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MBB Background Check

Hi, I recently got and accepted an offer from a MBB firm in India. I have a criminal case under Dowry Act pending in court. It is a false case filed by my wife after I filed for divorce. Will it hamper my chances during Background Check or should I just forget abt joining MBB?

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Top answer
Andi
Coach
on Mar 26, 2022
BCG 1st & Final Round interviewer | Personalized prep with >95% success rate | 7yrs coaching | Experienced Hires

Hi there

In short, yes such case does impose a risk to your offer, but no, you should definitely not just write it off. There is definitely hope.

A criminal court case would usually not by default disqualify you from joining a MBB firm in most countries. However, it is something that will definitely be red-flagged during the background check and can have consequences. 

Now let's look at the options.

1. Remaining silent: hoping it goes through the background check unnoticed is very risky and unlikely successful. When the firm finds out first, revoking the offer is definitely on the table (I saw such case once before in BCG Europe), as Consulting firms, by nature, are very risk-averse. Don't go there.

2. Be upfront and give the firm visibility: This should be the more appropriate approach to deal with such sensitive matter. I'd suggest you get in touch with resp. HR / recruiting contact, or better, if available, a Partner you have a trusted connection with. Explain the matter - they'll give you guidance. Given it's related to Dowry act, the firm might be understanding and work out a solution that still enables you to join.

Hope this helps.

Regards 

Moritz
Coach
on Mar 28, 2022
ex-McKinsey EM & Interviewer | 7/8 offer rate for 4+ sessions | High impact sessions + FREE materials & exercises

Hi there,

MBB typically ask for police records in these background checks and it's likely that in your country there will be mentioning of the case outcome (or not - you need to cross reference what documents are required with the records where this will show).

Best you can do is to take the bull by the horns and be very clear about your side of the story. 

There's a general hierarchy of acting in those situations:

  • Best - be upfront about it (advisable)
  • Medium - be silent about it (inadvisable)
  • Worst - try and cover it up (absolutely inadvisable)

Best of luck!

Clara
Coach
on Mar 27, 2022
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

Sorry to hear about that, doesn´t seem as an easy situation. 

Background checks are nothing to be worried about, as long as you haven´t lied (e.g., saying that you graduated from Uni X when you didn´t, or that you worked in Company Y 2 years instead of 6 months). The focus is mostly checking what you said as your credentials, hence, I don´t think you will have anyproblems with your situation. 

Most of the times, they are done by 3rd party companies to which the job is externalized. If they find any discrepancy, they contact you first and clarify it with you. 

 

Hope it helps!

Cheers, 

Clara

Ian
Coach
on Mar 27, 2022
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Hi there,

I completely agree with Andi. 1) We cannot predict what will happen but obviously it's not a great situation. 2) You need to be open and upfront with HR about it

Good luck to you

Pedro
Coach
on Mar 28, 2022
Bain | EY-Parthenon | Former Principal | 1.5h session | 30% discount 1st session

As I understand it, if you were not convicted yet you shouldn't have a criminal record, and I would not expect it to come up in the background check. But it is always better to be upfront about those issues.

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