Hi, I am new to this site and very happy to see there is a forum devoted to distance learning. I will be enrolling into Excelsior to get my Bachelor in Criminal Justice. Well, aside from me enrolling into excelsior and not screwing that up. I was recently called in for a job interview that only required an associates degree, which I have Associates of General Studies with a concentration in Criminal Justice. (Don’t laugh) At the time this was, all my local school could offer. Well to get to my point, during the interview the Manager remarked how he too had an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice. During my euphoria of being hired, I did not notice the small blunder until after I left his office. It was not until; I noticed on my resume that I had given him I had put down A.S. in Criminal Justice instead, of A.G.S. in Criminal Justice. I keep wondering if I should till him of my mistake or just shut up about it. A friend told me that if he does happen to bring it up again then till him the truth. However, if he does not don’t say a word. Should I even worry?
I'd let him know. It's really not much of an issue. An A.A., A.S. and AGS are all about the same and it should not be much of an issue. Nevertheless, you're better off to clarify the mistake early and put it behind you so you can forget about it.
Dear Jane: Greetings. Two questions: 1) Do you really have nothing better to do with your life than to focus your brand new employer's attention on your PAST mistakes? 2) Do you really suppose that your employer has nothing better to do with his time than discuss the error(s) on your resume with you? If the answer to both questions was yes, then go ahead an point out your error. Why not also point out the poor quality of paper you used, and the passe font, too? My advice, however, is for you to correct your resume -- you never know when you'll need it again! -- and move on! I hate to be brutally honest, but I rather doubt that a job that requires (only) an A.S. degree is the sort of job that will lead to you and your flawed resume appearing on 60-Minutes. <g> Cordially, Richard Kanarek P.S. Even if I'm wrong, you can always show Mike Wallace this post, and tell him I convinenced you not to bother correcting the error! Now don't you feel better?
I believe in full disclosure, so I would mention the error. However, I can't imagine that it would be any sort of big deal. If the job requires an Associate's degree, you satisfy that requirement with your AGS. The title of the degree is really semantics. From what you've posted, the job requires just an Associate's degree, so I don't think it would matter if the degree was AA, AS, AGS, AAS, etc. Bruce
I don't think it's a big deal either. A lot of these degrees are just worded different. Even if your AGS degree is different from an AS in criminal justice, I don't think it would be a big problem either. Different schools have different degree requirements. Let's say you had an AGS in Criminal Justice from one school and a coworker had an AS in Criminal Justice from another school. You may have more "major" credit than the person with the AS degree (or vice versa) so, you can't judge a degree by the title anyways. I am sure there were plenty of Excelsior grads who would put BS in psychology rather than a BLS w/ a concentration in psychology (before they used majors, of course). Now, maybe you want to tell him so he doesn't find out and thinks your pulling a fastone on him/her? I personally think (from what I have experienced from interviews) the interviewer will give two hoots about the name of your degree and how you worded it (as long as you have had a curriculum w/ criminal justice). If anything, he may ask if you have taken certain courses in criminal justice to make sure your degree covers the basics of criminal justice. Best Regards, Bill
What a wonderful ethical system! If it won't get you on 60 Minutes, it's OK. Or is your point that this is such an obviously worthless job that ethics don't matter? You have got to be kidding me. Jane, it doesn't matter that the job "only" requires an A.S. What matters is how you want to live your life. You know that you should tell your boss. Otherwise, you wouldn't be asking the question. It's tough to do, because it could cost your job. But what will not telling him cost you? Your self respect? Your peace of mind? Your sense of accomplishment for having earned the degree and landed the job? Tell him. If it matters to him, then it is important that he finds out from you rather than from other sources. If this person is a complete ass, he might fire you. But in that case, would you really want to work for him? I suspect that this will be one of those cases where doing the right thing pays off. I would bet that it will not matter, and that your boss will respect you for having the integrity to do what is right. And more importantly, you will respect yourself.
I don't think it was dishonest or misleading. There is not a substantive difference. I'd say that it is not worth bothering him about it but if it came up again then I think correcting it at that time would be the reasonable thing to do.
Morally, I don't think it matters much. If you do notify, frame it as a typo, not as a "blunder" or mistake. Notifying may well be a good idea, but keep it casual, not confessional! Another option would be correcting it ("Silly me, I just noticed...") when you update your resume with your next degree or certification or additional ornament of whatever kind; that way, your new achievement will be the focus of the change, not your past (very minor) gaffe. Mind, this advice comes from an admitted nomenclature kook.
You're right. I overstated. I do think she should clear it up, but I agree with uncle janko's approach to it.
I'll just not worry about it for right now. If he brings it up in the future I'll correct him by saying it was just a typing error.
Dear Jane: Good job (decision making, that is <g>)! And speaking of jobs, good luck! Dear Jeff: Because both involve discomfiture, "ethics" and pointless self-destruction are easily confused by the easily confused. Don't be confused.
Jane, what I don't understand is why you wrote A.S. in Criminal Justice and not A.G.S. in Criminal Justice? Do you feel it is an inferior degree? Did you think it would get you further? I am not an expert like those persons that preceded me, but I think both degrees are probably almost identical, and since you are about to start your bachelor's in Criminal Justice anyway, you have more than it was required. I wouldn't worry at all, Jane. Hey, your boss may have that AGS in Criminal Justice as well if he studied at the same community college, and he might have committed the same blunder!!! Good luck with your studies
This is my take on it: An AGS degree may be heavier in the "liberal arts" than in the Major/concentratration (Criminal Justice). Perhaps, she just didn't want the employer to think less of her degree because it was not a "traditional" AS degree. Alot of jobs that require an associate's degree are requiring it because of the training they received in the major portion of the degree (not because of the well rounded general education in the curriculum.. well english comp may be a general education class that is crucial for a job, but I think it's an exception). I was hired as a tech rep where I work. I personally feel I wasn't hired because I had a well rounded education from my associates degree. It was because I had the training necessary to fix electronics. Perhaps, considering it is a customer orientated job, they looked at my transcript and made sure I had some sort of education for writing and speaking skills, however, they were probably more interested whether or not I can use an oscope or multimeter. Best Regards, Bill
