The Diary Room

[lemondrop]

I agree with alythonian, it's the dates you attended the school/university.

[a_person]

Thanks so much guys, I don't know what to do. I've been told I have to give exact dates but these things were zillions of years ago. How can I be remember exact dates?

For example middle school started in Sept 1993 (I can't remember the first day of school) to when in 1998? June was the last month of exams, I didn't attend in July but results were released in Aug. So what was my end date?

You may think I'm being excessive here but I got into trouble once for interpreting things differently.

[Beate]

Usually your course finishes on a certain date. Mine finished on 2 July 2004 even though I had exams before and then basically had to wait for the results so no uni. But that is the date on any of my certificates, and I was considered to be officially at uni until then.

[a_person]

I finished my exams in May, my results were issued in June (formalised in July) and I had my graduation ceremony in mid-July and my certificate was issued August. I think my student card said "expires 31 July."

Should I put August then?

[Beate]

Doesn't matter when your grad ceremony was, mine was in December, I was working and had to take a day off! I should think the date on your certificate would be the one. There is a date when you officially left uni, but if you are not sure from your documents, why not ring them up and ask? They ought to know.

[a_person]

They're OOO so I've left emails. I can still access my student portal and on there it has my date of attendance although I can assure that was not when I finsihed my qualification. They have a seperate date for that.

[alythonian]

I can't see anyone in the private sector being date specific. Likely only public sector position that would be so pedantic.

Ceratinly I wouldn't throw it out for being wrong either way if it was in a pile I was looking through.

If you feel you need dates just give months ie April 1995 - June 1999 or whatever.

[Beate]

She IS public sector. Basically, I would always mention the official date some education ended, not the one of your exams or when you stopped attending lessons. This way you will also have less "free time" in your CV, if you know what I mean.

[a_person]

Ahhh yes. Thanks Beate. I'll do that.

Thanks alythonian for your help too. Just a note on private sector, my friend had all her employments and dates verfiied and they contacted her to tell her that her CV doesn't match what others said. She was able to provide proof and so got her job but before that they told her, her application will not go further until this is verified.

[Beate]

In Germany you have to provide all your certificates and work references when you apply already so there's no chance you could "doctor" it in any way. Here, all you put is some names of references, I always thought that's weird.