> Sure but at a certain point it just harms your credibility

Only if it's a recurring issue. People can be a horrible contributor at Company A and a rockstar at Company B - should my entire future be anchored because of a single event? No thanks.

> I know it's standard business procedure to outright lie about these things

This is just silly. It's no different than how anyone reacts in any non-professional setting. Do you tell everyone in your life about every fuck up you make? So why expect that from our professional peers?