Mckinsey Background check

Question

Hi everyone,

I have received an offer from Mckinsey in Milan, IT, and I am extremely excited to be starting working there!

I am only a bit concerned of the background check, as my situation is a bit complicated and I am scared I might have over-simplified it on my CV.

Indeed, I have worked for the same company A from sept 2021 to aug 2023, and from nov 2023 to oct 2024 (it was two temporary contracts), for a total of 3 years. In those 2 months gap, I have worked for 1 month in company B, but in my CV I have only reported company A for simplicity from sept 2021 to oct 2024. Am I in trouble for this? In the BGC system, I have reported the correct dates, it is just that everything wouldn't have fit the CV and it was only 2 months over a total of 3 years, so i didn't think it was a big deal.

Moreover, I got confused with the current address section and have reported my permanent address (residenza) and not the current one (domicilio). I have already sent the BGC company an email but they are not replying since some time, and as company A was abroad, I am a bit concerned they might find my whole file as very confusing.

Moreover, while waiting for the response from McKinsey I have accepted the job offer from another company, and I have no notice period for 6 months (so i'll be able to wuit and join McKinsey without any issues). I have reported it in the BGC system but I am concerned that Mckinsey will not like it and prefer to resign the contract... What should I expect?

Thank you in advance!!

Answer 1

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the McKinsey offer!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions:

First of all, I think there is nothing to worry about since you have not maliciously falsified anything (although I do not understand how writing "Sep 2021 - Aug 2023, Nov 2023 - Oct 2024" in one line would mess up the formatting of your resume). Mixing up your permanent address and your current address is also nothing to worry about.
Moreover, if anything, they will ask you to justify your actions, which you have already done very comprehensively here.
Lastly, you are not obligated to include everything in your resume, just the relevant aspects, and you probably haven’t started working for your current employer when you applied to McKinsey.

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

Best,

Hagen

Answer 2

Hi friend,

First of all, don`t worry. McKinsey background check (done by an outsourced company) is not binary. In other words, they won`t just say true or false. They will describe how they checked you and what they they received back from their sources. In your case, they will call/mail the HR from your company (with the contact you gave, btw) and get the real information from your former employer. And they will tell that to McKinsey. I have seen McKinsey being much more ok with cases where the CV diverges from reality much more than yours, so no worries, my friend.

Also, the way you wrote your question here, you told them the correct number of months that you stayed in each company. The simplification is super understandable, since that is not something to lose time with in an interview.

Congrats on the offer!!! Good luck on your journey!

Answer 3

Hi there,

This sounds like a non-issue!

Congrats on the achievement :-)

Reach out if you need help with prepping for the job or check out my book Consulting Career Secrets.

Cheers,

Florian

Answer 4

hey there!

Shifting your mindset can be challenging - I know from my interviews :)!

To not care as much and perform better, try reframing your perspective by viewing the interview as a learning opportunity rather than a make-or-break situation; focus on your preparation and effort instead of the result, trusting that your hard work will pay off. Visualizing yourself handling the interview confidently can also help reduce anxiety.

Avoid overthinking by staying present and practicing mindfulness to manage stress and refocus your thoughts. Remember that hiring decisions are based on various factors beyond your control, and a rejection doesn’t define your worth or capabilities. By applying these strategies, you can develop a healthier mindset that allows you to approach your MBB interview with confidence and composure.

Good luck! Alessa :)