Graduation date on resume - is this unethical?
I know I know, "if you have to ask, it's probably unethical," but hear me out:
Ok, suppose one's "normal" graduation date would be May 2012, but one decides to extend their stay at college one semester to graduate in December 2012 to have an extra summer to try to get a decent SA. However, this causes questions to be asked like "why are you graduating a semester late?"
So would it be unethical to actually list one's expected graduation date as May 2013 and present oneself as a junior for this upcoming SA cycle and then miraculously graduate "early" in December 2012?
Can anyone relate to or comment on a situation like this?
What exactly is your reasoning that this is 'ethical'?
You know a lot of people go to college for seven years...
Yeah, they're called "doctors."
Late reply, but I can't leave a man hanging.
Thanks, such an awesome movie.
Wow...I was so ready to fire off the unethical card, but this is fine. There's no big deal graduating a semester late - many people do it. Don't sell yourself as a junior, just put anticipated graduation December 2012. It's not a big deal and for some companies, you could jump in early ahead of the rest of the incoming class of recruits.
Then my next question is what do I say when they ask why I'm graduating late / in December? The inspiration for this thread was from a real informational-interview type call with an alumnus.
He had asked if I were going into my junior year and I said no, senior, but that I'd be graduating in December instead of May. That led to "why?" and my answer of "to focus more on my academics and give myself another opportunity to gain experience in banking over the summer" (note: I'm at a boutique right now but it's essentially coldcalling and no modeling) wasn't good enough and the conversation quickly spiraled downhill from there.
Maybe I'm over-thinking it but I feel like I need a really solid answer to that question.
No. List your expected graduation date as Dec 2012. Recruiting for FT buckets Dec/January graduateswith graduates next semester. Calling it a January 2013 graduation is probably ok- that is not a material misstatement of fact like putting June 2013 would be.
I find it amusing that the OP's "remedy" for graduating a semester late is to put down an even later date.
He could be graduating 1/2 year early, for all we know.
Put the proper date. You will be lumped in with the same FT candidates as if you put the other date.
He could be, except that he said that the "normal" graduation date is May 2012 and that one is extending their stay at college.
Yes, but is he going to be telling recruiters that?
My initial post simply said that I was amused, nothing else. Didn't say anything about what to tell recruiters. Everyone who read the OP's post knows that he's graduating late, and I'm just commenting that it's funny to me that he's thinking about putting down a later date (even if the recruiters don't think so).
I can't believe I just spent time to write two extra posts to explain my inane comment. I'm done here.
I say play both sides: stay that last semester taking 2 credits if need be. I was in this situation and did what you're talking about. Whatever the recruiters want to hear is the new version of reality, and an offer makes it the formal 'truth'.
Anyone have an answer to my last post about how to handle this in informational interviews?
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