Reviewers move quickly. When a CV lists a role from April 2022 to March 2024 and a form lists the same role ending in December 2023, they rarely pause to assume a typo. They note inconsistency and read the next page with less patience.
Build a master timeline before you fill any form. One spreadsheet with organisation, role title, start month, end month, and source document (offer letter, certificate, payslip summary) prevents most drift.
Degree dates deserve the same care. Conferral date, graduation ceremony date, and programme end date are not always identical. Use the date the institution prints on the official transcript or diploma unless the form asks for something else by name.
If a genuine overlap or gap exists—care leave, concurrent study, freelance months—name it once in the CV or a brief note rather than hoping no one notices. Transparent structure reads as honesty; silent contradiction reads as carelessness.
In our dossier audits, date conflicts are among the most common findings. They are also among the easiest to fix before submission day.
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