Man, sometimes you just hit a wall, don’t you? Back in early 2018, specifically around February, I was staring down a wall taller and thicker than anything I’d ever seen in my career. You know how it goes, you build up these ideas in your head about where you’re headed, what your next big move is gonna be, and then life just throws a wrench in all of it. My expectations for that month, for that whole year even, were completely up in the air.
I was working at this place, right? Been there for a few years, grinding away, putting in the hours, thinking I was on a certain track. But the atmosphere had just turned sour. Projects were constantly delayed, management was making promises they just couldn’t keep, and honestly, the morale was in the dirt. Every morning, I’d wake up with this feeling of dread, just dragging myself through the day. My stomach would churn before meetings, just anticipating the next round of bad news or impossible demands. It was draining, absolutely draining.
So, I decided enough was enough. This was around late 2017, early 2018, and I started quietly looking around. You know, polishing up the old resume, discreetly reaching out to some folks in my network. I was pretty clear on what I wanted: a similar role, but with a better team, clearer goals, and a company that actually valued its people. I was picturing a pretty straightforward hop, nothing too wild. Just a lateral move to greener pastures. That was my expectation, plain and simple.
I sent out a bunch of applications. Seriously, probably dozens. Spent my evenings poring over job descriptions, customizing my cover letters, feeling like I was back in college writing essays. The first few weeks, nothing. Then a trickle of calls. Some quick phone screens. I’d get all hyped up, thinking “This is it, this is the one!” I’d spend hours prepping for interviews, researching the companies, trying to anticipate every question. I wanted to nail it, you know? I wanted out.
I went on a few in-person interviews in January. Some felt really good, like I clicked with the team, like my skills were a perfect match. I’d leave those places feeling pretty confident, almost giddy. I’d be mentally packing my desk, planning my notice. But then the polite emails would roll in. “Thank you for your time, but we’ve decided to move forward with other candidates.” Or sometimes, just radio silence. Crushing, absolutely crushing. Each one felt like a punch to the gut. My confidence started to waver. I started to question everything, my skills, my experience, even my decision to leave my current, albeit miserable, job.
Then February hit. I remember it clearly. It was a Tuesday, I think. I was feeling pretty low, almost ready to throw in the towel on the whole job hunt for a bit. My expectations for the month were basically to just survive my current job and maybe send out a few more applications without much hope. But then, an old acquaintance, someone I hadn’t spoken to in ages, reached out to me on LinkedIn. Said he saw my profile, knew I was looking, and had an opening at his company. It wasn’t exactly what I was doing, not my usual gig, but it sounded interesting. It was more of a hybrid role, touching on project coordination and some client-facing stuff, alongside my technical background. Honestly, it was a bit outside my comfort zone, a step in a slightly different direction than I’d envisioned.
I figured, what the heck, I’d take the call. The interview process was surprisingly quick and informal. It wasn’t the usual gauntlet of technical tests and multiple panel interviews. It was more about talking through my experience, my approach to problem-solving, and how I handled different situations. No coding challenges, no whiteboarding. It felt… easy, almost too easy, compared to the hoops I’d been jumping through elsewhere. I walked out of there feeling a weird mix of confusion and cautious optimism. I didn’t have that “nailed it” feeling, but I also didn’t feel like I bombed it.
A week later, they called me with an offer. I was genuinely surprised. It wasn’t the exact career path I had laid out for myself, not the clear-cut, direct progression I had expected. It was a new challenge, a chance to really stretch myself in areas I hadn’t focused on before. After all those rejections, after all that self-doubt, here was something new, something unexpected. I took it. Gave my notice at the old place, which felt incredibly liberating.
Starting that new role in February, man, it was a steep learning curve. I had to quickly pick up new processes, new ways of communicating, and really embrace the “wearing multiple hats” mentality. It was tough, absolutely. There were days I wondered if I’d made the right choice, if I was out of my depth. But I pushed through. And what I realized over time was that this unexpected detour, this job that wasn’t what I originally targeted, was exactly what I needed. It broke me out of a rut, taught me new skills, and opened my eyes to a whole new dimension of my career potential. Sometimes, what you expect is just a small part of the bigger, better picture that’s waiting for you.
