On the day this photo was taken, I was interviewing for my dream job. I had dreamed of working for this organization for years. I never thought it would happen. Never thought an opening would come up that matched my skills. Never dreamed I would even be invited for an interview. But there I was, sitting in my car, in this suit I had worn maybe twice in my life, ready to interview for THE job that would be my thing for the rest of my time on this earth. Because surely, if I got that job, I would never, ever leave.
I was nervous, but I think the interview went fairly well. On the way out I learned that over 100 people had applied for the job. Only a handful were invited for an interview. My head began to swell with pride and my heart ached with the possibility of this career dream finally coming true. I updated my Facebook profile pic with this pre-interview selfie with no caption, so people would wonder why I was so dolled up. And then I would eventually reveal that I had landed The Job.
I went home to wait (oh, so impatiently) for the call to come offering me the job. I knew it was a long shot. I knew there was some heavy competition. But there was something that told me this was right. This was it. This was my chance to secure my place in this most coveted job at the most coveted organization.
As fate would have it, I didn't get the job. Over the 25+ year span of my career, I've had my fair share of disappointments, but this one stung badly. I had already created this vision of my dream life that would unfold once I landed this job. And then, the rejection notice.
But here's what happened after that rejection. The Vice President of the organization called me up and invited me out to coffee. I was shocked. And thrilled. And confused. She said that although I wasn't selected for the job, she recognized something in me that was promising and she wanted to chat about next steps in my career. She wondered if there was any support she could give me.
It was flattering. It helped my bruised ego to at least hear that she was interested in me. (It also helped to realize the person they hired actually was tailor-made for that position. No question.) But really, I wasn't sure what a coffee date would do for my career. But of course, I went.
Fast forward 2 years, and here's what I've learned: Never underestimate the power of a coffee date.
The coffee itself wasn't the super secret sauce. It was the chance to know and build relationship with someone that is connected and well respected in the community. From that coffee date came a referral to an organization that needed help with grant writing and fundraising. From that referral came 2 years (and counting) of contract work with an organization that I have come to love and respect. From that contract work came connection to another organization looking for help organizing some collaborative committees. That connection led me to the current project I'm working on with the Center for Mind Body Medicine, which has been some of the most rewarding work of my career.
So, in spite of the rejection, in spite of things turning out quite differently than I would have hoped, that interview in my power suit turned out just right. And here's the crazy thing. This isn't the first time a successful, well-respected woman in this community has given me a career boost. About 10 years ago, a similar scene played out with another 'dream' job that I didn't get. Someone on the interview panel recommended me for another job that I did get...and that opened doors toward the career sweet spot I find myself in today.
These women could have easily moved on after the interviews were over and someone else was selected. They could have gone about their business and wished me well. But they didn't. They stopped, took the time to think about me, my skill set, and how those skills could be put to the best use. They thought about their colleagues and connections and wondered if there might be a match. They offered their time, their connections and their reputation as leverage for my career. And for that I am eternally grateful.
I still have this power-suit selfie as my profile pic, but it's not to remind me of the day everything went right in my life. It reminds me that so much of life doesn't turn out the way we hope, but the alternate plan is often just as sweet. It's a reminder to be graceful in defeat. I planned to tell the story of that photo once I got the job offer. And when that job offer didn't come I left the profile pic there until I had a better story to tell. When I look back at that photo now, I don't feel regret or disappointment. I feel gratitude for the opportunities that began to unfold that day, and the graceful rejection that led me to the place I am today.
