‘High school Diploma’

[KiTu 38]

I am finally due to start a new job on Monday. I have a meeting with HR this Thursday and they asked if I have a HS diploma to which I responded that no, I don’t - I have my grade certificates from my secondary/high school in England.

She said to bring those in and she would see if they are sufficient.

 

So, has anyone else had this experience? My highest education level is secondary/high school. I went to college but had to drop out so I didn’t get any qualifications or certificates from college except the music theory and singing exams I did, which I could have done even outside of school or college.

Has anyone else taken in their official certificates with grades on? If so, were they accepted? Do I have to get a letter from the school stating that I ‘completed the requirements?’ As far as I know in England, you ‘graduate’ secondary school no matter what grades you get BUT the expectation is that you achieve 5 A*-C in order to be able to get into college more easily and at the highest level AND to be able to get a decent job.

 

So should I contact the school somehow and ask them to send me a letter? Should I just take the certificates and let them contact the school if they need to? Is there something else I should be doing?

[AshMarty 360]

My husband has brought his certificates because the American education system is so different from other education systems.

 

Luckily his previous work experience was sufficient for a management position he found here in the US (German company based in the US) that was similar to his position in Australia.

 

My husband and I were nervous about the differences in education between  America and other education systems though. He has a certificate for Advanced Carpentry in Australia.

 

An Example in the States I have a Doctorate in Physical Therapy (7 years of school) and in Australia the same profession is a Bachelor degree (4 years). America puts a lot of emphasis on degrees (which is unfortunate ) but he found a great job with a great company so there is hope for not having a degree and living in the US!

Edited October 31, 2017 by AshMarty

[KiTu 38]

My certificates are just my GCSE certificates, which is why I am so worried about what my next steps are.

 

With a degree I think it is a bit easier, thankfully. But I never got that far..

 

I have the job, I just wanted to see if anyone else had handed over their GCSE certificates and whether they had been accepted or whether something different was needed.

Edited October 31, 2017 by KiTu

[AshMarty 360]

3 minutes ago, KiTu said:

My certificates are just my GCSE certificates, which is why I am so worried about what my next steps are.

 

With a degree I think it is a bit easier, thankfully. But I never got that far..

 

I have the job, I just wanted to see if anyone else had handed over their GCSE certificates and whether they had been accepted or whether something different was needed.

 

I think you should be okay my husband only has his certificates as well. They probably just want copies to put in your folder as record of your education background. My employer keeps records of all my continuing education course work, my license, and other things they are required to hold during my employment since they are requirements of my job. It is probably a similar situation for your position as well  

[Boiler 45,486]

US HS Diploma is the lowest level and is just usually there as a tick box as it implies you know how to get out of bed by your self. Just a tick box.

[KiTu 38]

33 minutes ago, AshMarty said:

 

I think you should be okay my husband only has his certificates as well. They probably just want copies to put in your folder as record of your education background. My employer keeps records of all my continuing education course work, my license, and other things they are required to hold during my employment since they are requirements of my job. It is probably a similar situation for your position as well  

It sounds like it may be similar. She asked me to take my DL, EAD and SSC so I also figured it would be just to prove that I completed high school rather than what actual grades I got etc. I figured that if anything I can email the school (or they can) and ask for a letter that states that I completed the requirements. I think the grades on the certificates kinda say what they need to know though..

 

28 minutes ago, Boiler said:

US HS Diploma is the lowest level and is just usually there as a tick box as it implies you know how to get out of bed by your self. Just a tick box.

Thanks - I just don’t want there to be issues because of cluelessness or anything! She didn’t even know what GCSEs are lol...

Edited October 31, 2017 by KiTu

[Boiler 45,486]

That does not surprise me, how many people in the UK would be familiar with the French system, and that is a lot closer.

[corvusheart 163]

My husband who is from England only had his GSCEs as well but doesn't have any physical certificates with him. Every time he's applied to jobs he's always ticked the high school diploma boxes since he sees the GSCEs as a high school diploma equivalent. But has always made clear that it was a England school and that he completed  school there. No employer has ever asked for physical GSCEs. Hopefully he's done everything the right way.

[KiTu 38]

They accepted my GCSE certificates just fine in the end. I used Harry Potter’s OWLs as an example to explain how we do it in England 😂 it worked!!!

 

Now happily contributing to society and the household :)))))