#Should I lie (on resume and interview) about taking longer to graduate?

44 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

bright compass
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So I took 6 years to finish my software engineering degree (2017-2022) instead of the standard 4 years. Should I lie on my resume and in the interview about my finish date (i.e put 2020 instead of 2022) ?

My main concerns about putting 2017-2022 instead of 2017-2020, is that:
i) I've gotten two years of experience as a software engineer in 2021 and 2022, but they might negate (not count) those 2 years of experience because I hadn't graduated my degree yet.
ii) they might think I'm a bad software engineer for taking 6 years to complete instead of 4 years.

So should I lie on my resume and interview about the finish date of my degree? Btw main reason it took me longer was a combination of failing a few subjects along with the pandemic creating financial difficulties.

thorny sequoia
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I wouldn’t lie. Lots of peoples’ lives were affected by the pandemic, and Id personally want a company that understands that. If they’re going to think you’re a bad software engineer for the delay, you don’t want to work in that environment; just think how they would have treated their current employees during the pandemic

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List your graduation date only - not your start date - and put in your experience. If they ask about the timeline just explain the situation and it will be alright

bright compass
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Wouldn't they wonder why the last two years of my degree are working full time leading to suspicions or questions?

thorny sequoia
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I don't think it's unheard of going to school while working full time

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If you have the degree and the experience is valid, it doesn't really matter

stone brook
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Not gonna lie

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Never in my life have I ever put the start year for education

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Just the end year

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I just can’t imagine it mattering, I have never ever cared about the “standard” 4 years

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So yeah agreed with heg

bright compass
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Oh ok thanks I'll do that then

tropic tartan
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You can just put the end year if you're really worried about it. But, honestly no one would really care if you took 6 years to graduate. Everyone has different circumstances. How would recruiters know you didn't have a family to take care of during that time, or if you couldn't afford tuition? No way they would ask you.

bright compass
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Yeh I had both happen due to financial impact of covid. It'd be good if recruiters dont care it took me 6 years instead of 4, that's the ideal scenario.

thorny sequoia
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They won’t care, so you’re in the ideal scenario, my friend 😁

bright compass
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Thanks, I've just put Jan 2017 - Dec 2022.

Also can we round up 1.5 YOE to 2 YOE?

I calculated my hours of software engineering experience at the 2 companies I've worked for so far, and I've done 3 years part time or 1.5 years of experience (YOE).

So with 1.5 YOE would I be eligible to (round up and) apply for jobs which require 2 YOE? And in interviews or cover letters can I just state I have 2 YOE (by rounding up)?

thorny sequoia
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I don’t think you need to explicitly state “I have x numbers YOE.” Just keep the experience on your resume like it already is

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As for if you’re eligible to apply for those jobs, absolutely. You can apply for a job that wants 1000 YOE if you check the boxes for the skills they want lol. Those criteria are guidelines. It won’t hurt you to apply for jobs you don’t see yourself as qualified for

bright compass
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Yeh I probably won't mention YOE on my cover letter, I was thinking more of during interview if they ask my YOE...I'll probably answer 2 YOE (rounding up from 1.5), assuming rounding up is fine...

Also from what you said about skills, so does that mean that companies prioritize skills (they want) and track record with those skills, more than the amount of YOE, in an applicant?

thorny sequoia
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My point about applying to jobs was that it doesn’t matter what job you apply to. I could apply to be the CEO of Twitter and the worst thing that will happen is I won’t hear back. If a job interests you, just apply and don’t overthink it. You will 100% not get hired for a position you don’t apply to

bright compass
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Yeh true no harm in applying..

Also some job adverts yoe are bit messed up..I've seen a few jobs have like
-require 5 years of experience in software engineering/machine learning
-entry level

So yeh I'll just apply to jobs that interests me and I fit 60% of the requirements..

zenith birch
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Also from what you said about skills, so does that mean that companies prioritize skills (they want) and track record with those skills, more than the amount of YOE, in an applicant?

In tech this is typically the case, though it varies by company to company. More tech-centric places tend to be better at directly testing for technical skill instead of proxying by things like YOE.

That being said, your YOE is still going to matter

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Also some job adverts yoe are bit messed up..I've seen a few jobs have like
-require 5 years of experience in software engineering/machine learning
-entry level

yeah just apply anyway

and I fit 60% of the requirements

honestly it doesn't even have to be 60%, if it roughly fits your level (aka you prob will not apply to staff / principal positions) and broad domain of interest there's no reason not to apply unless if it's like a super long application or something

bright compass
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Hmm, usually it takes me 15-20 mins to apply, like write cover letter and all, that's why I take that into account...most of the time in my application is spent on writing the cover letter...

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but yeh I'll apply to stuff that roughly fits my level and all

thorny sequoia
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Step 1: don’t ever write a cover letter

bright compass
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I thought that's customary...
like by default they expect a cover letter and all...
most applications ask for something along the lines of send us your resume and cover letter

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do you all not write cover letters in your job applications?

thorny sequoia
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Nah I’ve never sent a cover letter in my life

stone brook
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Same

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Never

bright compass
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And you guys get decent success rate just based on your resume? Are you all like the 10x programmer aha...

thorny sequoia
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It's just not a prominent practice in the software engineer community. Feed the company's resume processing software the right key words, pass the OA and technical interviews, get job.

I did my new grad job search a year ago and heard back from a couple companies without ever sending a cover letter. The key for new grad, imo, is to send out as many applications as you can. A cover letter just isn't a good return on investment for this strategy.

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Chris has more experience than me so I'm sure he's got some more insight

stone brook
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I literally just see no reason to write. A cover letter for a software job

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And while I’ve been in industry I have literally never read a cover letter

near moon
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I am a "only apply to a few companies, carefully" type of person and I've also never written a cover letter; you do that part with the recruiter on the phone. Company response rates are just not good enough to justify the time spent.

bright compass
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oh ok, yeh true it sucks when you write a nice cover letter and companies just throw it into the bin..I'll try this new approach then of not using cover letters thanks guys..

jade plinth
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Why not just say "Class of 2022"

native oracle
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With the month 🙂