[Peanut Butter is Good]

My resume, on the surface, looks perfect. I had it reviewed one final time by an “expert” before I began sending it out. Now, I have noticed one thing on it that is wrong, but which I’m not certain is ever going to affect me. My BS college graduation date. This was a while ago, but I am pretty much positive I graduated in May 20XX. However, the resume I am sending out, says graduated Dec 20XX. All else equal, with no typos, no lies, good grades, good experience, etc. If a company likes me, and catches this, am I likely to get blown away, or might it not matter?

AUD - 84
BEC - 88
FAR - 81
REG - 79

If I passed so can you!!

[2B.CPA]

Nothing that I would worry about, especially since it was awhile ago. If it was the other way around,(you graduated december but put may), it might matter, since it might make it look like you had a big gap where you weren't doing anything. Even then, it's not something that would rescind an offer you get later, just something that might affect the process of getting the interview. I had a similar issue, where I had a typo in employment history by about 3 months. I even told one of the interviewers when she asked about it, but I got an offer afterwards and didn't cause an issue during background check.

[Anonymous]

haha, well your ‘expert' has no way of catching things like that.

Honestly, that'd be a pretty embarrassing mistake to have to explain but I don't think you'd get fired for something like that (although you could).

If you've applied to any companies, just go on the website to your application and switch out your resume for a corrected version. Also when you fill out online applications, put the right date :). And when you go to interviews, bring a corrected version.

“Nothing that I would worry about, especially since it was awhile ago. If it was the other way around,(you graduated december but put may), it might matter, since it might make it look like you had a big gap where you weren't doing anything.”

Actually, I think it is way worse what he/she did because it could look like he/she is trying to ‘hide' a gap by changing his graduation date. Although it sounds like you graduated a long time ago and you memory is just a bit fuzzy, so pretty sure this is a no harm no foul type of situation. Now, if you just graduated last May, then the mistake would be a lot worse.

[Anonymous]

Can't you look at your diploma and see what date it says and/or transcripts and/or call your school? For resumes you've already sent, there's nothing you can do, but I'd try to change it ASAP before sending any more resumes.

[impska]

At worst, it looks a little weird if they choose to call the university to confirm that you actually graduated.

That said, I've had occasion to call various universities about these kinds of things, and while they'll often use the grad date to try to narrow down their search results, they generally don't just give up when they don't find the person. They just widen the search. As it turns out, it's pretty common for people to forget what dates they actually attended/graduated from a university.

The worst I've had to deal with was one of my own – where I mis-remembered not only the years that I had attended, but also what name my records were under (Maiden vs Married). They still managed to find me!

REG - 94
BEC - 92
FAR - 92
AUD - 99

[samdiegoCPA]

I think I only put the year I graduated on my resume. If someone gets angry over a 6 month difference, I would never work there because that just shows how terrible working for them will be.

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[mystical guy]

No problem at all. They may not even notice the mistake and it's not material. At the end of the day, they want your transcripts. That's all.

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[Author]

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