College transcripts and job interviews

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by SJEditor, Apr 24, 2003.

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  1. SJEditor

    SJEditor New Member

    I've seen much discussion about specific majors and concentrations that are (or are not) listed on diplomas and transcripts -- with the writer generally concerned about how an employer will value the major.
    While in no way devaluing the need for concern about how majors are listed, I'm wondering how common it is for employers to request to see college transcripts.
    Since entering the adult work world (read "full-time professional employment") I've been hired by six companies and none have asked to see a college transcript. In fact, only one has ever asked to see a copy of my BA diploma. All the jobs listed the degree among their requirements and half were management positions (in the field of media and publishing).
    So is this general concern about transcripts and job interviews a bit overstated, or have I been dodging bullets?
    Thanks,
    Dan
     
  2. roysavia

    roysavia New Member

    Dan,
    Actually this is not unusual. I have never been asked to produce transcripts or dipomas. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed by employers, schools and government. Most Human Resources departments will call references only. They won't ask for transcripts or copies of diplomas (although I believe this practice is changing).

    Depending on the type of job you are applying for, some employers will not consider your major. If you're applying for a position as a financial analyst, your prospective employer may look for accounting and finance majors. On the other hand, if you're employer happens to be a non-profit, government or community services organization, then a general (liberal arts) degree will do (having worked in government for more than 11 years - this seems to be the norm).

    Employers who do not request transcripts run the risk of hiring someone with a fake degree. Check out the thread on John Davy who falsified his credentials. There are thousands of people who have false credentials and use these to compete with those who have legitimate degrees.
    regards............
     
  3. mdg1775

    mdg1775 New Member

    Govt. Jobs

    I think that any government agency that hires or interviews you based on educational qualifications will request an official copy of your transcripts. Also, jobs that require any type of security/background check...will verify what is put on the resume' or application by contacting the schools to determine if what was disclosed was truthful or not. In this day and age, many companies are starting to have private security firms screen applicants and it will come to light if something that you claim that can be positively verified, such as education/major/school etc. turns out to be falsely or incorrectly misrepresented.

    Regards,

    Mike
    AA-Burlington County College, NJ
    BA-TESC
    MSAS-Southwest Missouri State Univ.
     
  4. 9Chris

    9Chris New Member

    Every job I have had in the Banking Industry has asked for Collge transcripts or a copy of my diploma. Since I had only worked in that field I thought it was normal.

    The company I work for now didn't even ask.
     
  5. roysavia

    roysavia New Member

    Re: Govt. Jobs


    Not aways the case. I work as a consultant for the federal government and nobody as ever asked me for transcripts or diplomas. I could have very easily falsified my credentials.
    However, I do agree with you. During the past few years the government has taken steps to screen prospective employees and prevent misrepresentation.
     
  6. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    In my case no employer has ever asked to see transcripts or diplomas. That includes government agencies. What they did do was directly contact the school and verified the award of the degree by phone.

    To address Roy's concern, it might not look to the applicant like they are verifying your information, but they often are without your knowledge. If you look at the small print on your job application, you are usually giving them permission to contact your schools and previous employers.
     
  7. oxpecker

    oxpecker New Member

    At the company for which I work (a Fortune 500 -- actually a "Fortune 20" if they had such a thing), we always review transcripts as part of the recruiting process. Transcripts are usually very revealing about a person's focus, and academic strengths and weaknesses. Even in this age of grade inflation. The transcripts generally need to be sent directly from the degree-granting University, at least for U.S. institutions. I have never seen anyone ask to see a diploma, though it's possible that this is being done by HR before new employees start work.
     
  8. mark5022

    mark5022 New Member

    Doctor without an MD

    We had a plastic surgion in our town who practiced for over 2 years with complaint after complaint being filed about his performance. Someone finally sued him and the hospital he worked at for malpractice only to find out he was an EMT dropout who never attended any medical school. Imagine what the guy who hired him is facing.

    AAS Sullivan University
    BS Sullivan University (currently working on)
     
  9. roysavia

    roysavia New Member


    The banking industry is a different animal. The banks have been defrauded of millions of dollars. They've had no choice but to clamp down on their hiring practices and policies. Someone who is hired by a bank must undergo extensive investigation. If they find out that you have falsified your credentials...you can kiss your job good bye.
     
  10. BobC

    BobC New Member

    My last few jobs have all hired background check agencies and even ran a credit report on me prior to giving me an offer. And these were just average corporate companies non Fortune 1000. In my job hunting experience 100% of my employers past and current confirmed EVERYTHING on my resume.
     
  11. SJEditor

    SJEditor New Member

    I've also had companies run credit reports and contact all former employers (and I'm guessing they also contacted schools to verify degrees), but the transcript deal is a new one.

    I suppose I could see some use if I were hiring someone right out of school, but at a certain point it seems a bit silly to be asking someone why they received only a C+ in a class they took 12 years ago. At some point in a career it would probably be more applicable to ask to see past employers' performance reviews.

    Of course in my industry we review a candidate's portfolio and then require editing and/or publication design tests to make sure they aren't taking credit for someone else's work -- so maybe the transcript requirement is actually less intrusive.
     
  12. Dennis Ruhl

    Dennis Ruhl member

    Two community colleges where I taught part-time asked for transcripts.

    The only two private industry jobs expecting me to be educated did not ask for transcripts.

    The 100 year old guy who administered the education program for an accounting association took a photocopy of my degree. Another accounting association just wanted transcripts.

    Seems to vary a lot.
     
  13. Andy Borchers

    Andy Borchers New Member

    Dan - I have to agree. Academic jobs that I've presued have wanted transcripts (typically to file for subsequent review by accreditors). Non-academic positions typically don't ask.

    However, a very simple review check is to call any school that an applicant claims to have a degree from. Every school I know treats such information as "directory" information and will answer the question "Does Joe Smith hold a BA from your institution?". Schools will say "yes" or "no" - and no more without permission from the student.

    Regards - Andy

     
  14. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member


    I teach part time for a university and a community college. The University never asked me for my transcripts and the community college did only after the hiring. The transcripts were asked only to evaluate my level of education in order to classify me in a pay scale. By the way, my transcripts coming from my DL DBA were accepted with no questions asked.
     
  15. Michele

    Michele New Member

    college transcripts

    Hello,
    Since I graduated with my BSW in 1990, my first position that required that degree asked only for a copy of my diploma (position was a social services director in a nursing home). Next position was in a medical clinic. They asked to have a copy of the diploma as well, in 1993. Same organization later developed better standards in their verification department, and when I applied for a different position in another department that required a masters in mental health counseling, they not only wanted a copy of my diploma, a copy of my transcripts showing all the courses I took, a copy of my state registration . . . but they also sent a verification form directly to the school for them to verify my degree, graduation date and GPA. Makes me feel better, really, that they go this far now to ensure their employees are qualified.
    Michele Boudreau
     
  16. Michele

    Michele New Member

    forgot to mention

    I forgot to mention in my above post that I had indeed earned that masters degree before getting that position in another department! I'm on my way to a PhD from Capella University, though it won't make any difference at all in my organization where I intend to stay, so I'll likely just give them a copy of my diploma/transcripts when I graduate and they won't have to verify above the required masters.
    ~Michele
     
  17. roysavia

    roysavia New Member

    The legal term "caveat emptor" applies to employers as well as employees. It's true that employers today are screening their employees in order to prevent fraud and misrepresentation. However, there are a considerable number of employers (fortune 500 companies as well) that do not conduct a thorough screening of the prospective employees.
    Our human resources department recently hired two financial analysts to work on several asset management projects for the corporation. They both claimed to have MBA degrees and CFA (chartered financial analyst) designations. Their credentials were not verified (I know this for a fact because I was on the hiring committee). Except for reference and criminal record checks, their education was not verified. This is standard procedure at my place of work.
     
  18. oxpecker

    oxpecker New Member

    Great! So I can stop wasting my time with this DL thing. Roy, please send me an employment application.
     
  19. MarkIsrael@aol.com

    [email protected] New Member

    I know you're joking, OxPecker; but talk about time bombs!

    I had been working for one company for a year and a half when the secretary suddenly sent round e-mail saying the CEO was going to get everyone's educational credentials verified, and we should all bring her our diplomas to be photocopied.

    Evidently, no verification had been done on hiring. What prompted the change, I don't know. But employees in that company tended to disappear without explanation, and I'm guessing one person was caught.

    The secretary was surprised that I could produce my diploma so quickly; she thought I might have left it behind in Canada. Actually I needed to show it to US Immigration every year as I crossed the border, to get my TN visa renewed. I don't know whether Immigration verified it at the time, or only when it processed my Green Card application.

    When I got the degree -- Master of Computer Science from the University of Ottawa -- they told me I could have the diploma in English, French, or Latin. I thought the diploma was just an ornamental thing to hang on the wall, and anyone who wanted to verify my degree would contact the University directly. So I chose Latin. Boy, was I wrong! I had to get a notarized translation to give to US Immigration.

    The only employer that ever asked to see my transcript was an engineering company in Canada that by policy required a transcript from everyone who had graduated more recently than 3 years ago, before they would even grant an interview. I did enclose my Master's transcript with several job applications, because I wanted to show off my 4.0 GPA; but employers were surprised to see it.
     
  20. roysavia

    roysavia New Member

    If my corporation was hiring, I would glady send you one. However, you are better off continuing your DL studies. The day will come when everyone will eventually be screened and if your degree happens to be fake...............(you know the outcome).
    warmest regards,
     

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