Hello,
I have a 15-minute HR screening call with a top Tier-2 strategy consulting firm. I come from a Big 4 non-strategy consulting background and recently left my firm for personal reasons. However, my CV still indicates that I am employed there, which makes me somewhat concerned about how to handle the topic if it comes up during the discussion. For context, I already passed the HR screening with this firm about three years ago as a fresh graduate, although I did not ultimately interview with them due to lack of readiness.
The recruiter mentioned that we would discuss my “motivation for consulting” and "motivation about the firm“ and align on my positioning within the teams.” Given the short format of the call, what should I expect HR to focus on? How should I position myself coming from a non-strategy background, explain my motivation to move into strategy consulting, and address my employment status if asked?
Part of my dilemma is that I do not want to lie, as it is not aligned with my values. At the same time, I already submitted my CV showing that I am still employed. Several people in France have told me that background checks are often limited, and I recently spoke with an HR expert from a government-backed employment organization who told me that, on paper, a company would not necessarily know unless they specifically contacted my former employer. Knowing that there is a realistic chance I could be invited into the interview process if this call goes well, I feel somewhat lost about the best way to handle the situation. Would you recommend proactively clarifying it, waiting until asked, or taking another approach?
Thank you !
