Lied about high school diploma background check

Lieing About Your Diploma

Lying is part of human nature, and many people lie regardless of their status in their life. While some might be white lies and innocent enough, others can have dangerous and far-reaching consequences.

Some people looking for a job might be tempted to take drastic measures to qualify for a position. One way to do that is to falsify their educational achievement.

Can you lie about having a high school diploma? Technically speaking, you can’t lie because, eventually, your employer will find out that you falsified your educational records. It might be wise to not lie about it and, instead, be straightforward about it.

In this article, you will learn about the repercussions you will face if you lie about having a high school degree whenever you are applying for a job.

Alarming Rate of False Academic History

Falsified academic records are one of the most common problems employers face. Although it might not be newsworthy, education exaggerations remain pretty standard.

According to surveys, 58% of hiring managers reported falsified information on applicants’ resumes.

As it turns out, this is one of the most common lies companies face when hiring an applicant. False academic histories accounted for 33% of lies found in applicants’ applications and resumes.

Common Education Exaggerations

While most job seekers do not lie about their education, exaggerating academic attainment is common for many applicants. This is why education verification is one of the standard services offered to employers.

One of the most common discrepancies you can find across candidates is that they claim a degree that they did not finish.

They may have completed 3 or 4 years of the course towards their degree but did not take some summer courses or failed courses they needed to retake.

However, when it comes to their highest educational attainment, they will list a degree.

Here are some other common education discrepancies and exaggerations that many candidates are guilty of:

• Claiming that they have a high school diploma when a GED was obtained. 
• Listing a higher GPA than the GPA obtained.
• Claiming that they have an associate’s degree when they only finished a technical diploma or certificate.
• Providing a high school diploma obtained from a non-accredited school.

Why People Lie About Their Education

There are many reasons why an individual lies about their educational background. Unfortunately, many candidates looking for a job think that exaggerating or falsifying their education is worth the risk.

Many job seekers know that their resumes are run through an automated system that filters out applicants who do not meet the employer’s requirements.

Even if a hiring manager reviews their resume, that resume will end up in the recycling bin if it does not hit the mark.

Mediocracy won’t cut it when thousands of job seekers are out there for one position.

As a result, many feel the pressure, and lying about their education is the key to getting that job.

Aside from that, plenty of resources all over the internet gives these people the idea of embellishing their resumes to get an interview.

They assume that they can correct any misleading information on their resume once they are given a chance.

Interestingly, many candidates who exaggerate their information will often correct it during background checks.

How Lying Can Affect Your Career

Maybe you can get through that lie and eventually get hired. You will relax and show your bosses how good you can be without a diploma or degree. But not so fast.

There are standard background checks that will occur even if you are hired. This will also be a recurring theme if you are in line for a promotion.

You won’t get off the hook quickly, and your lies will haunt you for the rest of your career.

After years of hard work, along with building a good reputation in your field, the last thing you want is to be discovered and branded as a fraud.

Not only that, but you will lose your job, and this will be permanently marked in your employment record.

How Lying Can Hurt Your Chances of Getting a Job

It is not a good idea to lie. For instance, if you lie about having a high school diploma and apply for a job, you know that the odds will never be in your favor.

Nowadays, plenty of employers do background checks, and some companies even hire professional firms to do it for them.

These firms can easily spot any of your lies using just your personal information.

Let’s put it this way: You applied for a job, and you mentioned that you have a high school diploma, but in reality, you don’t.

You are waiting for a job offer, but the firm you are applying to already ran some background checks.

Some employers give their applicants a chance to explain themselves, but most will see this lie as evidence of your lack of trustworthiness and character.

These are the qualities they prefer not to take a risk on.

Sadly, this happens a lot in real life. Some candidates even get hired, then hear that the company has decided to go with someone who is a better match the next day.

If this has happened to you, you have a lie on your resume, whether on the education part or something else.

The Best Thing to Do Instead of Lying

It is pretty simple: Do not lie about having any education you don’t have.

This is a simple thing to do to avoid any repercussions you will experience if you lie on your resume or about other stuff.

If you build your personal life or career on a shaky foundation, you can bet that your future will be shaky as well. Here are among the best things to do to get a better head start:

Finish What You Started

This might be the best time to go back to school and finish what you started. School might be costly now, but it will not get any cheaper.

You can visit your local colleges and ask whether they offer high-quality online education.

It is also essential to ask if they offer scholarships or other means of financial help. Research everything about the school and beware of high-cost loans.

Find Some Part-Time Programs

If you can’t fully commit to a full-time schedule, you can always opt for part-time programs that work with your schedule.

Some employers even help to pay for this. Some graduate schools have part-time programs for people working and studying at the same time.

This is an excellent opportunity to indicate that on your resume. It might be a big plus for some hiring managers who are still pursuing a degree.

Take One Course at a Time

Even taking one course on the career path you want to travel can add some zing to your overall educational attainment.

You might not finish the course before the interview, but it is still good to include it in your interview processes.

This can also open up doors through connections the school might have. You should check state schools or community colleges because they have lower tuition fees.

Do Some Volunteer Work

There might be times when you can’t go back to school and, therefore, find doors closed because of your lack of educational attainment.

In this case, you should rely on networking through volunteer work with organizations in the field.

You can also join job search support groups. Networking is an ideal way to get through those closed doors. Please don’t be shy about it.

Conclusion

Lying won’t do you any good. It will just bring you failure and trouble. Always remember that you will have plenty of years of work and job hunting to do.

The choice you make now might not be as harmless and straightforward as you think it is, and it can come back to haunt you for the rest of your career. Think twice before you sugarcoat your resume with some lie sweeteners. They can become sour at any time.