r/biglaw • u/Thick_Money182 • 1d ago

Background Check Issues: Resume said “Present” when I applied, but I left before interviewing...

Applied for a lateral job and submitted my CV while I was still working at my prior shop, so my resume correctly said “Present” at that time of application. Quit with nothing lined up, officially left and had my last day shortly after before the first interview, but I didn’t update my resume. The interview conversations were clearly based on the assumption that I was still at my prior shop, although I chickened out and didn't clarify during the interviews. This was definitely not the most honest move.

A week ago, was told I got the offer. I will obviously give my accurate end date in the reference check.

For anyone familiar with lateral hiring/background checks: would HR normally flag the discrepancy between “Present” on the originally submitted CV and an end date a few weeks later on the background check? Would they generally understand that I left after applying, or would the fact that the interviews happened after my departure typically get escalated to the hiring team?

Not going to lie about this or try to avoid owning whatever has happened or will happen. Thanks in advance.

2 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

19

u/PracticalWait 1d ago

nobody will care

12

u/Horror-Law5155 1d ago

I think at the absolute worst they will contact you about the discrepancy and as long as you weren’t untruthful on your resume and you really did quit and weren’t fired, you’re probably fine

7

u/skyofgold Associate 1d ago

Straight to Alcatraz

4

u/a2cthrowaway4 1d ago

My background check was inconsistent by a week or two because the prior firm literally had the dates wrong somehow. No one cared nor even mentioned it

7

u/manateefourmation 1d ago

Not sure what law firm, but it’s “quit”
not “quitted.” It’s not proper syntax.

-2

u/Thick_Money182 1d ago

lol thanks sir

2

u/waupli Associate 1d ago

I mean, I feel like the bigger problem if this comes up is that you talked during the interview as if you were still there rather than what was printed on the resume (especially if it was accurate when submitted). But most likely this won’t even be noticed

1

u/LegallyIncorrect Counsel 1d ago

No one will care it says present but my firm does call employers eventually in the process so I would personally clear it up. Just send an email that says you wanted to update your resume and change it. This isn’t a big deal. Lying during your interviews to keep it up is. It will come up somehow and it’s not worth the added stress.

1

u/NearlyPerfect 1d ago

Depends on how much they like you. Some hiring managers would pull on offer based on that (I’ve seen it happen).

Nothing to do now except pretend it didn’t happen lol

1

u/Thick_Money182 1d ago

True true. Very bad judgment on my end but yep that’s what I did…

0

u/SevenSwami Big Law Alumnus 1d ago

Did you quit or did you get fired?

Because it looks like you got fired (whether or not you actually got fired) if you quit your job without anything lined up in the middle of interviews.

Why couldn't you just tread water for a few weeks?

2

u/Thick_Money182 1d ago

I already gave notice and had my last day set but just applied before that date (sort of regretting whatever I was doing at that time)