Grade Transcripts

[Melancholic Mage 115]

Hello,

 

I've been in the U.S. coming up two weeks now, got my SSN yesterday, and I'm slowly getting things in order to start chiseling out a presence and life here with my partner: new phone number and phone, joint bank accounts, currency transfer, car insurance, driving license, car, job...

 

In the mix of all this, my OH's family are voicing their concerns in regards to my UK grades. They don't believe they'll be accepted when I begin my job hunt after all the so-to-speak foundation work is done, and believe I'll need to study and sit a GED. Of course this doesn't apply to all jobs, but they tell me anything that isn't entry level or menial will need some kind of grade translation.

 

My grades are from secondary education (high school) and college (BTEC diplomas) in the UK. To complicate things further, my institutes of education no longer exist. I can't give potential employers numbers to trace and fact-check because they've long been bulldozed. So do I look into WES.org and pay to get my credential equivalents, or should I hold my ground and see what jobs require what first? What have others done and what has your experiences been in settling here?

 

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This is supplemental, but I want to be a little honest here and forgive me if I'm showing too much of my heart on my sleeve. Apologies in advance if this comes across as 'snowflake'y.

 

Frankly, I've had a hard time of it growing up where I have in the UK regarding my career: from pigeon-holing, lack of progression, limited career choices along with crippled job opportunities... It's had a severe impact on my Mental Health over the years, and I'm very worried about finding something that's worthwhile and fulfilling. I worked very hard when I was younger to get the grades I needed for the profession I had some talent in (art and design - I have a distinction in Animation), but those jobs simply didn't exist back then. I ended up in menial and poor work environments (contact centres, Amazon warehousing) to put bread on the table, and now my grades are too old based on dated technology to be worth a dime.

 

Please don't misread this - I'm willing to do whatever it takes to support myself and the family I'm hoping to start here soon. But my age is working against me in terms of going back to study towards a more reputable career, along with the monetary costs of such and my current residency status (some places require 1 year+ residency). I'm worried. And I apologise again if this simply isn't the place for venting like this, but it would very much help me just knowing I'm not the only one faced with this dilemma. Past or current.

 

Thank you for reading all this, regardless.

[Lemonslice 4,922]

Really dependent on the employer and/or position.   Most jobs requiring only a GED or high school degree won't care or ask.  Then, if you have years or professional experience, your most recent accomplishments/certification/whatever will weigh more heavily.  

 

College applications, again, it depends.  I completed another graduate program after moving to the US and I did not have to have my courses/degree evaluated, and simply submitted my transcripts; but in other fields, I would have had to...    

 

I would not pay to have anything evaluated before I knew for sure it would be requested.  

[Boiler 45,743]

I agree a GED is very very basic and irrelevant, O Level ish.

 

I always put down my qualifications but have not had a job where it has been relevant so very much depends what sort of jobs you are looking at and what relevance your Education/Professional skills have.

[ScarletWitch6x 68]

As someone who lives in the United States and has a music and journalism Bachelor's degree - and works in a completely unrelated field - you'll be alright  You may have to explain your education to prospective employers if they do not understand, but they should accept it. 

 

There are jobs out there that I didn't even know existed that I have come to enjoy, and they didn't even require a university degree. With art related fields you will find that the art itself is more heavily weighted than the degree so long as you can get people to give you a chance to show it off. 

 

There are also a lot of "gig working" type jobs and platforms that can be good for creatives or flexible working opportunities. 

Edited October 14 by ScarletWitch6x

[top_secret 2,458]

My wife recently took a new job that required a thorough background check.  She had listed her high school and a 2-year associate degree on the application.  Both from somewhat obscure schools back in the Philippines.  The college degree was in a field of study not related to the current job and was not a requirement. To my surprise the company doing the background check actually did directly contact her high school and college back in the Philippines.  In neither case did they request any grades or transcripts.  They simply confirmed that she had indeed graduated in the years she had listed on her application and that her diplomas were authentic.  They apparently tracked down the schools' contact information on their own since my wife had only provided names of the schools and dates of graduation.  I always had the idea they never actually verify high school graduation but apparently they do sometimes.

 

If a particular degree is a core requirement for a job, then I imagine they will want transcripts, foreign credential evaluation, etc.  If it is just information that is asked on the application but not a strict requirement then I would just fill it out accurately but not worry too much about it.

 

[Melancholic Mage 115]

Thank you everyone. It helps having various view of input. I'll keep this thread posted as I go: if I need transcripts or further information for a prospective employer I'll update so here. But so far it looks like I'll be stuck for a while before I can move on job hunting let alone everything else.

[SL2024 80]

I have had some similar concerns regarding grades before as I don’t have a degree and I do know on some job adverts it can be listed as a requirement but my fiancée said not to take too much notice of that as they look at your work experience and skills as well.