Yes, it can be an issue — but only if you hide it.
What to do:
1. Fix your CV now
Show the real end date. Don’t wait.
2. Tell the recruiter early
One short note is enough: "Quick clarification: my CV shows I’m still working, but my role ended in monthxx... Just flagging so it’s accurate.”
3. If asked, keep it simple
“I took time for exams and recruiting.”
That’s it
If your CV says you're currently working but you actually left months ago, that's a discrepancy that will come up during background checks. MBB firms verify employment dates. If they find out you misrepresented your status, it can lead to a rescinded offer, even after a successful final round.
Update your CV now. Change the end date to reflect when you actually stopped working. Don't wait for them to discover it.
If you've already submitted the CV with the wrong dates, reach out to your recruiter. Say something like: "I realized there's an error on my CV regarding my employment end date. I wanted to correct it before moving forward. My last working day was [date]." This shows integrity and takes the issue off the table.
Don't try to hide it. The worst outcome is getting an offer and having it rescinded during the background check. That's far more damaging than being upfront now.
On why you left, be ready to answer if they ask. Gaps happen. What matters is how you explain it. If you left to prepare for recruiting, to take care of something personal, or because the role wasn't right, just say so honestly.
Fix it now, be honest, and move forward. It's a small issue if you handle it proactively. It becomes a big one if they find out on their own.
Good luck with the final round.
Hi there,
Yes, this could cause issues later, but it’s very easy to prevent if you act now.
MBB cares far more about transparency and consistency than about a short employment gap. Problems arise only when discrepancies show up during background checks and look hidden.
What to do before the final round:
If it comes up in conversation:
Keep it factual and calm: “I finished that role a few months ago and have been focusing on recruiting and preparing for my next step.”
No over-explaining needed.
You don’t need to proactively flag this to recruiters unless asked — just ensure everything is accurate going forward. Handled early, this is very unlikely to affect an otherwise successful outcome.
Best,
Evelina
You are right to worry about this—it is absolutely a potential dealbreaker, and it’s the fastest way to get an offer rescinded, even after successful interviews. The challenge here is not the employment gap itself (people take time off for all sorts of legitimate reasons), but the fact that you presented inaccurate information. The firm screens for judgment and integrity just as intensely as they screen for intelligence.
The recruiting machine is highly structured. When you eventually get to the final verification stage—which is usually post-offer—HR relies on your submitted materials to precisely match company records. If they find a willful discrepancy during the background check, it is automatically flagged as a major integrity breach, regardless of how minor the detail seems. You want to avoid the firm discovering this discrepancy; you want to preemptively correct it.
Your immediate action must be to correct the CV before the final round and send a very simple, proactive disclosure to the recruiter. Keep the tone light and focused on administrative accuracy: “Quick housekeeping note, I realized the end date on my CV for [Company X] was outdated. I wrapped up in [Month Y] and have updated the document. Just wanted to ensure my file is accurate before the final round.” By disclosing first, you demonstrate transparency and ownership, effectively eliminating the integrity concern entirely.
All the best with the final round.
This depends on how much you are misleading them.
Where you employed when you applied? No issue at all.
Did you lose your job slightly before you applied? Unlikely to be an issue.
Were you without a job for 6 months... you may start having an issue here, unless you presented it as "2023-25: sales analyst at XYZ" instead of "2023-Present: sales analyst at XYZ"
Hi there,
What is your reason to have your CV dates not line up? As long as you have a clear reason and explain this to HR before the background check, it shouldn't be a problem.
It can only be an issue if it comes across as you purposefully deceiving the firm about your employment history.
Reach out to the recruiter to inform them and correct it. If you're proactive about it it shouldn't be a big deal. Best to clear it out in advance.
Best,
Cristian
hey there :)
The safest way is to update your CV and be transparent before the final round. You can send a quick note to the recruiter clarifying your current status, something simple like “just to update, I am currently between roles as of [month]”, so there’s no mismatch during reference checks. MBB usually treats this as a minor update if you flag it proactively.
best,
Alessa :)
