Lying about A-levels?

I'm sure there are plenty of people in a similar position to me. I've got good GCSE's (all A's and B's) but completely neglected my A-levels (CCE :mad:

), I think some part of me thought that because my GCSE's were over I felt like I didn't have to work anymore, but that is not the issue right now. I'm going to be graduating from uni with most likely a 2.1, but possibly a 1st. Either way, I think this shows great improvement on my A-levels. However, I am having a tough time finding a decent job and all the employers I have contacted whom rejected me have informed me that it was because of my A-levels (even prior to an interview).

I know I am far more competent than my final A-level results - it was mainly my AS-levels that did the damage as in my actual A2 exams I got ABC, still with little effort though (so could have done even better godammit!!). My CV is pretty solid with plenty of work experience (including a work placement), loads of voluntary work (national and international, short term and long term), plenty of decent (and real!) hobbies instead of the usual 'socialising' and 'travelling', loads of international experience (work experience, semester studying overseas, etc...), and some great references.

My A-levels prevent me from even applying to most of the jobs I would like to go for as they require 280 UCAS points, however, I feel as though if I got to the interview stage I would perform well and compare to, if not outperform, the other applicants. Up until now I have never considered it as a real option as I have not seen the need to tread on such fragile ground, but I am tempted to fib about my A-level results to reach the 280 points required, just to ensure that I get past the initial screening. The rest of my CV is 100% honest and supposedly a very high percentage of CV's contains some sort of lie, so part of me feels like it is acceptable, but I would be lying about a very integral part of the CV.

I am morally a bit caught up in this, I feel that judging me purely on my A-levels is unfair, but I also feel that lying about my A-levels is unfair to those candidates who really do posess the A-levels. At the end of the day I feel the job should go to the person who is more appropriate for the job. In my case the A-levels were 5 years ago (gap year and 4 year sandwich course) and I have had a somewhat delayed academic development and have so much more to me than my A-levels.

At this stage I do not feel that taking time off to improve on my A-levels is constructive or realistic. Furthermore, many employers state that A-levels must have been attained 'at first sitting' or something similar. Initially I intend to work for 1-2 years and then follow up my BSc with a business related masters which should help plead my case. So I guess my options right now are:

1) Take a shoddy job for 12 months that will not use my full potential and I may be earning less than I could.
2) Lie about my A-levels to get a good job and face the potential ramifications.
3) I am sure you people out there can think of others, let me know...

I would just like people's views as to what they think the right thing to do is. Further if anyone knows the technical side of things, i.e. are employers likely to check A-levels? If so, at what stage? etc... If I were to lie I would feel dutybound to inform my employer at an appropriate stage so knowing these things would be useful.

Many thanks for reading this far. :smile:

Scroll to see replies

Reply 20

mike_freegan

456789

Yeah try contacting HR by telephone instead of trying online forms

Have tried this. Invariably get referred to the online recruitment process where there are 100 people applying who do meet the criteria.

Reply 21

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

mike_freegan

Do you think maybe cutting the grades off my CV and just leaving the subject title as suggested above might be a better idea?

Rather than

2001-06 Newtown High School, London
A level Maths (C), Economics (D) and Geography (D)

just put

2001-06 Newtown High School, London
A level Maths, Economics and Geography

If the rest of your CV is strong then unless they have an in-house scoring sheet they are using, they may well overlook the absence of grades completely. If they are using a scoring system, at least you have made a strong impression before they come back and ask for grades.

There are always going to be some situations where you are disadvantaged by your A level grades. However, don't dwell on the negatives, learn to build on the positives and be constructive about what you have got to offer.

Reply 22

mike_freegan

If anyone is interested:

A-Levels removed from CV as suggested above. Since then I've had a job offer and got another interview. Can't recommend enough.

Reply 23

ThePants999

Mike - if all doesn't go well and you're looking for another alternative, one option possibly worth considering is retaking your A-levels. Now you've been through university you should find them somewhat easy!

Reply 24

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

ThePants999

This is very rarely worth doing. You have to look closely at why the employer is asking for A levels in addition to a degree. It certainly isn't as a check of current academic capacity, because (the vast majority of) degrees are harder than A levels. Companies use it as either a filter, or as an indication of continuous academic improvement. In either case, retaking A levels doesn't alter your situation, the filterers are still likely to filter you out by switching to the academic progression reason. They are obviously massively over-subscribed after all.

A levels are exams aimed at 17/18 year olds, taking them at different ages/stages of life puts them into a different perspective for employers. The fact that you should find them somewhat easy after uni speaks for itself, employers know that as well!

Reply 25

meraphox

totally irrelevant but i was watching a tv series 'suits' and it is about this young man who has an eidetic memory. He gets a job at a law firm lying about going to harvard, later in the series he sees that a man that had lied about his grades and he gets sued by their firm for all the of the money he earned over his lifetime.

Google brought me here while i was looking for my maths results and this story just kinda popped up in my head.

Have you got a good job now? and what did you do in the end?

hope everything worked out for you.

Reply 26

geetar

Lying on your CV? That's a paddlin'.

Also, old thread is old, etc, etc.

Reply 27

arbaaz

don't fib about the a levels!
edit: just realized this is an old thread!

Reply 28

midnightL

Original post

by karlos85

I know what the stages are, you may lie about your A-levels in the application form and you may get to interview. Provided you are good enough you will even be made an offer but I would not recommend it. You have to provide certificates before you actually start work, for your degree and your A-Levels. When you are asked and you lie about it you have ruined your chances for ever working for that company.

I'm sorry to say you just need to accept you will not get straight into what you want (it was hard for me to accept this too) If you are as good as you think, get a lower paid job and prove yourself.