I Lied About My Degree to Get a Job. How Do I Come Clean?

A reader who didn’t finish college seeks advice about honesty.

I went to college for four years but didn’t finish my degree or graduate because of a mental health issue that was undiagnosed at the time. I am not ashamed of this. But with all my friends graduating, I got nervous about finding a job without a degree. So, I lied about having one when I applied for my first professional job — which I got. The degree is still on my résumé. I am very good at what I do. I have all the skills and abilities my employer wants, and I get excellent performance reviews. Should I tell the truth eventually, and if so, how?

SKILLED DROPOUT

I’m sorry to hear that a mental health challenge derailed your graduation. And I agree wholeheartedly that it is nothing to be ashamed of. The real problem here is that you haven’t expressed any remorse for your lie — which is separate from your mental health. We all screw up. But unless we’re sorry for our errors, it’s hard for others to forgive us.