Anti climax...

Legionreturns

Today I was supposed to be interviewed, in an all day process, for a job that I've been doing on supply since September. (Not sure what they're gonna learn in an interview that they haven't in the last 5 months but hey!). 

They asked me on Monday for copies of all my qualifications. Including the, not particularly impressive, GCSE results from 1991. Nobody has asked me for those in well over 20 years and I've moved house 11 times in that period. I've gained role specific and highly specialised qualifications, which they've got...but I got kicked off the interview process this morning as in the 3 days notice they gave me, which I've been working for them and therefore had no free time, I've not been able to find them and have requested copies from the various exam boards (Please Mr AQA, in 1991 I got an "E" in art, I'd now like to pay you money to prove that I did indeed get that "E"). 

All seems a bit silly. I know some people will have them, but I'm betting a large percentage on here won't know where their GCSEs are.

Nitefly

Bloody hell, talk about booked on a technicality!  Is there any sort of appeal process?

bodhi

Does seem silly.

That's why I have every scrap of official paperwork ever issued to me since my birth certificate.  You just never know when you might really need some obscure piece of paper.

boogieman

I’m “lucky” in that Mum is a hoarder so keeps everything. I’ve recently been clearing her house up and found all sorts, including my old school reports. I’m pretty sure she has my O and A level results somewhere. Whether you’d consider that good is a different matter of course, so far my wife and I have tidied up three rooms and thrown out about 20 bags of junk mail. Haven’t even started on the important stuff yet. 

It does sound silly that they want your actual grades, I thought proving you’d passed the exams would be enough? 

axisus

Legionreturns said:

 (Not sure what they're gonna learn in an interview that they haven't in the last 5 months but hey!). 

THIS!!!!

That is somewhat ridiculous.

I would have no clue where any of mine are, including my honours degree certificate. Haven't seen any of them for over 30 years. The joys of being 28 years in one job.

roundthebend

@Legionreturns something smells fishy. I'd be having a very frank conversation with them about the way they've handled it, and treated an employee. Especially one who has been going above their remit for their benefit. My spidey senses tell me that something is awry. I'm maybe over-thinking things, but I'd be thinking they've got a problem with me and I'd try to find out what it is to see if I could rectify it.

JAYJO

That makes me angry. 

Legionreturns

roundthebend said:

@Legionreturns something smells fishy. I'd be having a very frank conversation with them about the way they've handled it, and treated an employee. Especially one who has been going above their remit for their benefit. My spidey senses tell me that something is awry. I'm maybe over-thinking things, but I'd be thinking they've got a problem with me and I'd try to find out what it is to see if I could rectify it.

I don't think so, I think it's just procedure bullshit. If they wanted rid of me they could do so without notice or reason anytime they want. I'm supply staff. They've also just sent me back out to continue with the job instead of losing a day to the interview. 

richardhomer

That sounds like a ridiculous recruitment process. Funnily enough I found my GCSE cerficate recently when I was looking for something else. I couldn’t have told you where it was prior to chancing across it.... 

EricTheWeary

I've been applying for jobs lately and been asked to bring copies of my qualifications. Quite often they then don't ask on the day anyway but if they do  they've only been interested in my post graduate/ professional qualification. Actually I went to one yesterday and they asked for a copy of HCPC registration and nothing else as if I've got that then I've already had to prove my qualifications. 
What I got at O level and pre degree is pretty irrelevant wether I can prove it or not. Very silly, perhaps they were looking for a way out for some reason ( 'we've shortlisted too many people do what arbitrary measure can we use to cut it down').

Legionreturns

They haven't even said how many posts there are. They're trying to coax people off of supply and onto the books because it's cheaper. The role I do is very specialised and the nature of the kids means it's definitely not for everyone. They've got 4 candidates in for interview today, including me. There are at least 15 staff at my level on supply, many of them didn't bother applying as they prefer supply. I'm quite happy carrying on the way things are but I was pressured into applying.

roundthebend

Then it's cool, let them do the chasing. If you find time to dig for your GCSE certificates then do it, but I'd not sweat it.

Stavros

Bloody ridiculous given the level of qualification to be proven - their loss.

Might be more understandable if it was a degree certificate, there was a piece on the radio last week about people having top University jobs having lied about their degree, some of them now in retirement on no doubt a great pension. Makes your blood boil!

LuttiS

That really sucks matey

I've got all my certificates and stuff in a binder which i drag around to interviews and stuff. Put them in there after i lost my degree certificate right before an interview i needed it for.. Still have no idea where it is, i spent an afternoon begging the uni for anything proving that i was there. Got it in the end (letter, not the job ) an kept everything together ever since. 

Never actually shown it to anyone though..

Legionreturns

LuttiS said:

That really sucks matey

I've got all my certificates and stuff in a binder which i drag around to interviews and stuff. Put them in there after i lost my degree certificate right before an interview i needed it for.. Still have no idea where it is, i spent an afternoon begging the uni for anything proving that i was there. Got it in the end (letter, not the job ) an kept everything together ever since. 

Never actually shown it to anyone though..

I have a cloud folder with all my qualifications in it because I regularly freelance. It includes  all my outdoor tickets, medical / mountain first aid, SEN, climbing equipment check, Team teach, minibus, social work / psychology stuff... Anytime I need to send anything I just give them a link to the folder. It doesn't include some stuff that 15 year old me did in the 90's or any of my finger paintings from nursery. 

BRISTOL86

How ridiculous. 

CHRISB50

When I read the title I thought this would be referring to the CITES thread on the Guitar forum.

Sorry to hear about your day and how the interview went. It's totally ridiculous.

axisus

I'd been 24 years in my job when I got an email asking me to supply a copy of either my birth certificate or my passport to prove who I was. I told them that I'd never had a Passport and that I had no clue where my birth certificate was. They flapped for a week then disappeared.

Four years on, 2 weeks ago they suddenly felt the need to pester me again. Same answer. 

Ravenous

axisus said:

I'd been 24 years in my job when I got an email asking me to supply a copy of either my birth certificate or my passport to prove who I was. I told them that I'd never had a Passport and that I had no clue where my birth certificate was. They flapped for a week then disappeared.

Four years on, 2 weeks ago they suddenly felt the need to pester me again. Same answer. 

Had that recently too.

I believe it's now a necessary check for NEW employees, and I guess lazy HR departments just want it for CURRENT employees too, so they don't have to think about it.

Incidentally - when I checked it seems THEY should see the original document and make the copy themselves, so just asking you for a copy is probably wrong anyway...

LuttiS

Legionreturns said:

LuttiS said:

That really sucks matey

I've got all my certificates and stuff in a binder which i drag around to interviews and stuff. Put them in there after i lost my degree certificate right before an interview i needed it for.. Still have no idea where it is, i spent an afternoon begging the uni for anything proving that i was there. Got it in the end (letter, not the job ) an kept everything together ever since. 

Never actually shown it to anyone though..

I have a cloud folder with all my qualifications in it because I regularly freelance. It includes  all my outdoor tickets, medical / mountain first aid, SEN, climbing equipment check, Team teach, minibus, social work / psychology stuff... Anytime I need to send anything I just give them a link to the folder. It doesn't include some stuff that 15 year old me did in the 90's or any of my finger paintings from nursery. 

I had to forge my finger paintings... harder than you think!

Sassafras

It's a test.
You have to storm in there and demand to know why the pricks think your O Levels have any bearing on your ability to do the job.
They want to know you're made of the right stuff and won't fall at the first hurdle.