*As told to Kally by someone who wishes to be anonymous
Every single moment I lived in fear. I hate it whenever I received an email from HR and I wouldn’t open it until days later. What do I have to fear so much? I lied in my application to get this job.
It came as a coincidence that one of my friends recommended me to his company to join a newly vacant position as a line supervisor. I wasn’t happy at my old company as there weren’t many opportunities for growth. The last straw was when my company started withholding everyone’s bonus because business ain’t looking good. My good friend knowing this asked me to try for an interview in his company. I was pretty reluctant because I don’t like change and I don’t adapt well to changes. But I was persuaded to have a chat with his boss and I did, over one luncheon at a cafe near his company.
Immediately, after the luncheon, I was offered a position of line supervisor. It is a dream job with the kind of money that will benefit my family greatly. The pay is, in fact, doubled what I was getting. Happily, I agree with the position and tender my resignation at the old office. On the day that I reported to work, Jenny from HR called me into her office and asked me to fill up the routine application form. As I was filling it up, she casually mentioned that the way I was interviewed wasn’t the usual practice hence she still has to do my background check whilst I’m working in the company. I didn’t think much of her ramblings until she suddenly asked what university I graduated from. I started to break in sweat, I didn’t realize that this job requires a degree! I couldn’t go back to my old job now if this company doesn’t want me!
By some grace, she was called away by another colleague of hers to attend to some emergency and the question was forgotten. I quickly filled up the application form with my ‘fake’ university education and submit to her.
I asked my friend, the one who recommended the job to me. He wasn’t aware of my education background, after all how many of your friends are? Most will just assume you have a degree or something especially if they didn’t go to school with you or wasn’t part of your early years. My family did not have the money to send me to university and I did not have the brains to score enough for a scholarship. I applied for financial assistance but even after the subsidies, the fees are still too high for me to cover with working two jobs. So I gave up and enter the workforce early.
“Heck, I bet even the janitor in our company has a degree.” Came the reply from my friend.
I’ve been working with the company for almost a year now. I love my job and I’m in charge of a team of 24 young and bright graduates. My results are extremely good and my colleagues love me. What more can I ask for in a job? Just last month, my boss promised me a promotion down in 2 years time if I continue to produce the same results. I am ecstatic but I am also dreading the day they call my bluff.
I don’t know why the HR did not find anything amiss when they did the background check on me. In fact, nobody requested that I submit copies of my education certificates. Maybe I’m plain lucky. Maybe I’m missed out by HR.
I’m so stressed that one day I’ll be asked to leave or worse, sued by my company to pay back all the previous paid salary. I’m not sure I have the financial means to do that.
I can only hope that day will never come….
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MiddleMe 
Oh, scary!
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I know, right….
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Would you be surprised to know you are not alone in that ‘fear’? In my years spent as an office admid./paralegal, many were hired on the false premise of having the required credentials. Who could an education?! Still many, would be the correct answer. If you look good In a skirt … your hired, and you learn as you go!
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*afford
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Wow! Thanks for sharing your experiences. It’s shows how we are easily believe someone if they carried themselves well.
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Oh my. It’s hard to live to with that fear with you all the time. Maybe you can tell them the truth yourself.
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Good advice. Thanks for sharing it.
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It sounds like a sticky position that you are in. Very brave of you to share. Perhaps the job really doesn’t require a university degree in the first place, and your boss was perhaps looking for someone with experience and who could do the role. In the first place, the way you were hired wasn’t the conventional way. Perhaps others at your work place, maybe even those of similar level, do not have a degree. From your luncheon with him, it didn’t sound like he was pressing you for an educational qualification.
Telling something false to HR is indeed a scary thing especially on employment paperwork which you are signing away as true and correct. Wishing you all the best.
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Mabel. I’m sure it will be useful to him.
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Well, I would go online…google for(free) online courses and studies applicable to the job and make sure I retrieved certificates after all. Keeping my fingers crossed that meanwhile nobody asks and when finished the course, sigh deeply and tell the truth, but have the necessary diploma’s in hand also.
OR
Tell the truth and since you are doing so well, in one breath tell you are willing to study for the necessary diploma’s.
Good luck !
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Always pursuing to upgrade yourself! I love your advice. Very practical. I think the technology and internet have open up so many online courses and many of them free or at little cost, it is hardly an excuse not to do one. I just completed one course so taking a break before I do another one. So many to choose!
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I know, right! Sometimes, I even have to tell myself to take that break! Could go on for ever, haha
(Enjoying your break, I hope?!?!)
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Can’t ask for more from my break, by the pool with my mojito. For once, I’m not one of the mothers running after their kids by the pool. The children’s shrieks and laughter made me miss the little diva but I’m secretly and happily immersed in my Me Time. Haha.
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Well deserved, dear Kally. Enjoy the rest of the time 🙂 Oh, since you are on your break checking comments…did you check the spelling/grammar of my article? If not, I will do it myself and resend it to you asap.
XxX
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Hi Patty, all is well on your article. I did some minor checks myself before I went on my holiday. Don’t worry about grammar. The beauty of writing is that it is the content that touches souls and not the technicality of how your spelling.
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Thanks Kally! And yes… I know, but I think ‘perfectionist’ isn’t unfamiliar to you either, right? hahaha Send some sunshine over to Europe, please 😉
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Haha. We are very much alike! It’s raining all days here as well. The locals says it is because of the global climate changes and the hurricane affecting the weather globally.
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Oh no! Well, massages and manicures are in order then, I think? 🙂
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Totally. I did a lot of sleep in as well. Catching up all my lost winks.
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If they are willing to dismiss the services of a top performer due to some technical degree requirement, they will be hurting their bottom line. As long as you remain a top performer, they will be willing to overlook your administrative shortcoming. On the other hand, in the meantime, one should prepare for a contingency should the eventuality ever rear its head.
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Thanks for sharing a good point! I don’t believe paper qualifications means a good employee.
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Most companies care about one thing, performance. I would submit, if this company dismisses a good performer because of a mere technicality, they don’t deserve to employ your services. Besides, the documented complaints of Fortune five-hundred companies concerning college graduate applicants are legion, claiming a great majority aren’t capable of reading or writing at even remedial levels, much less possessing the requisite psychological wherewithal to handle performing in a high pressure work environment.
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
HAVE BEEN THERE! GREAT DISCUSSION.
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Thanks a lot, Jonathan!
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I can sympathize, but Mabel has it right. You were hired at the interview because you obviously have what it takes. Your friend’s recommendation probably helped too. It would be bad if they discover you lied on the application, but you had the job already at that point. The background check was a scan of the criminal justice system looking for worse things than lying on the application. They didn’t bother to verify your degree because it wasn’t necessary to the job, so as it is, they will probably never discover that you lied. It is not like you are a doctor, lawyer, or university professor lying about a more essential degree. If it does get found out and you have proven to be a productive employee, they may let you off the hook with a verbal warning and keep you in your job. My advice is, don’t worry about it, and never tell that lie again.
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That’s an awesome advice. Thank you for sharing that. I’m pretty sure whoever is in the same position, reading this will feel instantly better about the situation.
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