One of my favourite interviews was for a job I didn’t even want.
I knew Company A from my childhood- they were a BPO that my mother worked at when I was a kid. I used to visit their offices every Saturday and my aunt- who also worked there- would leave snacks for me. My mother warned me against interviewing- being a former employee she was very aware of what their workloads were like- but I was curious about the role since it combined two Marketing roles (Red flag).
From the second I walked in, I knew I had no intention of taking the job but it made me so happy to be back in a BPO discussing the industry. I FELT SEEN!
About half an hour into the interview, we realised that the job wasn’t a fit but we still spent another half an hour chatting. I had forgotten how familiar and comfortable the BPO environment was to me. I may not have had snacks or a desk to myself (though they did offer me tea, coffee or something stronger) but it made me happy.
Ironically, I had left a BPO about 6 months prior because I wanted to experience another industry but being back in that environment was strangely comforting.
Leaving that interview, I couldn’t help but smile. While the job wasn’t a fit, the experience reminded me of how much I value environments where I feel seen and connected. Sometimes, revisiting old chapters of our lives can offer clarity about what truly matters to us.
Though I left the BPO world for a reason, this encounter reignited my appreciation for the industry and the sense of belonging it once gave me. It’s funny how life works—sometimes, the moments that don’t lead to a “yes” are the ones that remind us of who we are and where we’ve been.
Here’s to staying curious and open to the unexpected paths that shape our journeys.