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Background Check Question: Old GPA typo

background check GPA
New answer on Jan 29, 2022
9 Answers
2.6 k Views
Anonymous A asked on Oct 21, 2019

Hi all,

I recently signed the offer letter to join McK as an Associate (APD- Post PhD) and was sent a link for the background check. While doing my background check, I noticed an error that I committed. On my application/CV I made a typographical error on an old undergrad GPA. Objectively, the error is minor and in the second decimal. The GPA should read 8.10 but I mistyped as 8.18 ( off by 0.08) . I am an ethical person so I came clean and wrote an email to the HR as soon as I noticed reporting this error and also sent them an updated CV. I am just writing here to check if I did the right thing. I hope this is not a big deal. Praying it all works out.

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Best answer
Deniz
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Oct 22, 2019
5+ Years at BCG & Kearney Dubai & Istanbul | 400+ Trainees | Free 15-min Consultation Call

Hi,

This is quite a negligible mistake and would not play any role whatsoever in the outcome of your application.

Best of luck,

Deniz

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Ian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on May 04, 2020
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

You're completely fine. No need to worry :)

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Clara
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Jan 29, 2022
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

Nothing to worry about for that little thing, they won´t even realize most likely :)

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). Minor things, such as 1 month differences, etc. don´t matter. 

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. 

For instance, with the MIT background check I had the issue that the external name of my Amazon job is not the same as the one Amazon uses internally -and that was the name given in the certificated that Amazon gives oficially-. It was easily solved by an HR doc that explained that both were the same thing. 

Hope it helps!

Cheers, 

Clara

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Pedro
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replied on Dec 31, 2021
30% off in April 2024 | Bain | EY-Parthenon | Roland Berger | Market Sizing | DARDEN MBA

The difference is not material. Going from 8 to 9 - yes, that's a problem. Going from 8.1 to 8.2. Not really an issue.

Of course, you want to solve this in advance, and call them on your own mistake, but they won't create a fuss about this.

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Gaurav
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Nov 05, 2020
Ex-Mckinsey|Certified Career Coach |Placed 500+ candidates at MBB & other consultancies

Don't worry about that. It's minor.

Do you have any further questions?

GB

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Anonymous replied on Aug 19, 2020

Don't worry. It's minor mistake.

Good luck,
André

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Thomas
Expert
Content Creator
replied on May 03, 2020
150+ interviews | 6+ years experience | Bain, Kearney & Accenture | Exited startup| London Business School

This sounds like the right thing and I would not be concerned at all!

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Francesco
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Content Creator
replied on Oct 21, 2019
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ interviewoffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi Anonymous,

this is really a minor typo, you don't have to worry about it, in particular given you notified HR immediately.

Best,

Francesco

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Vlad
Expert
replied on Oct 21, 2019
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

Nobody will calculate precisely your GPA. the background check has a completely different purpose, so pls relax

Best

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