Someone Chose Me

So I was talking to New Manager at New Job at the end of the day and she mentioned a few things.

So I outlined the timeline earlier of how I came into New Job.

Basically, my memory of the events was the Recruiter advocating for me for a Manager position when I applied for a Specialist position.

When I reread the email exchange, it's remarkable how much of that was context I applied to the situation.

See, I was referred sometime in Dec/Jan for the Specialist role.

I was invited to interview in Jan for an early February interview. However, I never got confirmation of the interview date and time. When I didn't show up (because I didn't know), the Recruiter reached out to me to check-in.  So, okay I'll give the recruiter that. I've had a phone interview with another company where the call was dropped and my return calls were never followed-up on.

Anyway, I didn't show up in February for an onsite interview (that I didn't know I had). Recruiter reached out to find out what happened. I said my aunt died but I also didn't know they were expecting me.  So, ultimately this part of the story would not have changed. I still would not have shown up but they would not have waited for me because I would have let them know I wasn't coming.

So, recruiter said okay, well there might be another role opening that might be a fit for you. All along I thought this was the recruiter making up for the mishap.

But I find out today from New Manager that New Manager was like - okay, well if she (me) didn't show up for that interview, does she want to interview for the Manager role because that's what I was thinking I would want her for anyway.

What?! Who does that? I thought that only happened to mediocre white men!

So that made me feel really good. I'm guessing now that Recruiter never told New Manager that the mishap was due to Recruiter.  So think about it, New Manager is under the impression that I didn't show up for an interview and still wanted to consider me for a higher role?

Is this what it feels like to be chosen? For those people that it happens to often, wow, what a nice feeling!

I teared up a little earlier today just thinking about everything.

Part of me kind of wants to clear my name, but I still don't want to throw Recruiter under the bus. What purpose would that serve? I'm curious to know what the whole story is though. Recruiter had to have said something, right? Would they really want to interview me if I just didn't show up or was my aunt's death enough of a reason.