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How do consutlancies perform background check?

I have a short-term work experience(less than 2 months-making a total of 4.5 months gap), I got fire before joining business school. Should I put this in my resume or filling in the application system for consulting firms? Or just put it in the application system but do not show it on CV? Or should I totally not put this information because if i don't put it on the application system/CV, I am not lying. (And maybe say it is a gap staying with family if asked?)

And do they ask for contacts of all the previous experience? I haven't had connection with them for years...A bit embarrassing to contact ex-boss again.

(I will apply for EMEA offices for full time-not where I was from)

I don't know what to do in this situation.

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Deleted
Coach
on Apr 12, 2020
Experienced strategy consultant

I suggest to remove it from your CV as 2 months is very short and can be considered irrelevant. So you don't want to be questioned for something irrelevant.

Impress them with your case performance and prep a good fit interview to ensure the 4.5 months gap is not a big deal.

Luca
Coach
on Apr 10, 2020
BCG |NASA | SDA Bocconi & Cattolica partner | GMAT expert 780/800 score | 200+ students coached

Hello,

I would suggest to not put it in your CV. You don't have to lie, but at least try to avoid to let them know that you got fired. 
Don't worry about references, they usually don't ask for references especially for junior position.

Hope it helps,
Luca

Anonymous A
on Apr 10, 2020
Thanks! So do not put it even in the application system and when asked tell the truth? They will see a few months gap though. I am recruiting for post-MBA consultant role.
Deleted
Coach
on Apr 10, 2020
Consultant at BCG Nordics| PE and Due Diligence | BCG London, Boston & Dubai office experience

Hi,

My advice would be to first, maintain consistency between what you put in the system and CV. The two should match else it raises questions.

Secondly, two months of work experience is not a long time and if you mention it, it again raises the question as to why did you not continue there. You could invent an answer but I strongly recommend to not lie. If your previous company is not a very strong brand, I will recommend avoiding putting it there. This way, you are not lying but only putting forward information which you think is relevant

The consulting firms don't ask for references. What matters is the strength of CV to get an interview and thereafter interview performance. 

Udayan
Coach
on Apr 11, 2020
Top rated Case & PEI coach/Multiple real offers/McKinsey EM in New York /12 years recruiting experience

Most checks are just to verify employment - not check your performance at your last job. As long as you were employed and the HR can verify that you will be ok

Emily
Coach
on Apr 11, 2020
9 years in MBB Southeast Asia & China| 8 years as MBB interviewer | Free intro call

2-months experience is too short. I would think it is okay you don't put on CV, but just make sure it is consistent throughout your application materials.

Usually people won't ask about 2-months gap either. It is normal to have 2-3 months gap in between work/study/life transitions. 

Best,

Emily

Deleted
Coach
on Apr 11, 2020
150+ interviews | 6+ years experience | Bain, Kearney & Accenture | Exited startup| London Business School

Remove it from your CV; those two months are not going to make a difference in accepting or rejecting your application. Moreover, two months is so short that people will ask a lot of questions and probably see it as an irrelevant experience. Keeping it on there will not benefit you (regardless of being fired). 

In my experience, they won't ask for your boss as this can be extremely sensitive. The background check is usually an external check that a company does to the extent possible. Keep in mind that if you are applying in another region than your citizenship it is unlikely that they will get much information. 

Clara
Coach
on Apr 10, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

Background check is either performed by some HR support functions or directly by a company outside. 

In your shoes, I would put the 2 months work experience only if it´s relevant in the CV. This is not a lie, and lies are what you must avoid -and what background checks are for-. 

In case someone reaches to your company, they will only ask if it´s true that your worked there. If you where fired and why won´t be relevant anymore

Cheers, 

Clara

Anonymous A
on Apr 10, 2020
Thank you! So do not put it even in the application system and when asked tell the truth? They will see a few months gap though.
Anonymous A
on Apr 10, 2020
For the in case part, how would they know the company and reach out? In my part of the world, they check recruitment website history and social security though
Deleted user
on May 22, 2020

Dear A,

I would recommend you in this case to leave it completely out. Both - in your CV and the system. Because this experience will not value, instead for this gap you could find better explanation, like family issues or traveling for example. Usually, consulting companies will request you submit reference certificates from your previous work experiences. This is how they do the performance check. 

Hope it helps,


If you have any further help, feel free to reach out.
André

2
on May 01, 2020
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success: ➡ interviewoffers.com | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi there,

I would not recommend to put the experience in either your CV or the application. Since the gap is right before business school, it should not raise concerns on why you took it.

In terms of background check, they will do so only if you get an offer to verify you actually worked in the companies you listed.

Best,

Francesco

on Apr 30, 2020
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi, They can just check top experiences, but do not worry about the 2 month experience

Best,

Antonello

on May 23, 2020
Ex-Roland Berger | Recruiter in 80+ Interviews | INSEAD Case Coach | Focus: in-case behaviors that persuade ANY interviewer

Hi,

agree with the other experts on leaving it our of system and CV. Make sure your CV has a consistent overall story and you will be fine.

On the part of the firm asking for contacts - depending on the companies and regions you're applying for, they may ask for a contact, but I've rarely seen somebody actually reach out.

However, if I were in your shoes I would have one contact ready that you made a good impression with, just in case - could be a professor from your business school or undergrad, or a contact from an internship during your MBA.

Best, Christian

Pedro
Coach
on Dec 31, 2021
Bain | EY-Parthenon | Former Principal | 1.5h session | 30% discount 1st session

They usually don't check work experience for entry-level ranks. 

But even if they do, they only confirm if you worked there, and maybe start and end dates. They won't ask for the reasons for employment termination (they don't care, they aren't legally allowed to do so, and the other company is not allowed to share that information).

So being fired is not a relevant reason for you to hide that work experience. If it hads to your CV, keep it. If it doesn't, you can leave it outside your CV.

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