What about a letter of qualification?

[robo]

This is a follow up to the post earlier about whether or not you are a graduate before your degree actually confers at tesc.

I am curious about when you get your letter of qualification from excelsior are you considered a graduate then? The main reason why I'm asking is because I would like to find a teaching job as soon as possible. So can you apply for jobs once you have the loq, or do you have to wait until your degree confers?

Thanks.

[Kiwi Lover]

This is a follow up to the post earlier about whether or not you are a graduate before your degree actually confers at tesc.

I am curious about when you get your letter of qualification from excelsior are you considered a graduate then? The main reason why I'm asking is because I would like to find a teaching job as soon as possible. So can you apply for jobs once you have the loq, or do you have to wait until your degree confers?

Thanks.

Hi robo,

If you are applying for jobs that require a Bachelors degree, some companies may want to check with Excelsior to confirm that you do, in fact, have a degree. Until the degree is actually conferred, their records will show that you do not yet have the degree (per Excelsior). Personally, just to play it safe, I waited until my degree was actually conferred last year before I applied for jobs requiring a Bachelors degree.

Having said all that, I don't think that many employers actually do check, so you may very well be okay with this issue. (irgaul could probably answer that question) What date is your degree going to be conferred?

JoAnne

[Lindagerr]

I applied as a substitute teacher and the requirement was just 60 credits not a specific degree. The school I applied to just wanted an official transcript, but I completed my degree on June 30 from TESC and had the official letter saying I qualified and would receive my degree in Sept. I would think a letter like that should satisfy most employers.

[originalbigjim]

what i was told to do was put your degree on your resume and next to it write your graduation date. that way they know what is going on.

[lrgaul]

This is a follow up to the post earlier about whether or not you are a graduate before your degree actually confers at tesc.

I am curious about when you get your letter of qualification from excelsior are you considered a graduate then? The main reason why I'm asking is because I would like to find a teaching job as soon as possible. So can you apply for jobs once you have the loq, or do you have to wait until your degree confers?

Thanks.

[SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"]I am posting this from the perspective of answering your question, but also to answer similar questions that other people may have about similar scenarios in different job positions.

If you are applying for a position that require licensure of any kind (like most teaching jobs) than you will likely need to wait until your degree is conferred. However, if you are just applying for a job that specifically asks for applicants who have a bachelor's degree, it is certainly going to be fine for you to put this credential on your resume now.

Once the recruiter or hiring manager contacts you, make sure to be forthcoming about the fact that you are waiting for your degree to be conferred. Being straight with your recruiter/hiring manager about this is highly unlikely to hurt your cause in any way. The main reason that you will want to openly discuss this formality from the very beginning is because the company you are applying with may have a database to verify your degree. It would be a very bad situation if the company tried to run your credentials through its database and no degree came up because you probably would not get another opportunity to explain the situation. On the other hand, if the company is interested in you, and it already knows that you are simply waiting for your degree to be conferred, the recruiter or hiring manager can use alternative means to verify the completion of your degree.

Your particular situation is unique if you need specific licensure. In this case, the hiring manager/recruiter will have no choice but to follow the guidelines of the licensing agency. I suggest that you call a couple of places that you would like to apply to and talk to the person who is in charge of recruiting and/or employee relations.

Good luck and congratulations![/COLOR][/SIZE]

[robo]

Thanks for all the feedback, I actually haven't graduated yet but I am hoping to meet the Oct 26th deadline.