One Rejection, Three Lessons
Not the Win I wanted, but the Wisdom I needed
This was not how I planned it in my head
I thought I would come back with the major announcement. My silence was not in vain and I could explain it. I had clinched the job I had prepared neaarly 5 months to prepare for. I was going to share how good things come to those who wait. The adversities. The sacrifices that were made and of course, use that as an inspiration for others. A major annoucement but not the usual Linkedin Style--I hate those. I was going to share with you HOW I got it. And then yeah, maybe there was going to be a little blowup and just maybe I would finally get some comments from y'all. And then wrap the success with Thanos-like gazing at a sunset.
Spoiler alert: there’s no twist ending here. I didn’t get the job.
Apart from the rejection email, there’s nothing glamorous to report. It’s taken me weeks to admit this because shame is such a powerful force. Success has many friends, but failure? It’s a lonely, forsaken orphan—pardon the dramatics, but this wasn’t how it was supposed to pan out.
So here I am, back like a prodigal son at the end of his wits. No quips, no anecdotes—just failure. And while failure may not be the healthiest motivator, it’s certainly a great teacher. Trust me, I got asked this question during the interview. If I could reanswer I will share all that I have reflected in the past weeks:
1. Journey Over Destination: Putting this first in case you are a TLDR person. I had seen myself in the role-a bit of delulu you might say but the right dose of motivation for your dream job. And so when I dropped off before the driver turned off his engine it was almost like what had I gained in this drive? In my case, I was lucky because I could take my learnings while preparing for the job and apply them in my personal relationships and professional settings. But I could have done far better than that. I could have put busstop milestones between my boarding and destination to track my performance and progress. This way I am better poised to appreciate whatever outcome.
2. Never Change your Core: Don't get me wrong, whatever situation it might be for you, sacrifices will be made. You’ll step out of your comfort zone, stretch your limits, and give more than you think you can. But you must have a boundary of what is permissible. If not, failure will be harder than ever and a simple rejection will lead to an existential crisis. Let it be known amongst all stakeholders that I don't mind working all night, but I must have a 30-minute break to sing my children to bed. You define what your core is, but let it revolve around the things that anchor you: faith, family, and purpose.
3. All Buildings Have Fire Exit: Even the Burj Khalifa has a 2,909-step stairwell. An outstanding job applicant with the right amount of delulu considers a backup option. It's not because you are not qualified but there are just a lot of nuances involved in hiring. As someone who has been on a recruiting panel I have seen a great first class candidate sidelined because he didn't quite explain the company's purpose to the CEO's taste. Other external levers are diversity targets or a former employee applying for the same role. The list can go which is why your backup list must be as long as well. It's just the rational thing to do.
I could say more—like the importance of supporting your competitors (yes, really)—but I’ll stop here for now because three is the magic number.
If you’ve faced rejection like this, let us know in the comments how you bounced back.
And remember: you only need one YES.
See you soon.