Sometimes, Rejection Is God's Way of Redirecting You!

An real-life experience from my early career. I joined a company as an intern in HSR Layout, Bangalore.

Although I was an intern, I was assigned actual project work and expected to contribute to the development process. Coming from an Electrical Engineering background, I had only completed a core Java course during my college days. I was still unfamiliar with UI and frontend technologies such as JavaScript, HTML and CSS.

The founders offered me a stipend of ₹3,000 per month, with a promise that it would be increased to ₹10,000 after six months.

I decided to somehow manage financially during the internship. I had to depend on my family for financial support and occasionally borrow money from friends.

As time passed, I worked extremely hard, putting in every possible effort to prove myself and establish my place in the IT industry.

There were moments when I was almost on the verge of breaking down, struggling to manage my expenses with such a small stipend and repeatedly asking my parents for financial support.

At the same time, I was excited about the possibility of securing a full-time position in the same company, which I hoped would bring some financial stability to my life.

Things Took an Unexpected Turn

Six months of internship were over, and the seventh month had already begun. I was expecting the promised stipend revision and was looking forward to hearing about my permanent position.

However, towards the end of the seventh month, the founder informed us that our internship period was going to be extended.

Yes, even after completing six months, I was still receiving ₹3,000, and now the internship was being extended!

Despite putting in all my efforts, I was not offered a permanent position.

What hurt me the most was the irony of the situation. The very founder who frequently spoke about ethics and professionalism was the one who informed me, at the end of the seventh month, that my internship would be extended.

That moment shattered me internally.

During the initial phase of my career, getting an opportunity in the IT industry itself had been a huge challenge. I came from a core engineering background and was initially inclined towards the core sector. I had attended multiple walk-in interviews across Bangalore in 2013, learning from every rejection and failure before finally joining this company.

I was completely taken aback

That very day, I went home and spent the entire night thinking about my next move. A part of me wanted to quit immediately, while another part wanted to put my thoughts and feelings across clearly.

I decided to do the latter.

I wrote an email expressing my disappointment and reminding both the founder and the HR about the very values they frequently preached: ethics and professionalism.

The response came in the same email thread.

I was informed that my internship was terminated and was asked to collect my internship completion letter.

Head Held High, Ready for Another Battle

I made up my mind to move forward.

Most of my friends staying in the PG were still struggling to get their first break in the IT industry. Now, I was back in the same race, but this time with some hands-on experience and exposure to different technology stacks.

Many friends and relatives questioned my decision to leave the company, especially when I was technically starting my job search again as a fresher.

But I had made my decision.

I gathered all my strength, kept my head high and continued looking for opportunities.

God Is Great!

A month passed.

Towards the end of that month, I attended an interview at a company located in Jayanagar, Bangalore.

And guess what?

They hired me!

The offer was for a package of ₹2.8 LPA.

I broke down in tears.

Those tears were not just about getting a job. They were about the struggles, the financial difficulties, the disappointments, the rejections and the uncertainty I had gone through.

I thanked the Almighty for the opportunity and felt grateful for the way things had unfolded. Sometimes, we may not understand why certain doors close, but there could be a better opportunity waiting on the other side.

Six Months Later – A Moment That Said It All!

My new colleagues were supportive, and I continued working there happily.

After around six months, I received a call from the same founder, the so-called tech-savvy professional who had earlier extended my internship.

He asked about my whereabouts and what I was currently doing.

Before I could even share much about my new job, he asked me whether I was available and interested in joining his company again.

And my answer was...

SORRY!!!

Sometimes, you don't need to explain your decisions. Your actions and circumstances speak for themselves.

The Learning

Many of us might have encountered bosses or work environments where people take advantage of our dedication, financial circumstances and willingness to learn. Such experiences can sometimes shake our confidence and even make us question our own values.

But a few things I have learned from this experience:

- Always trust your intuition. If something doesn't feel right, don't ignore it.
- Stand firm on your decisions, especially when they are driven by self-respect and professional ethics.
- Never allow anyone to take advantage of your willingness to work hard or your circumstances.
- Your skills, experience and hard work will eventually find the right place and the right people.
- Don't be afraid to walk away from an environment that doesn't value your contribution.

I have always believed in taking the right steps and doing what feels right, while leaving the bigger picture to the Universe and the Almighty.

Sometimes, what feels like rejection today may turn out to be the biggest redirection of your life tomorrow.