#ReputationManagement #CareerCrisis #PersonalBranding #ProfessionalDevelopment
Hi everyone,
24M, software developer
I destroyed my reputation at my last company. I escalated to top management what was a minor issue, and reported it as harassment (as I thought it was). Then I acknowledged I was wrong and sent an apologies email stating basically that I was not someone who could be trusted
The company is well known
I’m not sure whether I can continue in this field after something like this, partly due to network effects. Can I still turn things around?
##Understanding the Problem
Facing a situation where your reputation has been tarnished can be devastating, especially in the professional world. It’s essential to acknowledge the gravity of the issue and understand how it can impact your future career opportunities. Fortunately, there are practical steps you can take to start rebuilding your reputation and moving forward.
###Practical Solutions for Rebuilding Your Reputation
1. Take Ownership of Your Mistake
Acknowledging your error and taking responsibility for your actions is the first step towards redemption. By accepting that you made a mistake and openly addressing it, you demonstrate accountability and integrity, which can help rebuild trust with others.
2. Seek Feedback and Guidance
Reach out to trusted colleagues, mentors, or professional contacts to seek feedback on how to move forward. Valuable advice from others can provide insights into how to navigate the situation effectively and make informed decisions for your career.
3. Focus on Building Positive Relationships
Invest time and effort into cultivating positive relationships with new colleagues and employers. Show your dedication, work ethic, and willingness to learn from past mistakes. Building strong connections with others can help showcase your true character and capabilities.
4. Showcase Your Skills and Expertise
Highlight your skills, expertise, and accomplishments through your professional profiles, resume, and portfolio. Emphasize your strengths and achievements to showcase your value as a software developer and demonstrate your potential to contribute positively in future roles.
###Moving Forward with Confidence
While rebuilding your reputation may take time and effort, it’s crucial to remain resilient and focused on the future. By implementing these practical solutions and staying committed to personal growth and development, you can turn the tide and regain trust and respect in your professional field.
Remember, everyone makes mistakes, but it’s how you handle them and learn from them that truly defines your character. Stay positive, proactive, and determined to overcome this challenge and emerge stronger than before. Your reputation may have been damaged, but your potential for growth and success remains limitless. Embrace the opportunity for redemption and rise above the adversity with confidence and grace.🌟
So, don’t lose hope. You have the power to shape your future and rewrite your story. Stay focused, stay resilient, and believe in your ability to overcome any obstacles that come your way. Your reputation may have been tarnished, but your resilience and determination will shine brighter than ever before.💪
With determination and a positive mindset, you can rebuild your reputation and chart a path towards a successful and fulfilling career in the software development field. Embrace this opportunity for growth and transformation, and watch as the challenges you face today become the stepping stones to a brighter tomorrow.✨
Rebuilding your reputation may be a challenging journey, but with determination, perseverance, and a positive attitude, you can turn things around and carve a new path for yourself in the professional world. Believe in your ability to overcome obstacles, learn from your mistakes, and emerge stronger and more resilient than ever before. Your reputation may have taken a hit, but your potential for growth and success knows no bounds. So, put your best foot forward, stay focused on your goals, and let your actions speak louder than any past missteps. The future is yours to shape, so seize the opportunity and write a new chapter in your professional story.🚀
Remember, your reputation is not defined by a single mistake, but by how you choose to respond and grow from it. Take the necessary steps to rebuild trust, showcase your skills and expertise, and demonstrate your commitment to personal growth and development. By staying true to yourself, remaining adaptable and open to feedback, and embracing the opportunity for redemption, you can rebuild your reputation and thrive in your career as a software developer. Believe in the power of resilience, determination, and self-improvement, and watch as your reputation transforms from tarnished to triumphant.🌟
#PersonalGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #CareerSuccess #ReputationRecovery
You’ll be fine. Just say you got laid off or you quit for family reasons.
Get a new job. No one needs to know.
OP. I am 40 yr old while I am looking for a job rn I used to work as a SWE for almost 11 years. On my last job I left.
Is your career over due to network effect? Not at all. The road is still very long. I do suggest that you find a new job. Resign from the current job ONLY after you get an offer from the new company.
If you stay in the current company. Your career progress may not be as optimal as it should be.
Don’t see this as a failure. This is a lesson that you are lucky enough to learn early in your career! Good luck OP🙂👍
You destroyed your reputation how exactly? By making a big deal out of something that wasn’t? So it wasn’t harassment? Some more context would help!
Not as many people talk as you think they do. There’s not some bad employee list your former employer sends out to other companies.
Honestly, you’ll be fine. Get back up on the horse and you’ll smash the next one
1. Don’t get all paranoid about people secretly blacklisting you, you are probably not that important.
2. Figure out what happened so it won’t happen again. Problem with authority? Extreme narcissism? Sensitivity to something? Figure it out, or it will happen again in another place. Then manage it so it won’t happen.
You’re overthinking it kiddo pack up your s*** get on indeed and look for greener pastures bud maybe next time don’t lampoon yourself just deny deny deny like the managers do!
I think what you did was correct, you acknowledged your shortcoming and apologized. That shows maturity. While i am not sure why you mentioned you can’t be trusted.
If you really feel your reputation is tarnished, then start looking for a new role elsewhere and in the meantime, just keep your head down and work
Next time review your employee manual and follow the processes laid out in there. Typical process requires you to run this through HR channels.
We have all done stupid things. Just move on. Nobody will talk about it. And if they do, they will find something else to talk about next month.
Don’t be too hard on yourself- I was too intense in my first govt jobs & went on to have a long successful career.
You do, however, need to get a new job. Consider taking a job in another location to get a clean break for awhile.
This probably seems like a much bigger deal to you than it is to anyone else–especially anyone not directly involved, who is just hearing about it through word of mouth. The fact that you apologized and seem to genuinely understand that you made a mistake will go a long way with a lot of people as well.
I think we need some clarification: was it a misconception and you cried wolf or was there actual bullying and you now are being bullied into silence?
It sounds like you’re young and are just figuring out workplace politics and the social dynamics of offices.
It’s good to be an advocate against bullying. It’s not good to send weird confusing emails to everyone. Maintain your morality, but figure out how to do it cleverly and responsibly or reach out to the right groups to advocate safely.
I know someone who did this and that escalation ruined our team. It was due to some jokes that did not probably sit in with him, really shallow ones. Saying this as someone who is senstive.
As a result, psychological safety was not there anymore and basically the team was destroyed. Half of the team were in admin hearings and some have to leave voluntarily because of stress. I was not directly involved l, but I hated that person. Trying to leave as well as no one could trust anyone anymore. I wish that person talked with our lead first before going straight to HR. That lead has resigned as well and now the team has bleak future.
Might be a different case than yours but I would start polishing my resume as I would not be able to stay in a place where trust has been lost.
Learn this important lesson: If it’s something where you look good, put it in an email. If it’s something where you look bad, say it over the phone.
But even so: You’ll be fine.
You’re ok. You obviously take things over-dramatically… look at this post for example… but you are considerate and reflective and, I’ve always said, all anyone needs to evolve and move forward is the ability to be introspective; to reflect on ourselves and what we should change.
Don’t ever change things fundamental to who you are, but I’m speaking of those things within in us that would better help us navigate the workplace day to day. For me, learning how small the world is I actually control is an ongoing effort. What that means for me is, there is so little we actually control but so much can effect us, and it makes no sense for me to keep gnashing my teeth over ‘them’ or ‘that’ but to find the ways to have it not affect me, or as much.
Straight up, that is not always possible. But that’s life, and we have to keep finding a way to navigate through it. And learning as we go, tripping, getting back up, shaking it off and moving forward is not all we can do, but the best we can do.
Its over from here. Check the morning news tomorrow
Companies only care about paying less for more work.. meaning they won’t hire the dalai lama unless he can code fast. Also meaning, get good, charge fair, you will be hired.
Oh shit. You’re the one who did that?!?
In all seriousness, this will not follow you. The people that it impacted may never forget but the industry is large.
Why would you tell people you’re someone who cannot be trusted.
Meh. You live you learn.
You still have a job.
Like others said go somewhere else and you will be fine.
10-10-10 rule applies here as with most things in life.
The network effect won’t be a problem, but the most important thing is if it ever comes up, you show you learnt from your mistake.
You’re talking like there’s a blacklist somewhere that gets maintained about every employee in the industry, globally.
They’re not even allowed to disclose this shit _outside_ the company, let alone as a “here’s the donkey hat, you’re now a donkey” as if you’re at school.
For all you know you might have been coerced to say/acknowledge whatever you had to.
Anyway, you’re fine. Just learn from this or something.
I think you’re overestimating yourself my man. You’re a 24m software developer. You could take a shit on your boss’s desk and I’d not think it may have an effect on your next company, so long as you don’t mention you took a shit on your boss’s desk. I’d ride the job and look elsewhere.
I always thought blacklisting was a thing. Not sure if it is. I had a really bad boss who would say things of the effect “I can’t wait to fire you” in front of people towards me. Totally inappropriate, classic bad boss.
Once she finally got her chance she did lay me off. Thought I was blacklisted from the company, and they asked me to come back a couple years later. It was pretty satisfying to say no to them. But it also was reassuring blacklists don’t happen unless it’s egregious (I think)
You’re 24. You just got a great life lesson. Forward.
This will go down on your permanent record! Just kidding, life is long and you are young. I wouldn’t worry about your career but maybe get some help to figure out why you did what you did.
Why would you say you couldn’t be trusted? Don’t do that again. You said this was your last company, so it’s mostly water under the bridge. Some people in common to your and your last company’s network may get some wind of that and there’s nothing you can do to control that situation. If it comes up in an interview or at a new job, have a prepared narrative that is concise and which describes the situation and what you learned from it.
So, brush yourself off and get back in the industry. Remember that good judgment comes from making a lot of bad judgments and this situation is one for the books.
Finally, make sure you keep this at the forefront of your mind as two lessons learned – 1) don’t over-escalate situations, instead, try to resolve them at your and your supervisor’s level and 2) never tell anyone that you “can’t be trusted.” Instead, acknowledge that you were wrong, apologize and move on.
The world can seem small at times, but in fact it’s quite vast
Seems you’re escalating it again by thinking that 1 issue might make you unsuccessful in your industry.
I’d challenge that 1 issue is not even a problem in your company as everyone has bad days / errors of judgement. Now, 2 or more, that’s a pattern. One is ok.
I’d advise you to do 2 things :
1) don’t overthink it too much. Most likely no one is thinking about it anymore very frequently.
2) try to understand why a minor issue makes you rethink your whole life strategy in an industry you’ve worked hard to be a part of. Something inside seems unbalanced and in need of inner looking and healing.
Literally no one is going to care about what you did as a 24 year old.
Hate to be that person, but Network effect doesn’t mean what you think it means. You are basically talking about bad rep in your network – 1st, 2nd degree etc.
Having said that, you’re young and early in your career. Everyone is engrossed in their own lives, no one cares about you and your life as much as you think they do (look up what Mark Manson or David Foster Wallace have said on the topic.)
Don’t let one mistake bring you down. Keep applying to jobs, if this comes up in interviews handle with dignity and grace and talk about how you’ve learned from the experience.