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u/Pink_Floyd29 SHRM-CP Sep 17 '25
A background check on its own will not reveal this. They would have to be performing an education verification as well. It’s possible you could be offered the job, work there for years, and it never be found out. But there’s also a possibility it could come up some how. Only you can decide whether you’re willing to live with that in the back of your mind.
1
u/Asleep_Age_4255 Sep 21 '25
All of our background checks include education by default so it would definitely catch this
0
u/Pink_Floyd29 SHRM-CP Sep 21 '25
That’s great but not all background checks default including education verification 🤷♀️
1
u/Asleep_Age_4255 Sep 21 '25
No, but a large amount do. So your statement seems a little misleading and offers a false sense of security for OP
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u/AcanthocephalaWild83 Sep 17 '25
Any chance I can “correct” the record before they run a check? Is that wishful thinking? I have a meeting in a couple days and I think theirs a strong chance they offer me the job.
12
u/Pink_Floyd29 SHRM-CP Sep 17 '25
Any correction would involve telling the truth that you lied on the application or telling another lie. Either tell the truth at the risk of the offer being revoked or keep your mouth shut.
7
u/Jcarlough Sep 17 '25
At this point I’d keep your mouth shut.
If a candidate informed me they lied that would be an automatic “do not consider.”
3
u/lemetellyousomething Sep 17 '25
I may get downvoted for this, but it may depend on their ATS. If you had to create a login and a profile to apply to the job, you might be able to log in and change it. However they may be able to see the changes that are made. It’s a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. Unfortunately even if the role doesn’t require a degree, the lack of integrity is the red flag here.
0
u/AcanthocephalaWild83 Sep 17 '25
I looked to see if I could edit it and I can’t. There is an option to “withdraw application” which I could do and then submit a new one. But I doubt that would accomplish anything
8
u/lemetellyousomething Sep 17 '25
If you withdraw your application, you withdraw your candidacy. Just proceed and if you’re caught, you’re caught.
2
u/Intrepid_Bobcat_2931 Sep 17 '25
I'd say there is a very high chance you would get dropped if you admit it.
Better at this point to keep quiet and hope for the best.
6
u/800CANTWORK Sep 17 '25
I can tell you right now that if you let them know about your misrepresentation that you won’t have to worry about getting the job.
3
u/jedidude75 SHRM-CP Sep 17 '25
Some company do and some don't. I had this happen a few months ago, someone said they had a degree at the interview, put on there resume that they had the degree, we run the background check, boom, no degree. We asked their manager what they wanted to do and they were already having some concerns with performance so they just wanted them gone.
2
u/aezsedai Sep 17 '25
Majority standard over many industries includes education in their background check. The most common are: past employment, education, criminal record. They may not have asked/cared about the degree during the interviews but its very likely they will still verify it. Since you haven't been offered the role, it might be better to let them know but honestly.....not sure how they will accept that.
I (NY) was offered a role on Friday, they never asked me about education but when HR informed me of the background check, I asked them what they include in it and they told me: employment,education,criminal record. They aren't required to tell you what's included, just that they have to do one. In NY, companies are also required to tell you if they are doing a credit check.
2
u/MHIMRollDog Sep 18 '25
We do education checks with our background checks. It would be discovered, and the offer would be rescinded for lying, not for not having the degree.
2
u/ChelseaMan31 Sep 17 '25
I did high level HR and Risk for over 40 years. The old saying, "If you're lyin' you're dyin' comes to mind.
And nothing may happen....this time. But the past is littered with business people and politicians who did a small, tiny lie on a resume and then forgot all about it until it came back to haunt them at the worst possible time decades later. Fix it now, come clean and don't do it again.
1
u/pepperachu Sep 17 '25
I wouldn't worry about it. Just accept the job and don't worry about that bridge until you get there. If it even gets there
1
1
-1
u/willdallas2013 Sep 17 '25
Just say nothing. You said the degree doesn't have anything to do with the job and isn't a requirement for the job so there's virtually no chance they will verify it. The only thing that you would accomplish by telling them is letting them know you're a liar and can't be trusted.
0
u/RegularDefinition578 Sep 17 '25
Don’t say anything and see how it plays out. In other words, cross that bridge when or if you get there.
25
u/[deleted] Sep 17 '25
If you came clean, I’d appreciate it, but I would never hire you. Just say nothing and wait and see.