Previously been fired before - would this affect my MBB chances?

Hi there, 

Sorry to hear about this. 

The reality is that if they perform an intense background check - meaning they actually get in touch with people you worked with at your previous firm - that could affect your chances in the recruitment process.

Your best bet would be to cast a wide net on the application strategy and hope that not all firms go deeper with understanding why you left your previous employer. 

You can use the following guide to get an understanding of how to maximise your chances in the recruitment process:

• How to get a job in consulting during an economic downturn

Best,
Cristian

Hi there,

I'll answer how I answered your private message :)

I'm SO sorry to hear about this. That must have been such a shock to the system :/

Basically, what's done is done and you need to focus on the factors you can control.

You need to:

1) Have as good a resume as possible
2) Have a strong cover letter (except for McK)
3) Network a ton
4) Leverage any and all recruiting channels/resources your MBA provides

I don't think this takes you out of the running at all. There is a possibility it comes up for some companies, but unlikely that it comes up with all.

Hi there,

First of all, I am sorry to hear about your experience, even if self-inflicted!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

• First of all, and contrary to what other coaches have said, I would highly advise you not to overestimate the depth of background checks. In most countries, strong personal rights make it impossible for companies conducting background checks to inquire about anything more than whether you have been employed by a specific company or whether you have studied at a specific university in the past.
• Still, for the very rare case that your misconduct with your former employer's expense policy comes up, I would highly advise you to be upfront about your past, explain what happened, what you learned from it, and the steps you've taken to ensure this doesn't happen again.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there,

Q: What can I do to mitigate this?

I don’t think you can do something specific to mitigate this. However, it is not necessarily something that will affect your chances. The best option if it comes up is to be honest, take full responsibility and explain what you learned through that.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there,

This isn't good. MBB have been letting people go for the same reason and it's a bit of a sensitive topic because expenses make up a big chunk of the firms' P&L.

Basically, it's likely to come up as part of the extensive background check all MBB are running after the offer has been extended. At this point, they will really want you.

If and when it comes up, be prepared to own your actions and tell them how far you've come (exactly as you laid out). Ideally this wasn't a recent thing that happened last year…

Let me know if you'd like to discuss in more detail how to best approach this conversation.

Best of luck!

Moritz

Hi there,

Usually other firms won't know that you have been terminated, and even if so, it's unlikely that they find out why during the background check - it's usually not that thorough. 

That said, if you do pass the screening, normally your chances should be fine. 

If, as part of the interview process, they ask you why you left, be mindful that no firm / interviewer will appreciate (rightly so) learning about such misconduct. Consulting firms don't like to take risks in their recruiting decisions and will question compatability with their values. Just keep that in mind.

Hope this helps.

Regards, Andi

In most cases, they won't be even able to know that you were terminated. So the chance of knowing the reasons for termination is even lower.

To be honest this might be quite hard to get a role when you have something like this in your background. You have two options:

1. Proceed and hope that it doesn't come up in the background checks. Unlikely that it won't be raised. 
2. Address it head on. 

The first is the higher risk strategy, the second may mean that your application is withdrawn earlier, but may also give you the chance to mitigate the challenge and will prevent you sinking time into an application which won't be successful. I would personally have a quiet word with the recruiter and ask them what they think. 

Good luck!