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.

@LightasaBreeze

Some job do want to see certificates as PP says, one wanted to see my tatty O level ones from 1974. Usually this is at interview time

I hope I never have to produce my 1978 O level certificates! Or A levels. I wouldn't have a clue about where they are!

I work in the public sector, and have had to provide evidence of qualifications, including GCSEs, for every job I've ever had most of which required enhanced DBS as well. If my employer found someone had lied about their qualifications, even the grades let alone their existence, they would be dismissed.

@Warmduscher you don't know if ChazsBrilliantAttitude is an employer or does interviews.

I've interviewed quite a few people for roles and while I don't care about their academic qualifications, I've caught people lying about hobbies and professional qualifications.

They tend to be the people who on paper look OK but when you talk to them you find there are holes in their work experience, so you ask about the hobbies and/or professional qualifications they have put down.

Absolutely howling at @0None0 - brilliant . Yeah op - they'll probably put you in prison or something, with all the others who fibbed on a cv about GCSEs.

You'll be fine. No one cares about gcses you didn't take 25 off years ago. Put your highest qualification down now and then don't think about it again

You'll be fine. No one cares about gcses you didn't take 25 off years ago
Please will posters stop saying this. They use this as a security risk. Dh had to supply his cse result from 1978!!.

[quote RedMarauder]**@Warmduscher* you don't know if ChazsBrilliantAttitude* is an employer or does interviews.

I've interviewed quite a few people for roles and while I don't care about their academic qualifications, I've caught people lying about hobbies and professional qualifications.

They tend to be the people who on paper look OK but when you talk to them you find there are holes in their work experience, so you ask about the hobbies and/or professional qualifications they have put down.[/quote]
For sure - we’re all anonymous on here.

But what’s relevant is what the OP’s potential employer will do, not what anyone else would do.

For example another PP said she knows someone who lied about having a degree and wasn’t fired, while another knows of someone fired for lying about one GCSE.

So while it may be interesting anecdotally to hear about people lying and getting away with it, it’s of no help to the OP, who may not.

@Warmduscher and none of us know what the OP potential employer will do as even if we have worked for them as we haven't lied in our applications (or have but won't admit it in case we are recognised).

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.

Fair point - I haven't had to produce evidence of any of my qualifications, but they weren't relevant to the role.

What happened to laqueen’s husband who was busted for lying about his degree thanks to her posts on here? #oldschool shout out

[quote RedMarauder]@Warmduscher and none of us know what the OP potential employer will do as even if we have worked for them as we haven't lied in our applications (or have but won't admit it in case we are recognised).[/quote]
Exactly, which is why advice about withdrawing her application and enrolling on a course to get her maths and English qualifications is far more useful than telling her anecdotes about other people who lied and got away with it.

My problem (before I did my - very mature degree) was my o level/gcse equivalent was from overseas & wasn't on their lists of what they were equivalent to - so I landed up doing entry tests (which I passed)
I like the answer pp suggested - I studied up to GCSE & I have a level 3 diploma in. (By the by, most diplomas level 3 require either GCSE or - as I said numeracy/literacy level 2 which IS the equivalent of c grades by the way)

@AtillatheHun

What happened to laqueen’s husband who was busted for lying about his degree thanks to her posts on here? #oldschool shout out

Oh no-I remember her! Did he lie that he had a degree when he hadn’t?!

For those saying to do GCSE s it's not that easy.
She might be able to do English and Maths free at a local college but otherwise it will be very expensive.
I wouldn't be able to produce my certificates from the late 80s.

Thanks everyone for your input, good and bad.

The level 3 Diploma I have turns out not to be a level 3 at all, yet at the time I KNOW it was (I did it in 2013) so Im so confused but unable to use the Diploma as a highest qualification. The place who did this Diploma obviously said it was a lvl 3 when it wasnt and have since changed it.

I've decided not to continue with the lie on my CV and have come clean to my potential employer with an explanation. I know my job offer will most likely get revoked but I couldnt continue with my lie.

I dont know what Im going to do going forward regarding obtaining qualifications but Im really upset right now as I know Ive lost a job I really wanted. I know some might say its my own fault, I guess it is, but I only wanted employment and to better myself but... karma and all that.

Thanks again for all of your help, its appreciated.

What does the diploma actually say then if you're now certain it's not level 3?

Well done on your admission, op, I think it was very brave. With luck, your employer won't make an issue of it and instead take into account your performance and reputation.

Although I disagree with lying on cvs etc, I don't believe all lies about qualifications are equal and would hope your employer shows understanding and compassion.

Look into adult education courses through your local authority and speak to admissions people there so you can plug the gap in your history and relieve yourself of the fear of having to go through this again.

Whatever happens next, op, you will be ok. You have long proven your capabilities and any consequences will be a set back, yes, but one you can overcome. Please stop beating yourself up

I wouldn't give up on the Diploma just yet op.
I'd follow it up with an email or a phone call to the online place.

I've seen this before. A course one employee did has certain topics, then they change, is at one level then not, is affiliated with some governing body, then isn't.

I'd still chase. And politely say "No. In 1996 it was xxx and I signed up to abc."

Just because they changed it in 1998 doesn't mean yours is devalued.

I wouldn't let this go.

The Diploma doesnt have a level on it. I lost it for a while but found it today but know the website stated level 3 thats why I stated level 3 on my CV, I wouldnt lie about that as I was positive it was a level 3.

Thank you @TaraR2020, thats very kind of you. Its hard not to beat myself up as I know Ive been stupid, its come back to bite me on the arse but I only did it with good intensions. I may look into further education but if it cost a lot of money I wont be able to but we will see.

Thanks again :)

@Oblomov21

I wouldn't give up on the Diploma just yet op. I'd follow it up with an email or a phone call to the online place.

I've seen this before. A course one employee did has certain topics, then they change, is at one level then not, is affiliated with some governing body, then isn't.

I'd still chase. And politely say "No. In 1996 it was xxx and I signed up to abc."

Just because they changed it in 1998 doesn't mean yours is devalued.

I wouldn't let this go.

Thank you, I did email the site I did the course on asking them why it was a level 3 now its not and I got a generic reply not addressing my question so I gave up.

Im defeated at this point, I know I have to let this job go and just be honest, sadly.

No no no. Don't give up OP.

You may be rundown, fed up and dispirited about it now, but give it another few days or whenever you're ready and follow up on that email.

be tenacious my husband says I'm like a pitbull once I bite I don't let go

this is very important and you deserve it. so when you've got the energy, follow the email up again and say no this is the way is.

I am gobsmacked, I left school in 1991, have worked for several large organisations in Technology. I work for a large institution now with security clearance and have never been asked to produce my GCSE certificates nor are they on my CV. I can't believe people are regularly asked to produce them. I have no idea where mine are, if I ever had them.

Don't give up OP.

So you don't know it's not a level 3 at all then? Seriously why would you just give up? It might well be a level 3 for all you know. Certificates often didn't have the level on back in the day. And names of awards change so just because today something called a Diploma at that place is now a level 2(?) doesn't mean it was when you did it.

Please don't be so defeatist!

I’d just put the level 3 qualification and hope for the best.

@Suzi888

I’d just put the level 3 qualification and hope for the best.

Well yes same. Make it their problem to ascertain otherwise, not OP's problem.

Hoping you are ok op.
Also hoping your current job is safe.
You should, if need be, be able to do gcse or functional skills free at a local college. Evening class may be. I wish you the best of luck.