Should we reach out to this guy? :)

[sanantone]

Difference 1: While it is taking longer than planned, you are still working on finishing those requirements to earn the credential you claimed (and you will finish! You will ). He, however, knew ten years prior that he did not meet the requirements, was making no effort to correct that, and said he had it anyway.

Difference 2: Your employer has a policy that states a grace period, so you did so within policy. Judging by the "separation," Walmart does not have such a policy but he did it anyway.

You are actively working to make your fib become truth. That guy, on the other hand, felt he was above such things. He was only honest when caught, and said he did not finish because he did not see the value of an art degree in the communications field...yet, he listed the credential to "check the box," knowing that is the value, all without having earned it and knowing it was a false statement.

If you mean applications specifically to your employer who explicitly allows a year's leeway, then those weren't lies, they were forward looking statements made in good faith. But if you mean applications to anyone else, yeah, those were lies.

It definitely depends on the organization's policy. The federal government tells you that you can apply for jobs that require a degree if you're within 9 months of graduating. Also, the advice given to college students is to start applying for jobs about 6 months before graduation. In that case, you just put the anticipated graduation date on your resume. Some application systems will even let you choose a future date.