Rowan Keller: “…”
Willow Sterling knew her personality.
She revised the resume and sent it to her.
“There, I fixed it up for you.”
Rowan Keller downloaded it and took a look.
‘The changes don’t seem that big.
Did she just rephrase things?’
“A resume is like a raw photo from your camera—you have to learn how to use beauty filters and Photoshop,” Willow Sterling said.
She understood Rowan well, knowing she was reliable and competent but not great at talking herself up.
In other words, she was the type to just put her head down and let her work speak for itself.
But the professional world isn’t like being a student, where good grades are all that matter.
Many managers value interpersonal skills even more than a job well done.
Even if your work is a little lacking, you can still get promoted if you’re a smooth talker.
“Seriously, why don’t you come work with me?” Willow Sterling suggested sincerely.
“Celebrity, model, internet influencer—you name it, I’ll make you a star.
Don’t you know how to compose music?
I can find a singer to partner with you.
You write, she sings.”
“No, thanks.” Rowan Keller had no desire to be a public figure.
She didn’t like being the center of attention and didn’t want her private life scrutinized by others.
“If I told you to quit looking and just let me support you, I know you’d say no to that too.” Willow Sterling knew how stubborn she was, so she didn’t press the issue.
“Alright, you go ahead and look for a job.
But if it really doesn’t work out, come to me.”
Rowan Keller agreed.
After hanging up, she resubmitted her applications using the resume Willow Sterling had revised for her.
And what do you know, it actually worked.
Before long, she received calls from several companies inviting her for an interview.
She didn’t know if her streak of bad luck was finally over, but all her interviews went very smoothly.
She quickly passed the first and second rounds of interviews.
But whether it was a problem with her abilities or something else, she was rejected by all of them after the final interview.
“We’re sorry, but after a comprehensive evaluation, your abilities do not meet the requirements for this position.
You did not pass the final interview.”
“Hello, Ms.
Keller.
We regret to inform you that you did not pass our final interview.”
“Hello, after careful consideration from all parties, your skills and our needs are not a strong match…”
It was as if they had all coordinated to reject her at the same time.
Rowan Keller took one call after another, her hopeful heart sinking a little more each time.
They had all praised her during the second interviews, and the final interviews had been pleasant conversations.
BUZZZ.
BUZZZ.
Another incoming call.
Rowan Keller knew in her heart this was probably another rejection.
As soon as she answered, the person on the other end said in a very professional tone, “Hello, Ms.
Keller.”
“Is this about not passing the final interview?” Rowan Keller asked directly.
The person on the other end paused, not expecting her to be so blunt.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Would it be possible to ask why I didn’t pass?” The string of rejections had Rowan Keller questioning everything.
“I remember my interview scores were among the top in the first and second rounds.”
“Your professional skills weren’t a strong enough match,” the person replied.
“If my skills weren’t a match, I would have been filtered out during the second round,” Rowan Keller countered, desperate for an answer.
“The feedback I’ve gotten from every single final interview today has been that I’m not a match for the position.”
Hearing this, the HR representative on the phone looked at the message her boss had sent her and silently apologized to Rowan in her heart.
Rowan Keller desperately wanted an answer.
“Are you still there?”
“This was the boss’s decision,” the HR rep said, not revealing anything more.
“I wish you the best in finding a job that suits you.”
She hung up right after, clearly having no intention of chatting any further.
Just as Rowan Keller was starting to doubt her own abilities, a text message from an unknown number caught her eye: [We received a notice from on high.
You can’t be hired.
You should think about who you might have offended.]