I recently found myself in a tough situation after getting referred for a senior software engineer role at a company by a colleague I’ve built a good rapport with over the months. However, I made a significant mistake on my resume — I exaggerated my experience and claimed work that wasn’t mine, thinking I could get away with it. The reality is, I really only depend on AI tools to code, and I don’t have the deep knowledge or skills that the role demands. Now, I’m facing an interview that’s going to cover technical decisions, system design, and coding challenges, and I’m terrified that I’ll fail right from the start. I’m seriously considering canceling the interview to avoid the embarrassment and the potential fallout of confessing my lies. I’m worried about burning bridges with my colleague, but I also know I’m not qualified for this position. I’m stuck trying to figure out how to navigate this nightmare without damaging my professional relationships.