Taking your accident to the interview

The following are edited questions from Career Tracks, an online discussion about workplace issues by Mary Ellen Slayter from The Washington Post.

Richmond: I went kayaking this weekend, took a nasty spill and wound up with a black eye, and I have a job interview Monday. Any suggestions on how to handle this? Makeup will only make it look as if I'm covering up a black eye. I am tempted to just lay it out there for them right away. I'm thinking they will skirt around it in case this is the result of an abusive husband/boyfriend.

A: I don't think you should try to hide it. If played well, this has the making of a memorable interview story.

Black Eye: I would definitely tell the employer up front the story behind the black eye, but do it with some delicacy. You don't want to say: "I didn't want you to think my husband beats me or anything!" There's always a chance that someone you're interviewing with is a victim of domestic violence. So be up front but sensitive.

A: Agreed. Say how you got it - not how you didn't.

Philadelphia: One caveat for the black-eyed kayaker: you might want to be careful talking about how you got it, because if you're hurt doing something on your own and have to take off time, they might not be pleased.

A: It's kayaking, not skydiving. And it's not like she's using this as an excuse to skip the interview.