As you may know, each country has its own educational system. I moved to the U.S. a few years ago, and now I’m finally returning to my field of study. I have a bachelor’s degree, a teaching degree, and what we call a postgraduate degree. This was before ChatGPT (I had to rely on Google) but I couldn’t find the term “postgraduate degree” being commonly used here. Apparently, people usually go from a bachelor’s straight to a master’s degree. So, when translating my resume, I listed it as a master’s degree in that specific subject. Luckily, I got the job. But now, during the process of having my degrees professionally translated, I found out that here it’s actually considered a specialization. I’m worried they’ll think I lied or see me as untrustworthy. I don’t know what to say to my employer, or even to my American friends.
TL;DR TIDU by translating my degree and now my employer and friends think I have a masters degree but it’s a specialization
Comments
Wait what? But a postgraduate degree is a masters degree?
Edit: okay so there are different types of postgraduate degrees and not all of them are considered masters TIL
Don’t bring up the subject, and when it’s needed just reference your degree area and skip the “Bachelor’s” “Associate’s” “Master’s” part unless absolutely relevant and even then just don’t mention the masters and if someone does bring it up tell them you “mastered” a specialization, and let them know you have a degree in that specialization but not a masters’ degree in the area
Don’t listen to the people saying to hide it, it’ll only come back to bite you. I’m not sure what the best way to tell the company would be, but make sure you’re extremely clear in the explanation so there’s no room for misunderstanding
You didn’t lie on your resume because you didn’t know better at the time, but now that you know, say something. Just tell the truth. Don’t sugar-coat it.
If you’re returning to your field of study, it sounds like you’re in academics. In education, fabricating your academic background is up there with plagiarism as a career killer. You need to just admit to your error. They’ll accept that you made a mistake, but they’ll only think you lied if you hide the truth from this point.
“This was before chatGPT”
Don’t rely on that steaming pile of garbage either. It will provide false information and act like it’s the truth. Ask people questions. If you need help with something like that again, I guarantee there’s a subreddit with people who can help.
I’d ask to for a quick meeting with your immediate boss and say that since you’ve been in the country a few years, you realized that the translation was off when you applied.
Be humble, own it and say your grasp of English has improved and you feel horrible and don’t want it to negatively impact things.
If you’ve been doing the job, they may not make a big deal about it. But be prepared for the worst and hope for the best.
How you approach this is key.
I wouldn’t sweat it. Lying on your resume is actually an interview technique in America.
Don’t lie to your friends, Don’t worry about your current job just keep doing what you do, just fix it for a future jobs.
Find someone who has the resources and skills to stage an elaborate production, framed as a comedy show, in which you can practice confessing to your friends – played by actors – that you don’t actually have a master’s degree. Once you have rehearsed the confession to perfection, you can then attempt it in IRL.