I work in sales.
3 years ago I was working with a company that wanted to hire me. We made it to the third interview when the manager asked me something about my degree. (at this point I forget the exact question) I had to correct him because I didn’t have one. Apparently they thought I did, when I corrected him, he cut the interview short and told me they only hired people with degrees.
I was pretty devastated, especially because everyone else I had met with (3 people) thought I was perfect for the job. I confided in a few older professionals that suggested I put it on my resume and make them ask me. So from that point forward I started putting that I had a degree on my resume.
Now let me clearify. I went to college out of highschool (state school) went for 3.5 years (technically completed 3 full years of college) before some personal issues as well as outside factors called for me to come closer to home. I transferred to a university who told me that ALL of my shit would transfer. I did, but 1year of my credits didn’t, and it was too late, I already left my first school, got a job, and moved…I was stuck at the new U.
I went to school nights and worked during the day for 4 years. (Took 1 year in between off to complete the fire academy and emt requirements).
With 18 credits left I had to make a decision. The company I was working for wanted to groom me to take over. (small-midsize construction company with room to grow) They didn’t care that I didn’t have my degree and were more worried about the fact that I had to take time out of my work days for school.
After consideration I made the decision to stop going to college. To be perfectly honest I was boarderline broke, student loans up the ass, and the new position was the light at the end of my tunnel…or so I thought.
I’ve mentioned this before a long time ago, but things went south with that company. Basic end of it was that it was a family owned company (two brothers) one wanted me to take over, the other ended up changing his mind and forced sale. I obv did not have the money/backing and had to move forward from the company.
When I moved forward 3 years ago, after everything happened with the misunderstanding, I changed my resume. I was shortly hired afterword by another company. The hiring manager asked me if I had a degree, I said yes, and he couldn’t have cared less after that.
Last year my company was bought out and the new management cut out entire divisions, which led to the job being turned into seasonal. We’re starting up again soon and as I was going through the re-entry crap I found out that my commission package was going to be changing as well other things.
I decided to start looking for another job, I’ve met with a staffing agency and even have had some interviews. And I’ve been operating under the guise that I do have a college degree. Yesterday when I met with the staffing agency they asked if I had a degree, and I said yes. Today during an interview I was told that there would be a background check done if I made it to the final stages, Including a degree check.
So my ultimate questions for fellow Tnationers are:
Has anyone ever lied about having a degree to get a job?
Should I continue on with how I’m presenting myself and force them to ask then verify?
Do I tell the staffing agency that I don’t have one too?