You are entering your fourth year of your undergrad in Communications. As you are getting close to completing your degree, you feel it would be really beneficial if you gained some more hands-on experience. During the past few years you have been working with one organization as a communications assistant but you would like to aim for a position with more challenges.

You see a posting for a public relations coordinator but the qualifications require completion of a degree. You figure that since you only have a couple more semesters to graduate you could state that you have completed your degree on your resume. Would this be considered misrepresentation?

Would this be considered misrepresentation?

Question

You are entering your fourth year of your undergrad in Communications. As you are getting close to completing your degree, you feel it would be really beneficial if you gained some more hands-on experience. During the past few years you have been working with one organization as a communications assistant but you would like to aim for a position with more challenges.

You see a posting for a public relations coordinator but the qualifications require completion of a degree. You figure that since you only have a couple more semesters to graduate you could state that you have completed your degree on your resume. Would this be considered misrepresentation?

Would this be considered misrepresentation?

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

When assessing whether fabricating or exaggerating qualifications on a resume constitutes misrepresentation, we need to map the scenario to common ethical and professional standards.
Option 1: Yes. Stating that you have completed a degree when you have not yet graduated is misrepresentation. It involves presenting an inaccurate credential that you do not possess at the time of applying, which can mislead the employer about your true qualifications. This can have serious consequences if discovered, including loss of trust, potential rescission of job offers, and reputational damage. Moreover, most employers require honesty about education to ensure you meet the role’s baseline requirements; falsely claiming a degree undermines this principle.
Option 2: No. Claiming you have completed a degree when you have not is not permissible. This answer ignores both ethical guidelines and professional standards that protect employers from relying on false information. It also fails to consider policies around honesty on job applications and resumes, which typically prohibit misrepresentation of qualifications. In short, this choice rests on an incorrect assumption about the permissibility of misrepresenting education status.
To deepen the understanding, consider that some applicants might think partial progress or anticipated graduation could be presented as a degree, but most jurisdictions and organizations require actual earned credentials or a clear, transparent note like 'expected [month, year] 2025' if still in progress. Without such clarification, the misrepresentation risk remains.
Additionally, the scenario highlights practical implications: even if the candidate is screened in based on a resume claim, it can cause future issues during background checks or at onboarding, potentially leading to termination or rescission of employment offers. Hence, the ethical and practical analyses both reinforce why claiming completion is inappropriate.
In summary, the correct ethical stance is that stating you have completed a degree when you have not is misrepresentation, and acknowledging this truth aligns with professional integrity principles. The alternative view that it is not misrepresentation conflicts with established expectations for truthful disclosure on resumes.

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