Moral Dilema regarding new jos!!!

[mj2000uk]

Hi all

Perhaps you can help me here, before I go on, I must state that I am on the truth side of this argument which is why I am tempted to gauge the reaction that you guys give!!!

Basically, I have worked in the supply of security equipment for ovewr 12 years and by my own admission, I am pretty damn good at it.

Right now I am applying for lots of higher management jobs and getting little success but I am of the opinion that if I get in front of an employer then I will sell myself well.

The reason I am not getting interviews, according to my wife, is that I only have GCSE qualifications on my CV. I have never taken A levels or been university educated.

My wife's opinion is that I can have all the right experience in the world but unless they see more studious qualifications on my CV then I wont get past the CV submission stage.

Her suggestion is to add a few A levels to my CV that dont actually exist. I dont like the idea but my wife is insistent!!

What do you think guys...worth the effort?

[Pea Pod]

http://www.cwj.co.uk/cms/catsection/falseclaim s.html

[Pea Pod]

I`m sorry that didn`t work properly. It was showing employers how to sue employees for making a false.

[aristotle]

Absolutely not. How will you explain when they ask for copies of the A Level certificates as many employers do now? You need to make your wealth of expertise and experience clear on the CV.

[Mrs_Pegasus]

Never lie on your CV. There was a high profile case recently with a Head of I think a NHS Trust was rumbled and he was sacked for lying about a qualification.

Your wife may be right but it could also be the CV that is letting you down. If you have a good enough layout then your qualifications should be showing on the second page, there should be no more than 2 pages. Your first page should show your name address and contact details - no date of birth, no marital status etc. You should then write a small punchy personal statement, to get the persons attention i.e. Experienced, self motivated individual with X amount of years of experience in ................ Followed by a work history in descending order.

Dont forget training you may have been on in your trade and then put your qualification.

Hopefully by then, it wont matter too much what GCSE you have, they will already be wanting to interview you.

[mlbt]

I agree to an extent that truth on a cv is of great importance, but when applying for jobs in this sort of sector, you are up against snot nosed students, brimming with quasi qualifications, and very little actual experience.
I know, because im one of them, but im a philosophy graduate, and take the stance that concepts such as right and wrong and good and bad dont really actually exist.
This isnt mumbo jumbo, but be warned... whilst i support the odd fib, you must always be prepared to take the consequences of your actions.
If you can, the grey areas are always an option......

[Memore]

I agree with earlier post I have worked in HR for 15 years at senior level and I can honestly say I never shortlist from qualifications but experience it must be your cv is not selling you as people want experience. they would not employ someone with an oxford degree and no experience over someone with no degree and lots of experience unless it was a training post however some people that people who have been in same job for years are not open to change not my view but i have heard that said

[Aprilis]

After 5 years of not working because I chose to stay at home and look after my child until she started school full time I applied for a job for which I had no experience and few formal qualifications at the time. I handled this by stating on my CV 'Subjects Studied' rather than listing qualifications. I condensed my employment history to keep my CV brief but made a point of playing up the aspects of my previous experience that I felt would be relevant to the job I had applied for. I made a few comments on why I applied for the job and what I had to offer. I also stated that what I lacked in experience I could more than make up for with enthusiasm.

There were two other applicants both more experienced and better qualified for the job but it was me that it was offered to. I was actually, for the first time ever, complemented on my CV and even after 4 years not at any time has anyone ever asked me what actual qualifications I had. If they assumed that I had GCSEs or whatever then so be it. Not at any point did I actually state that I did so there could never be any 'come back' on me.

I was in a similar position to the one you are in now, only I had no experience either. I considered telling fibs about qualifications but did not feel at all comfortable about it. Luckily the subjects I studied were all relevant to the job so I just listed them without giving any exam results. It was a long shot but better than getting caught out lying. It worked for me so maybe it's worth a try.

I recommend re-thinking your CV and drawing attention only to the previous experience that is relevant for the particular job you are applying for whilst keeping the rest concise.

GOOD LUCK!