Lessons from hundreds of applications, a passed-over promotion, losing my job… and moving forward.
![Entrepreneur's Handbook](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:48:48/1*8sfeJBcpkpaPmv9Epi2Pjw.png)
I don’t believe “everything happens for a reason.”
In the face of layoffs, not getting a job, being passed over for a promotion, or some other type of career rejection, it’s a phrase people often tell themselves. It opened the door to a different opportunity.
I’ve looked at various rejections throughout my career and asked myself: Did I learn something from this?
And in some cases, there was no takeaway. But eventually — eventually — it led me down a path of working for myself.
Early in my career, working at a tech company, I applied for a role as a business analyst. I was working as an implementation specialist and knew I understood the customer’s needs very well.
One of my peers in my department had also applied for the role. She’d been with the company for much longer. But I felt confident that I had a level of business knowledge that she didn’t.
I went through a panel interview with some of my co-workers. It included the head of the department, the senior analyst, and one of the developers. I could answer all of the questions about how I’d solve problems. How I’d interview customers to determine use cases. What I thought I’d bring to the role.
Then it was the developer’s turn to ask questions. He asked about my use of SQL. What types of queries I could write. I knew nothing… but assured the group I could learn quickly.
The developer looked down at his notes. I was positive he had more questions for me but had decided not to ask them. There was no point, since I didn’t know the basics.
The role was given to my peer. I congratulated her after I was given the news, even though I was crushed.
But I wasn’t ready. The role would have been nearly impossible for me, since it required technical skills right out of the chute.
I knew that if I wanted to rise within the company, I’d need the technical skills and the business…