As a recruiter, I see it daily:
In about 70% of cases, it’s on you.
- You weren’t the match this time
- Someone else made a stronger impression
- You didn’t prepare like your life depended on it
- You didn’t dress for success
- Your energy didn’t lead the room
- You held back instead of owning it
- You spoke of tasks instead of transformation
- You threw your previous employer under the bus
- You left your real story untold
- Sorry but you sucked at the interview
But in the other 30%, it’s not.
- Politics outweighed potential
- Budgets froze overnight
- An internal favorite was already chosen
- Every box was ticked, but chemistry wasn’t there
- Timing slipped out of sync
- The leader felt your strength and mistook it for threat
- The company wasn’t ready for someone of your calibre
- You saw too clearly what they wanted to hide
- Your confidence triggered their insecurity
- They wanted comfort, not challenge
- They measured skills but missed substance
- They were fishing, not hiring
- They played safe instead of smart
That’s not failure.
That’s feedback.
Here’s the 180° shift:
When it doesn’t work out, don’t collapse.
Rise.
You just gained clarity.
Hiring may follow business logic,
but the final decision is always human.
When you show up trusting that what unfolds serves the highest good for all,
you never lose.
You simply move closer to what’s truly yours.