Lied during a job interview

[VincentR]

Spoiler: Leaving this up, but it's all good now

Hello Escapists. So, I got the interview for a job I REALLY want: campus security at my Uni. It's my second time applying - first time was about eight months ago, and I was just too nervous and inexperienced during the interview (it was my first job interview, and I didn't practice or prepare myself for it at all beforehand), as I was told today during this one.

This time, though, things went perfect - I talked to some friends, had a several hour conversation with a local judge on what to expect and what I should think about in regards to answers, and I don't believe I have ever been this confident before in my life, to be honest. By the end of the interview, it was actually a pretty casual affair; we were all laughing, talking about things that my job would involve - talking about what THEIR jobs involved.

Then the interview ended, and they showed me around the police station, introduced me to some of the officers. All-in-all, I think it went better than I could have possibly expected. Then I went back to a friend's dorm-room and hung out for an hour or so. But then I went over the interview, and I realized my mind had betrayed me.

One question, terribly ironically, was about a previous ethical conflict I had faced in my life and how I dealt with it. And I started off explaining how a friend had brought pills to school one day; and they weren't prescription or anything, and when I started getting a bit nosy, he said they were "caffeine pills". I had no idea, and the school was already in a bit of a "lock-down" mode, and I was PISSED, that he was going to risk getting even harsher punishments brought down on the students as a way to stop any further..

But it doesn't matter, the point is I was willing to "snitch" on him to a teacher. And I fully intended to. I went to the teacher.. and then I froze. I just couldn't do it. I wanted to, I REALLY wanted to, but I couldn't.

Fast forward to the interview: "and I went to the teacher and told him. It turned out they were essentially just sugar/caffeine pills, so he didn't get any in any real trouble - but he was pissed at me. Didn't talk to me for several weeks."

WHY!? I didn't even think about it while I said it - I didn't go into that interview intending to lie.

I'm not a liar; in fact I'm stupidly honest. First day of Uni. Army ROTC, I raised my hand and admitted I was, at that moment, medically disqualified from military service due to medication restrictions. And of course, the Sergeant promptly told me to fuck off, by way of saying "Okay, you can attend all the exercises - but you won't get any equipment, gear, or anything else, aside from verbal instruction."

I'm so pissed off and disgusted with myself; so I'm going back to the station first thing in the morning, and I'm apologizing in person to each person involved with the interview for wasting their time and being unhonest with them.

I've already decided that. But I guess.. I just need a push. I need someone else to tell me that in this situation, being honest WILL end better than letting them find out themselves via back-ground check. That I'm doing the right thing. Or hell; maybe you guys have some proof that I should just keep my stupid mouth shut.

TL;DR = I want this job. SO BADLY. And I need the money. But I'm not a liar - and I don't know why I lied to these guys. I'm going to go back tomorrow morning and tell them the truth. Worst (most likely) case, I probably don't get the job. Best case (impossible chances) - they don't get any better applicants, and feel that my honesty slightly reverses my previous lie. I've already decided to tell them - I just, apparently, need someone to tell me "Do it. Just do it."

Ugh. Maybe I'll wake up, and it has all been a terrible dream.

Edit: Alright, thanks for the help guys. I obviously overreacted to what *I* felt was a big deal at the time, but I guess it's all good now.

 

[Cptntequila]

I handle interviews on a quite regular basis and the lie you told is really not a big deal. They just wanted an example of where your moral compass points. Clearly you are an honest person judging by your (over)reaction to this white lie. If you would have lied about something really relevant to the job that would matter. For instance prior experience or drug use. It sounds like you are really passionate about this opportunity and thats the most important factor. Every employer is looking for dependable people who actually WANT to have the job and will take pride in doing it well. You want the job to help people, no big deal that you told a little lie about something that may or may not have happened back in school. Its not like you lied about taking a bullet for the President. I am also certain that they will not be doing such a thorough background check that they will call your old teacher.

So what that you told a little lie during the interview? To be honest everyone tells little lies during the interview process ("My biggest weakness? Oh, well I'm a bit of an overachiever"). Some people go as far as making up information on their CV, which you will get busted for and definitely lose the job.

You haven't done anything out of the ordinary. Relax, take a chill pill and enjoy the chance life has given you to start a new and exciting career path.

 

[Giftfromme]

uh what? why is this a dilemma? lol. It's not as if they can find out the truth, so who cares? Why on earth would you go back and tell them the truth? people lie all the time, its how some positions are secured. but if the feel the truth will set you free or whatever, go back and take your chances!

 

[bluepilot]

It is just a little lie. Do not worry about it. The lies that employers tend to worry about are, `I was just holding these for a friend`, `I got arrested once but it totally was not my fault`, and the best one, `I did not realize that I had to use my OWN blood sample in the Hepatitis C screening`. Or, if you lie about work experiences, languages you don`t speak, skills and qualifications that you do not have...these kind of lies get you into trouble. The anecdotes you give in a job interview are used to assess your ability to communicate and turn conceptual ideas into concrete images based on your own experience. Therefore, it is quite common to change some of the anecdotes from your life so they can fit the interview/job description better. They will probably use the story you gave to assess your understanding of integrity, rather than your own morality e.g. the want to understand what integrity means to you, even if you do not always follow your ideals in real-life situations because all human beings are filled with contradictions.

 

[Mr_spamamam]

Employers lie all the time, especially concerning holiday requests, so it really doesn't matter. its not like you are going to do a worse job just because of a white lie. I would have been more worried if you had stitched up your friend and gotten him into trouble

 

[renegade7]

So I actually had some similar stress regarding my college interviews, and after quite a bit of research I can tell you that this is not a big deal...You didn't really lie so much as tell a story. Little stories like that won't kill you, and it's not like something they can actually go dig up. A highly competitive job might look into your past (like if you're applying to be CEO somewhere), but the employers for a part time campus job in all likelihood don't care. People tell stories ALL THE TIME in interviews. When they ask a question like that, all they want to know is where your moral compass is pointing. They FULLY EXPECT you to make something up. The idea is that the question is asked during your interview so that any story you tell will either be 1.) rooted in your morals and ideals (since stories based on truth are easiest to tell) or 2.) true.

Now, if you had lied outright about your criminal record or job history, then you would be in trouble. This? Nothing.

 

[manic_depressive13]

I think you need to calm down before you do something foolish. It doesn't matter that you lied. That lie was about as inconsequential as they get.

Just think of it this way. If they found out the truth from a third party, I can guarantee you they would not give the smallest shit that you glossed over the story a bit. However, if you go confessing to them and begging forgiveness, all flustered over something so inconsequential, they're going to think you're fucking mental. The lie is not an issue but your overreaction is.

 

[VincentR]

I've thought about it more, and you're all obviously right. I think I just got flustered over it after finally getting a second chance at the job, and then doing what I thought was a stupid, stupid thing - I just flipped my s***.

Thanks for the help, everyone.

 

[labman100]

The responses here do not seem to be from anyone with a law enforcement background. As a retired police commander that has participated in 100's of applicant interviews I can tell you that honesty is absolute. As a police officer you will be called to testify in court and your testimony is presumed to be honest because you are a police officer. Your integrity is your most valuable asset. In this particular situation I find it hard to believe that you did not alter the story to enhance your appearance. I do not believe that you had a memory laps nor will the officers who do your background check. Most police agencies do intense background screenings (at least where I come from). You seem to agonize over being untruthful: however, is this your conscious getting to you or are you just afraid of being found out? What is your integrity worth? In the scheme of things what you said was minor; however, if I had interviewed you and discovered the truth I would look at it from a stand point that if you lied about this what else would you lie about. So I will ask again, what is your integrity worth?