In the days following your college graduation, you will probably start applying for jobs. Even though you have completed your degree, you will not have access to your official college diploma just yet. Diplomas are important documents that represent education credentials and readiness for the next step in a career. What are your chances of getting an entry-level job without a diploma after graduation?
The good news is that there are options other than your official college diploma to verify your degree if you’ve just graduated and are ready to start your career. In spite of the fact that universities typically take a long time to send out diplomas after graduation, there are other ways to demonstrate your qualifications. This talk will cover the graduation process, what employers might look for when verifying your education claims, and how to demonstrate your academic achievements to get a job.
AFTER GRADUATION, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECEIVE YOUR DIPLOMA?
University diplomas are not distributed at graduation ceremonies. In other words, your diploma will not be available to you even if you have completed your degree. Graduation diplomas are sent out by colleges at different times depending on the school. Diplomas can take up to two months to be mailed out after the graduation ceremony.
Having worked hard for four years, many recent graduates are looking forward to receiving their diplomas. Due to the long waiting period for official college diplomas, students should be prepared to make alternate arrangements when applying for full-time positions that require proof of graduation.
WHY DO SCHOOLS DELAY SENDING DIPLOMAS?
It is possible that you received your high school diploma on the day of graduation. Why does it take so long for college diplomas to arrive? There’s more going on behind the scenes than just signing a piece of paper, which is why official college diplomas take so long to receive.
In order to determine whether a degree is awarded to a student, colleges must follow certain guidelines and steps. Often, students are completing required courses at the time they apply for graduation. After the end of the term, professors must finalize grades, which leaves little time for the production of diplomas in mass. A graduating college class is typically larger than a high school class, so more paperwork and applications need to be filled out and verified by the school’s staff.
Additionally, not all students follow the typical four-year graduation timeline. Degrees may be completed at other times by some students. To finish their degrees on time, everyone will need to submit their graduation applications by the graduation application deadline, since the university needs to know which students have met their requirements.
WHAT DO EMPLOYERS DO TO VERIFY YOUR COLLEGE GRADUATION?
Depending on the industry, the job market can be competitive. Some employers won’t even consider your resume if you don’t have a college degree, so many full-time jobs have some kind of educational requirement.
Some applicants lie on their resumes about having a college degree because college degrees are so important on the job market. In order to verify your academic credentials, most employers will want some type of verification since resumes can contain false or inaccurate information.
You may be asked to show your diploma by an employer as one way of verifying your education. Depending on the position or industry, employers may even make a copy of your diploma for their records.
For new graduates, verifying their education with a physical diploma is impossible. Is this a requirement that graduates put off their job search while they await their official college diploma? No, not at all. Graduates should prepare other information for prospective employers to show off their educational prowess and land them a job.
WHILE YOU WAIT FOR YOUR DIPLOMA, HOW CAN YOU GET A JOB?
It can be intimidating and stressful for new graduates to enter the workforce. Employers may be forced to rely on applicants’ educational merits to demonstrate their ability to perform a position satisfactorily without much work experience to explain. In addition to physical diplomas, there are other ways to prove your knowledge and ability in a given field.
If you plan to enter the workforce soon, prepare yourself for job applications and interviews in advance. Here are some tips to help you prepare for your job search so that you can gather the necessary materials and educational information before your interview.
- Verification from the school can be requested by your employers
In order to verify your education, employers may ask your university for information. Third-party search engines can be used or they can request the information directly. Electronic records are prevalent in universities, making it easy to find information about students.
It is easy for employers to verify whether you have received your degree using this method. You should indicate on your resume that your graduation date is “expected” if you begin applying for jobs a few weeks before graduation. That way, employers know they’ll need to verify your degree later on. In the event that you fail to maintain your grades in the last semester and fail a required course, you will not be awarded a degree. In the event that you don’t have the degree at the expected time, employers may rescind the job offer. Making sure your grades are in order or that your graduation application has been approved before applying for jobs is always a good idea.
- Recommendation letters from your professors
Students with little or no work experience may find it difficult to land a job. If that’s the case, using your academic career to showcase your skills and abilities is the best approach. Professors are considered professional references. Obtaining a letter of recommendation is useful for your job search or graduate school application if you worked for a professor or had a close academic relationship.
There are a number of positive qualities employers look for in potential candidates that the professor may mention in the letter, such as knowledge, dedication, practical skills, and communication abilities. A reference letter from an eloquent and respected professor is a great way to impress employers.
- Essays, projects, and awards
You can also demonstrate your academic talent by providing employers with important projects, essays, or awards that demonstrate your commitment to your studies. This kind of information is often desirable to employers when reviewing your application. You might want to ask if they will consider these types of samples if the job posting does not ask for them on the application, if you think they will prove your ability to do the job.
When you’re ready to graduate or apply for jobs, you should put together a portfolio of your writing samples (such as essays, research papers, or creative work), projects you’ve worked on, and publications and awards you’ve received. It’s important to present your best self, so choose samples and projects that received high marks and honest feedback from your professors. Consider asking a peer or your advisor for their advice if you’re unsure which ones to include in your portfolio.
- Transcripts can be ordered online
To prove that you are ready to graduate and receive a degree, ordering transcripts is a good alternative while waiting for your diploma to arrive. On your transcripts, you can find detailed information about how you performed during the course of the program. You can see the grades you earned in each class, how many credits you earned, and how long it took you to earn your degree. Using this information, employers can determine whether you have the knowledge and skills required for the job by looking at your coursework and grades.
You may have a hard time ordering transcripts from your university if you’re on a tight schedule. When graduation time approaches, the administrative staff will have their hands full. It is possible to show a potential employer what classes and grades you have taken by providing a copy of your transcripts.
It is important to keep in mind that some employers may specifically require official transcripts from your university. If that is the case, sealed transcripts will be sent directly from your university to your prospective employer without going through you. The purpose of this process is to ensure that all information is accurate and there is no forgery.
In some cases, employers might accept an unofficial transcript if they are using other methods to verify your degree. Buying your unofficial transcript from ValidGrad will be a much faster process than ordering one from your university if you need it for a job interview. Professional-looking transcripts can be downloaded electronically or printed in a short period of time with both electronic and hard copies available.
IF YOU DON’T RECEIVE YOUR OFFICIAL COLLEGE DIPLOMA, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
Your school’s registrar’s office should be contacted if you haven’t received your official college diploma within the estimated delivery window. There may have been a mix-up in the office or during mailing. Undeliverable addresses may even result in diplomas being returned to the school. Schools often resend diplomas free of charge if there is an error outside of their control. It is, however, important not to procrastinate contacting your school because if you wait too long, they might impose a fee.
HOW DO YOU GET MULTIPLE COPIES OF YOUR OFFICIAL COLLEGE DIPLOMA?
You may feel uncomfortable displaying your diploma in public since it is such an important document. There is also the option of displaying your diploma at several locations. In any case, ordering multiple copies from the university is unlikely to be feasible. Universities won’t issue copies of your diploma unless the original has been lost, stolen, or damaged.
The good news is that there are other options for getting an authentic-looking diploma. With ValidGrad, you’ll receive a diploma that is realistic and pays attention to the details. It takes the team of professionals a lot of time and effort to create a replica diploma with an appropriate seal, font, and size.
Graduating college is both a scary and exciting experience. Graduation is the time to celebrate all of your hard work. Recent graduates, however, may find it difficult to find a job. Due to the lack of relevant job experience, your educational achievements will be scrutinized more closely. You will also have to wait several weeks for your diploma to arrive after graduation. Fortunately, you won’t have any trouble landing a job without a physical copy of your diploma with a little preparation. You can showcase your knowledge, skills, and educational success with professional and polished transcripts from ValidGrad.