Calling in sick for interview?

[mmyof1]

Hi everyone! (New account as forgot password to old one)
So, the job I’m working at (as a support worker in a school) was temporary until January. Obviously I don’t want to be unemployed so I recently began applying for other ones.
I received an email after work on Monday saying I had an interview that Tuesday, very short notice and everyone at school had left so I couldn’t let anyone know in advance. I spoke to a few people about what to do and everyone advised me to call in sick the following day for the interview. So I did, then attended the interview and proceeded to not get the job. I went back to work today and was told by a more senior member of staff that they knew I’d had an interview and had lied and put myself in a really bad position and loads of other stuff like I was the worst person in the world. I now have to write a statement for tomorrow about what happened and ‘we’ll go from there’.
Helpppp. Has anyone ever been in this position or can offer advice???

How does the senior staff member know that you had an interview?

What's the 'loads of other stuff'?

What exactly did you tell them when you called in sick on the day of the interview?

Bearing in mind it's a temporary position, had you asked anyone previously about taking time off to attend interviews, and if so, what was the response?

The job I applied for had already contacted them for a reference, before they’d even let me know I had an interview.
I just kept it brief and said I wasn’t well so wouldn’t be in.
She had said to me that I’m not honest and they had to cover me that day and there must be an underlying issue as to why I’m applying for other jobs. I said there’s no issue, I applied for the new one before finding out my position was permenant and then went for the interview as the position was higher and it was a good opportunity. I’d never asked about taking time off for interviews because I hadn’t received any invites. I understand I’m wrong but what can I do to ensure they don’t think I’m a total liar and horrid person. I was going To speak to them after all but never got the chance before this meeting I ended up having.

I think your best option is to be as open as you can with them, as you have been in your posts above.

Explain that the short notice threw you, as by the time you found out about the interview, it was too late to contact anyone. You realise with hindsight that you should have explained about the interview, but at the time you didn't think it through properly and acted on impulse.

Being as honest as you can now will be the best way to undo the impression that you're a habitual liar.

Agree that honesty and a bit of grovelling is the best option. You did lie, and you have put yourself in a bad position!

The problem you have is that you've given them a big reason not to trust you, and that's really hard to come back from.

Oh dear. Honesty the very best policy. If you've under two years service you won't have employment rights if dismissed. When applying for jobs make sure you tick the box saying that referees shouldn't be contacted before interview and if that doesn't exist check with your new prospective employer. And don't lie again.

I had this situation last week, very short notice for an interview and ended up having to tell my boss I needed the day off and needed to swap my working day. Honesty is best. They were fine with it.

In your OP you say you were temporary until January - no one would be surprised at you looking for another job.
But in your second post you say I applied for the new one before finding out my position was permenant which puts a completely different slant on it.

Any company that is only giving you a days notice is not worth going for an interview for. That's ridiculous you need more notice than that.

Presumably you have evidence of the ridiculously short notice for the interview, as you will have a copy of the email invitation? It doesn't excuse the fact that you lied, but it does mitigate it slightly.

I'm confused about the status of your current job. Your OP suggests that you will be out of a job from January, and again, while that doesn't excuse your dishonesty, most people would probably relate to the fact that finding a new job would be a top priority for someone facing imminent unemployment. However, your later posts seem to imply that your current post is now permanent, and that you went to the interview because the new one offered more money - much less likely to win sympathy, I suspect.

You shouldn't have lied. You could have been honest with your employer, or you could have asked the other employer for a new date with a bit more notice. However, you didn't, so you now need to focus on damage limitation by being as honest as possible, apologising for a bad decision and assuring them that it won't happen again.