Truth fears no questions.
October 24, 2008 9:28 PM Subscribe
Job application and educational requirements: I'm a high school dropout. For years I have been "faking it" on my resume and playing it as though I had actually graduated. No problem until now- I've finally been asked for proof!
FWIW, I'm female, early twenties, living in Ontario.
I applied online for a job in a call center a few days ago. Today, they called for an impromptu phone interview. She set me up with an appointment for testing/interviewing on Monday and inquired about my highest level of education. High school, I said, and was asked if I could please bring in my diploma or a transcript. I told her I may have trouble finding one (I actually just moved to town), and told her I would have my school send one, at worst. I don't usually lie, so thinking about this is eating away at me.
I have a three hour interview on Monday, and no diploma. They are not expecting that I will be able to bring it on Monday, but I will be expected to bring something eventually and tell them what steps I'm taking to do so. (more lies, ugh) The job offers will be made on the day of the testing, and training potentially starts the following Monday.
None of the options that I see are very appealing:
I could go in for the interview, and decline the offer, right? That would be the honest route. Wouldn't it be a bit odd for me to show up and decide all of a sudden I don't like it?
I could throw the testing. I'm a competitive perfectionist, so I think I'd have a hard time deliberately sabotaging my chances.
I could fudge a transcript. I realise that no one is going to tell me to do this, but I am considering it as an option. What could happen beyond losing the job after a few weeks?
I could put off getting them my transcript until I've had enough exposure to the job to say that I don't think it's suitable for me. A lot like the first option minus declining a job offer without getting a taste.
Is there anything I'm missing here? How do I get out of this tangled web of lie?
Are they really allowed to ask for this stuff? I mean, it would cost me money to get my transcript, if I had one to get. And seriously, is a high school education really that important? Seems to me that I have the brains, I just don't have the paper. If only I'd cared about the future when I dropped out, eh?
FWIW, I'm female, early twenties, living in Ontario.
I applied online for a job in a call center a few days ago. Today, they called for an impromptu phone interview. She set me up with an appointment for testing/interviewing on Monday and inquired about my highest level of education. High school, I said, and was asked if I could please bring in my diploma or a transcript. I told her I may have trouble finding one (I actually just moved to town), and told her I would have my school send one, at worst. I don't usually lie, so thinking about this is eating away at me.
I have a three hour interview on Monday, and no diploma. They are not expecting that I will be able to bring it on Monday, but I will be expected to bring something eventually and tell them what steps I'm taking to do so. (more lies, ugh) The job offers will be made on the day of the testing, and training potentially starts the following Monday.
None of the options that I see are very appealing:
I could go in for the interview, and decline the offer, right? That would be the honest route. Wouldn't it be a bit odd for me to show up and decide all of a sudden I don't like it?
I could throw the testing. I'm a competitive perfectionist, so I think I'd have a hard time deliberately sabotaging my chances.
I could fudge a transcript. I realise that no one is going to tell me to do this, but I am considering it as an option. What could happen beyond losing the job after a few weeks?
I could put off getting them my transcript until I've had enough exposure to the job to say that I don't think it's suitable for me. A lot like the first option minus declining a job offer without getting a taste.
Is there anything I'm missing here? How do I get out of this tangled web of lie?
Are they really allowed to ask for this stuff? I mean, it would cost me money to get my transcript, if I had one to get. And seriously, is a high school education really that important? Seems to me that I have the brains, I just don't have the paper. If only I'd cared about the future when I dropped out, eh?
This post was deleted for the following reason: removed at poster's request -- mathowie
Wow. I have never in a million years been required to prove a high school education - and for a call center? Unbelievable. You have 2 ways you can go with this - either just keep putting them off and hope that they don't feel really strongly about it and will eventually drop it - or you can just go get one of the plethora of other jobs that don't have such ridiculous requirements.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 9:47 PM on October 24, 2008
posted by The Light Fantastic at 9:47 PM on October 24, 2008
You may be committing fraud by trying to get the job through deceit. Call them and tell them you are no longer interested in the job. To do otherwise would increase the risk of facing criminal charges when your deception is discovered.
Under no circumstances should you try to get through this via forgery. If you think it's hard to find a job without a high school degree, just wait until you're convicted of criminal forgery (not to mention prison for up to ten years).
I am not a lawyer, but it's obvious these would be bad moves.
And seriously, is a high school education really that important?
I don't think this is the greatest place for a discussion on this. But to any employer, not hiring a liar will be more important than hiring a high school graduate. You can find another job that won't require a high school education or you can get a Canadian GED.
posted by grouse at 9:49 PM on October 24, 2008
Under no circumstances should you try to get through this via forgery. If you think it's hard to find a job without a high school degree, just wait until you're convicted of criminal forgery (not to mention prison for up to ten years).
I am not a lawyer, but it's obvious these would be bad moves.
And seriously, is a high school education really that important?
I don't think this is the greatest place for a discussion on this. But to any employer, not hiring a liar will be more important than hiring a high school graduate. You can find another job that won't require a high school education or you can get a Canadian GED.
posted by grouse at 9:49 PM on October 24, 2008
Part of me is really rooting for you and your fakery, you sound kind of smart! But, yeah, the world just keeps getting smaller, and people get found out. My friend, who went to an Ivy league school that was divided into dorms for all four years asked some guy who had claimed to go to that University which dorm he was in. . . "I don't remember." And this was before Facebook, etc. Imagine how screwed you could get. . . imagine how this could come back to haunt you. I agree about calling up and saying you're not interested.
posted by No New Diamonds Please at 9:49 PM on October 24, 2008
posted by No New Diamonds Please at 9:49 PM on October 24, 2008
Conversely, say you were homeschooled. Depending on the laws where you are (My experience is all American.) you may not have to provide any proof at all. If you do have to provide a "transcript" write up whatever you were doing at the time in an academic light.
Spent five hours a day watching TV becomes: conducted intensive market research for an independently directed study on modern Canadian culture. Possibly you were even doing academic-type things, which would be even easier- read your way though a library? Volunteer? Play a musical instrument?
posted by aint broke at 9:54 PM on October 24, 2008
Spent five hours a day watching TV becomes: conducted intensive market research for an independently directed study on modern Canadian culture. Possibly you were even doing academic-type things, which would be even easier- read your way though a library? Volunteer? Play a musical instrument?
posted by aint broke at 9:54 PM on October 24, 2008
Yes, they are certainly within their rights to ask you to produce proof of your qualifications or education.
How 'bout this? Show up for the interview, and tell them that you really want to work there and are totally qualified, but that you are working on your equivalency diploma. (This is not a lie; see below.) If the interview goes well, they may hire you anyway.
Sign up right away to get your equivalency. Not just for this job, but you need it anyway. If you have the brains, it may not be hard at all to get the paper.
I don't know where you live, but here's what my sister did: she dropped out, and, like you, was able to get jobs without ever showing proof. She ended up getting a job with a major bank, and worked her way up the ladder to more and more responsibility. After a few years, there was some reason she needed to update her records, and didn't have the paper. She leveled with her boss and HR, and they gave her time to take her G.E.D. test, and she still works there today many years later.
No matter what happens with this job... get the paper!
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 10:01 PM on October 24, 2008
How 'bout this? Show up for the interview, and tell them that you really want to work there and are totally qualified, but that you are working on your equivalency diploma. (This is not a lie; see below.) If the interview goes well, they may hire you anyway.
Sign up right away to get your equivalency. Not just for this job, but you need it anyway. If you have the brains, it may not be hard at all to get the paper.
I don't know where you live, but here's what my sister did: she dropped out, and, like you, was able to get jobs without ever showing proof. She ended up getting a job with a major bank, and worked her way up the ladder to more and more responsibility. After a few years, there was some reason she needed to update her records, and didn't have the paper. She leveled with her boss and HR, and they gave her time to take her G.E.D. test, and she still works there today many years later.
No matter what happens with this job... get the paper!
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 10:01 PM on October 24, 2008
And seriously, is a high school education really that important? Seems to me that I have the brains, I just don't have the paper.
finishing high school means you know how to see things through. why would they want to hire someone who can't finish things they start, when a) high school is so damn easy, b) there are so many ways to get a diploma like equivalency exams and c) they could easily hire someone who has a degree to do the grunt work you are applying for. so why should they hire you? they don't owe you a job just because you want it.
just call back and say you're not interested. and get in touch with the school system where you live and figure out what you have to do to get a GED or whatever the canadian equivalent is. it's easy to do and will make your life so much better, not just for work in the near future but also for some point in a possible future in which you might want to go to university.
posted by lia at 10:01 PM on October 24, 2008 [1 favorite]
finishing high school means you know how to see things through. why would they want to hire someone who can't finish things they start, when a) high school is so damn easy, b) there are so many ways to get a diploma like equivalency exams and c) they could easily hire someone who has a degree to do the grunt work you are applying for. so why should they hire you? they don't owe you a job just because you want it.
just call back and say you're not interested. and get in touch with the school system where you live and figure out what you have to do to get a GED or whatever the canadian equivalent is. it's easy to do and will make your life so much better, not just for work in the near future but also for some point in a possible future in which you might want to go to university.
posted by lia at 10:01 PM on October 24, 2008 [1 favorite]
Good lord, three hours? For a CALL CENTER? I had an ex who dropped of high school who could easily get a job at one without a diploma.
But that said, yeah, you're gonna have to turn this job down. Either that or magically get a GED (do they have those in Canada?) before the interview.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:05 PM on October 24, 2008
But that said, yeah, you're gonna have to turn this job down. Either that or magically get a GED (do they have those in Canada?) before the interview.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:05 PM on October 24, 2008
fake it till you make it.
C'mon fraud?! Give me a break.
Just go in, do the test and see what happens.
The diploma question is simply a matter of screening people out. You are what 5or 6 years out of high school, you'll do fine, and they won't ask again..... but if they do....put them off, or find a new job. It is a call centre!
posted by dripped at 10:26 PM on October 24, 2008
C'mon fraud?! Give me a break.
Just go in, do the test and see what happens.
The diploma question is simply a matter of screening people out. You are what 5or 6 years out of high school, you'll do fine, and they won't ask again..... but if they do....put them off, or find a new job. It is a call centre!
posted by dripped at 10:26 PM on October 24, 2008
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Just call them up and say you're not interested. Don't go to the interview. Just call back and turn it down.
(By the way, faking a transcript could be construed as fraud. This is even worse than perjury.)
posted by Netzapper at 9:42 PM on October 24, 2008