Nouman Khan

Company scandals - will they affect my job prospects? A large scandal within a company often leads to many employees being made redundant, so if this is the reason you are looking for a job, don’t panic. Prepare to be asked about the scandal, by thinking about what you will say if you are asked about your former employer. However, don’t necessarily come up with a stock answer, as questions can vary widely. Were you close to the scandal? A key point is often how close you were to the scandal; if you were in a completely different department, there is probably nothing to worry about. If it was a case of fraud, and you worked in the finance department, how high up were you on the management ladder? Executives at the top are most likely to have been the ones involved, so this is one time where being at the bottom will work in your favor. An accounting clerk, for example, is unlikely to have the influence to siphon off money from corporate accounts, whereas the Chief Financial Officer is considerably more able to do this. Be confident and proud of your achievements within the company; if you become reluctant to discuss your work, this will raise suspicions in the mind of your interviewer. Remember, many people will be sympathetic to those who lost their jobs as a result of corporate greed. Don’t give too much detail You can be almost certain that the topic will come up, and don’t be surprised if you are asked to give your account of the scandal. What you say will reveal a lot about you. Interview expert Carole Martin suggests the following two approaches: Don’t talk about it, or only mention it briefly. It will give a good impression if you say that you would prefer not to discuss the topic for confidentiality reasons, as it suggests a sense of loyalty and pride. Offer to talk about your own work at the company instead. An alternative would be to make a positive statement, such as, “I am proud to have worked for this company, and was hugely disappointed when its good reputation was damaged.” You might then want to turn the topic back to how you are the right person for the job by discussing what you learned from working at the company, and suggesting how this will benefit your new employer, should they offer you the role. Whichever response you choose, think about it beforehand. Most importantly of all, don’t worry. Your application won’t automatically be dismissed because of your previous employer, so if you have the required skills, be proud of them, as good accounting staff can be hard to find.