Faking a degree
Faking a degree
(OP)
I was thinking over the weekend about how common are engineers faking their degrees.
I worked with a Mech. Engineer for a while that didn't seem to me he went to college at all. He was a hot-head, argued with everyone that he is right, and all of his designs failed.
Finally, a new engineering manager was hired and he also thought some fishy. He asked me my thoughts, I told him I don't think he has a degree.
Turns out I was right. He lied about it and his background was not thoroughly checked when hired.
He was fired soon after.
Has anyone here experienced engineers (or any other profession) that have faked (lied) about have their college degree? I'm curious how common this is.
I worked with a Mech. Engineer for a while that didn't seem to me he went to college at all. He was a hot-head, argued with everyone that he is right, and all of his designs failed.
Finally, a new engineering manager was hired and he also thought some fishy. He asked me my thoughts, I told him I don't think he has a degree.
Turns out I was right. He lied about it and his background was not thoroughly checked when hired.
He was fired soon after.
Has anyone here experienced engineers (or any other profession) that have faked (lied) about have their college degree? I'm curious how common this is.
Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 2.0
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)





RE: Faking a degree
These stories go along the line of "he was so good you could never tell". Obviously not the case here.
RE: Faking a degree
I worked with a guy who claimed to have a graduate degree in engineering, and who could not solve a simple geometry problem involving Pythagorus. Eventually, he was laid off.
No one ever challenged his credentials, so, strictly speaking, I have no idea what the problem was. Perhaps Pythagorus was too new fangled and high tech for him.
JHG
RE: Faking a degree
There was recently an MIT dean of admissions that had to resign because of a faked resume: http://ww
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RE: Faking a degree
Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 2.0
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)
RE: Faking a degree
When he came back he tried to get re-hired, they said no!
I always take my degree cert with me to interviews and have never been asked to see it. My first real interview I even asked if they wanted to see it, he said yeah but I could tell he couldn't care less!
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: Faking a degree
Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 2.0
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)
RE: Faking a degree
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_DeLibero
http:/
RE: Faking a degree
This guy complained for 10 minutes and threatened to call a quality manager when he saw me check the diameter of a 5/8" bolt at my desk with a mechanical calipers, because I couldn't provide him with documentation of when it had last been calibrated.
RE: Faking a degree
Tobin Sparks
www.nov.com
RE: Faking a degree
RE: Faking a degree
Tobin Sparks
www.nov.com
RE: Faking a degree
RE: Faking a degree
On of the best engineers that ever worked for me didn't have a degree. He told the company he did.
He comfessed to me once. He said he was traveling and stopped overnight in a town in Pennsylvania. That night there was a big fire. He asked the next day what the fire was. The people at the restaurant told him the Administration building at the local university burned down.
The company would call the university and ask if he had a degree from the university. Their reply was "if he graduated before 196x we don't have a record, we lost our records in a fire."
RE: Faking a degree
That's a new one. Funny.
Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 2.0
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)
RE: Faking a degree
From my view both people screwed up and if the person is doing a good job, it looks bad for both if they can’t workout a deal.
As for the people that are not good at work... and lie, it’s unfortunate the office politics keeps them around.
RE: Faking a degree
RE: Faking a degree
Heckler![[americanflag] americanflag](https://www.tipmaster.com/images/americanflag.gif)
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
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(_)/ (_)
This post contains no political overtones or undertones for that matter and in no way represents the poster's political agenda.
RE: Faking a degree
The employee explained the situation to HR but damage was done - candidate wasn't hired.
And worse yet, the job didn't require any diploma etc, and the person they did eventually hire didn't have anything other than highschool.
At my present company we don't check for degrees but we do check designations. It's actually easier to do that.
As for giving ppl a 2nd chance if caught, I say no way. There's zero excuse for lying, and there are far too many honest people who worked hard that a scammer should be given any breaks.
-
Syl.
RE: Faking a degree
This guy complained for 10 minutes and threatened to call a quality manager when he saw me check the diameter of a 5/8" bolt at my desk with a mechanical calipers, because I couldn't provide him with documentation of when it had last been calibrated.
Now that is just funny anywhere!! Much of the Black Belt Jazz is just that. Another gimick quality program. This guy you describe will probably be Sr. Vice President in a few years.
RE: Faking a degree
RE: Faking a degree
RE: Faking a degree
RE: Faking a degree
Personally, I don't think it matters a bit what kind of education someone has with regard to his/her ability to "engineer". And I work with a number of folks whose formal eduction stopped with a HS diploma - and many of them can run circles around "degreed" folks. But I've learned to not trust those who are not open and honest about his/her formal education experience.
RE: Faking a degree
I ask him what the story is, and he explains carefully that the position I am being interviewed for is still occupied!
They are cross-checking some of the stuff this guy had been saying over the last few weeks!!
The boss says i've got the job if I want it. I accept. He walks out of the office and fires the other guy!! He turned out to have faked his degree. Picture me with my head low, sinking into my chair.
RE: Faking a degree
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Faking a degree
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RE: Faking a degree
I would never dare imagine of losing my certificates anyhow as I understand to get the duplicate one's to be issued is hell of an experience "a bureaucratic nightmare".
On the contrary it looks much easier to get the fake one's or try faking the same, as the discussion streams here.
Siddharth
These are my personal views/opinions and not of my employer's.
RE: Faking a degree
RE: Faking a degree
RE: Faking a degree
Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 2.0
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)
RE: Faking a degree
Apparently your Engineering degree was given, minus a proficiency in spelling...
V
RE: Faking a degree
LOL. It was supposed to be a witty pun. You know, spelling guts with a "n" instead of a "g". I guess it was only funny to me. Oh well. I do have a pretty strange sense of humor after all.
RE: Faking a degree
I noticed it
RE: Faking a degree
Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 2.0
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)
RE: Faking a degree
Like Gymmeh and ctopher, I too have noticed you have a strange sense of humor!
debodine
(I know they meant they understood your witty pun...just having some fun of my own with this thread...)
ctopher...I caught the "goticed" that you typed, nice touch!
RE: Faking a degree
V
RE: Faking a degree
I got it. Those that could not make sense of it must not have a sense...of humour.
RE: Faking a degree
TTFN
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RE: Faking a degree
Companies can check the professional registers to confirm satisfactory qualifications.
It's true, the ones who blab about about degrees you can sniff an odour.
I remember a contractor, Warren L, back in Manchester (Life on Mars era) a legend in his own class. He faked everything, dripping with degrees and experiences in chemical, process, piping, structural, FEA, aircraft design (LOL!). We laughed and watched to see how long he would last at each new project and would 'carry' him until someone shopped him. He was charming, witty and fascinating. I still smile to think of him.
When I worked on site in the Middle East, there was another legend Mike B, claiming to have designed a power station singlehandedly in China, bridges in New York, flown an F-16 in the Korean war.....He was not charming, not witty and very dangerous. I shudder to think of him.
The con jobs, I'd say it's one in a couple of hundreds. Engineers simply faking degrees and doing good work, I'd say one in a hundred. As long it is not a position of responsibility for safety, I can tolerate the quality of the work as the measure.
Takes all kinds.
I recommend fixing the resumes properly if it is not the intention to defraud.
Robert Mote
www.motagg.com
RE: Faking a degree
RE: Faking a degree
V
RE: Faking a degree
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: Faking a degree
V