert.

Things can go wrong in childhood and people shouldn't have to carry that for the rest of their adult life. I had a parent die during my A levels which affected my results. I was fortunate enough to be able to take another set and get the grades for university that way but I can easily see how that might not be possible for some people.

Having said that get yourself some English and Maths qualifications so you don't have to go through this again.

@LadyV79 , be cautious with your diploma - check that it is a true diploma (I think there is a way to check this). As an example, I work in childcare, there are a lot of online childcare courses that claim to be level 3/diploma etc but aren't a complete qualification.

Hopefully this isn't the case with yours, but make sure you check it out x

@ilovemydogandmrobama2

OP, I think I know the company you have an offer from.

My understanding is that an employer cannot check qualifications directly with a university. I know this as was arranging tutoring for my children and the tutoring company said they cannot check qualifications, so they ask the tutors to present a lesson.

In any case a, 'background check,' is usually a DBS/Enhanced DBS check.

They need your consent to contact the University but I have had to provide that consent for a role (financial services). I had to fill out a consent form so they could approach the university directly. Mind you this was probably the most rigorous screening I'd been through normally they are happy with scans of your certificates.

I wouldn't judge if someone had misrepresented their GCSEs but was competent at their job. I think its very different if someone lies about a degree or professional qualification. GCSE English and Maths are evidence of a basic level of skill - you are not holding yourself out as an expert.

With respect, it’s irrelevant whether you would judge someone. What’s important is whether the prospective employer will uncover the OP’s falsehood and what they will do about it. None of us can second guess that.

And the OP didn’t “misrepresent” her GCSEs. She lied about them, on an job application and may even have signed a declaration at the end saying everything on the form is true and accurate. And of course GCSE maths and english are basic qualifications. Hence why most jobs these days require you to have them (or a functional skills equivalent).

@Womendohavevaginasnick

My husband has a colleague who lied about having a degree. Their employer found out. Colleague is still employed and faced no disciplinary action for lying. Your Diploma will do fine for your highest qualification.

You should never lie about qualifications equivalent to A level or higher especially degrees.

It is well-known people lie about them so they actually check with the institutions directly that you have them.

I worked for a company that wanted to reduce their head count and not pay redundancy packages if they could get away with it. So they went through every single person's CV with a fine tooth comb.

The funny thing was those they had earmarked to get rid off had told the truth, there as some of the people they wanted to keep they had difficulty verifying their qualifications. (In the end people had to ring up their former institution and request they gave the employer the details. Some thought it was a hoax that a foreign company was asking about them.)

There you go..you had an A level all this time and didn't know it

Good luck!