She talked too loudly and revealed too much. Her answers to the interview questions were correct, but contained excessive detail. The dress that she wore to the oral board was more appropriate for a cocktail lounge than for someone who aspired to be a manager.
But no one told her. They didn’t want to hurt her feelings; besides, they knew that the company’s lawyers would be worried if they said anything beyond the approved, “We appreciate your interest, but we’ve decided to select another candidate for the position.”
So she continued to apply for promotions. She went to workshops and took classes at the community college. All of those efforts beefed up her credentials but not a one played a role in any of the selection decisions. She was turned down again and again. In the eyes of the interviewers, she began to be a perennial candidate and, although they’d never admit it, that means a doomed candidate.
She could have been a star. She had the raw ability and the willingness to learn. She had integrity and insight. But no one told her about the changes that could make her a contender.
After all, they had been cautioned by the lawyers and, of course, they didn’t want to hurt her feelings.
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