Kuro writes to Ask a Manager
A reader writes:
I'm in a unique situation and I cannot find the answer in your archives. I recently was forced to leave a position with my reputation in tatters, irredeemable even, and I am not certain how to proceed.
My story begins three years ago. I was living a life that was worthy of scorn. I'd rather not go into the details, but sufficeth to say, I was not a good man. However, I had a change of heart and decided to leave my criminal career behind me and start anew. The reasons are not important; the intent is. Before my fresh start could even begin, I found myself the victim of a terrible storm (Oh those fools who continue to deny climate change! Perhaps it should have been called climate damage so that the weak-minded could better grasp the reality of it! But I digress) and found myself shipwrecked, more drowned rat than man.
A kindly gentleman took me in. I am forever and always in his debt. He provided me not only shelter and clothing, but a vocation as well. At first, I thought it odd that he hired a second butler but as time went on, I came to understand why I was needed.
My life was, for the most part, ideal. Miss Kaya's father trusted me implicitly and I made certain it was warranted. Miss Kaya was charming, though rather naive and constantly sick. The other butler, Merry, was eccentric, to say the least. Everything was the cat's meow until that fateful, terrible day when the master died in an unexpected accident.
With Miss Kaya's father gone, Merry started to let his freak flag truly fly. Miss Kaya, only being an unsophisticated and trusting ward, did not understand the damage Merry was doing to her finances.
I do not know if Merry was part of a cult or just weirdly obsessed with sheep, but he began using Miss Kaya's trust fund to replace household fixtures and furnishings. It was sheep horns and heads everywhere! And all the furniture was reupholstered in wool. Then the topiary was trimmed to look like lambs and ewes. Do you have any idea how expensive that is to create and maintain? He purchased a flock of Merino sheep and let them run wild. We were constantly paying crop damages to the surrounding farms.
The last straw was when Merry decided he was going to build an armada of sheep themed vessels. For god's sake, why? The vanity of it all was just sickening. The man was going through her inheritance like a cat through a flock of flightless baby birds. Someone had to put a stop to it.
Unfortunately, my timing could not have been more terrible. An orphan boy from the village, a foolish young man who I had warned time and time again away from Miss Kaya and her compromised immune system, started spreading dreadful lies about me. He harbored a horrible grudge against me for shooing him away from Miss Kaya's window. What else was I supposed to do? Let Miss Kaya perish from the common cold because this long-nosed liar needed validation?
No, I say, I could not allow it!
Well, I underestimated Merry's duplicity. He realized I was taking steps to protect Miss Kaya's accounts. He recruited this Usopp child into his scheme to set me up as the fall guy. Suddenly, everyone thinks I'm the one who's after Miss Kaya's money! No such thing! Her father's trust and my second chance was all the reward I ever needed.
Admittedly, I was in a bit of a panic. Feeling cornered, I reached out to some old subordinates and asked for their assistance. This was a nearly fatal mistake. I should've known not to trust those fools. They were only interested in a payout. I was absolutely painted into a corner. I had to not only fight off Merry, Usopp, my former crew, but a band of pirates just happened to show up around this same time.
Well, pirates do have a sixth sense for vulnerable situations. All hell broke loose. I tried one last time to convince Kaya to sign over her the last of her accounts to me and away from Merry before he bled her dry, but that fool boy Usopp had her convinced it was a horrific plot to steal her wealth. Miss Kaya became convinced I wished her harm and I wanted her wealth all for myself.
My old crew fought with the newly arrived pirates. I tried to fight off both of them to protect my young charge. Usopp stooped to the most devious and cowardly of tactics, recruiting mere children to fight his battles knowing I wouldn't be able to raise my hand against them.
The worst part of it was that if I hadn't called in my old crew, Jango would not have come. He may appear to be a bumbling, incompetent hypnotist but that's exactly what he wants you to think! It's all a ruse to get people to underestimate him. Through the subtle arts of mesmerism, Jango manipulated the minds of the Syrup villagers and a new story came out, one where I was the villain and not Merry or the pirates or that scoundrel Usopp.
So, here I am, my reputation besmirched, I am certain, beyond repair. I am believed to be an ingrate, a wannabe murderer of a young, sickly girl, a man who has no faith or fidelity.
I spent three long years in my position at the Gecko Mansion and fulfilled my duties to a standard that exceeded expectations. I hate to leave it off my resume, but I'm not certain how to explain my situation in a succinct and sympathetic manner. I've been out of work for six weeks now and I am getting desperate. Should I replace that time with something else? Writing my memoirs? Consulting work? Taking care of a sick relative?
Oooof, this is tricky. I don't often advise readers to go this far, but when your reputation has been so damaged that even a casual Google search is going to bring up headlines like "attempted murder" and "evil mastermind," you may want to consider legally changing your name. Trying to recapture your good reputation in this situation sounds like a futile and uphill battle.
As far as the gap in your resume is concerned, try not to stray too far from the truth. Caring for a sick relative does sound pretty close to what you were actually doing. There are many employers who will be sympathetic to this type of gap, especially if you are only looking for entry level work. As unfair as it may be, it sounds like you're going to have to start at the bottom and work your way up.
Best of luck to you! If you can update us on your situation, we'd love to hear from you again.
p.s. Did you ever consider the possibility that Miss Kaya was allergic to sheep?