What To Do When Really Bad Stuff Happens

Everything gone wrong at work? Whether you’ve lost your job, told a few fibs and got busted or pulled a fake sickie and bumped into your boss, we’ve got you covered.

- Clare Thorp

Bad stuff happens. This is a universal truth. But when the proverbial sh*t hits the fan, remember two things: first, failure is fundamental to success, and second, there’s always something you can do. We spoke to those who had been there and fixed the problem. Here’s what they learnt...

YOU LIED ON YOUR CV AND GOT FOUND OUT

You’ve never actually climbed Everest, you don’t speak French and, as for that volunteering you do... Clawing back a lie in an interview is tough—they don’t know you yet, and there are other candidates who (probably) haven’t fibbed. Your only option is to apologise and explain why you did it—i.e., that you really want the job. Your success rate also depends on the lie. Hobbies and the like on your resume are kind of okay (one survey found 72 percent of hirers weren’t bothered by fibs in the personal interests section), while claiming a few skills you don’t actually have is recoverable, says John Lees, author of How To Get A Job You Love—you can always say you’re planning to learn them imminently. But if you’ve lied about working somewhere you didn’t, or your qualifications, expect little sympathy. Even if you got the job and are past the probation period when you’re found out, there could still be consequences. “Your contract can be terminated based on the fact you were hired under false pretences,” says Aliya Vigor-Robertson, co-founder of HR consultancy JourneyHR in London. Worst case, you can even be prosecuted. So stick to the truth.

DID YOU KNOW? In 2010, Rhiannon Mackay became the first woman in the UK to be jailed (she got six months!) for lying on her resume.

YOU FAILED YOUR PROBATION