Taking the Chance: What I Learned from Going for a “Long Shot” Job

A few weeks ago, a job came up that was two levels above my current position at my company. It was right in my wheelhouse, something I’m genuinely passionate about: continuous improvement, building processes, and helping an organization grow beyond what it is today. The role was challenging to get internally, but I thought, what the heck? I tried.

Almost instantly, I was rejected. No interview, no chance to talk to the hiring manager—just a quick decline. I was fine with it. It happens.

A little later, I saw the posting again, this time external. I wasn’t even sure if it was the same role, but the mission still spoke to me. I updated my resume, refreshed my cover letter, and tried to apply… only to get a message saying, “You’ve already submitted.” Okay, fine.

Here’s where I did something a little bolder than usual: I reached out directly to the director. I wrote an email saying I was passionate about the role, attached my resume and cover letter, and shared my vision for how the organization could grow.

The response was honest: “Thanks for reaching out. I noticed you don’t have this one requirement.” Fair enough. That was likely why HR filtered out my resume in the first place. I responded professionally, acknowledging the gap, but also explaining that I’ve been leading continuous improvement initiatives for the past ten years in other ways, and I’d be happy to get the training to meet the requirement.

Fast forward to this morning: I got a final reply letting me know it still wasn’t a fit. And that’s okay.

But here’s the lesson that stuck with me: if I hadn’t tried, I’d never know. I could have quietly shrugged and moved on, wasting a Friday afternoon, and I would have had the exact same result. But by reaching out, I opened the door to a conversation. I took initiative. And who knows? That director might have thought, Wow, they’re genuinely interested and proactive. Maybe I should keep them in mind for the next opening.

The experience also reminded me to keep learning. I’ll be taking the basic training anyway, it’s worthwhile, and it positions me better for future opportunities. Even if I don’t land this exact role, I’ve grown, learned, and demonstrated initiative.

Sometimes, the act of trying is more important than the outcome. Taking the chance gives you knowledge, experience, and confidence that you wouldn’t get by sitting back. And sometimes, just sometimes, it opens doors you didn’t even know existed.

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Kristian is a mom of six, Program Manager by day, active Professional Photographer by trade, and a big believer in finding beauty in the everyday chaos.

Life in our house is loud, messy and full of literally everything. Love, noise, laundry, laughter, and definitely could use a bit more grace. I'm happily married to my best friend, grounded in my Catholic faith, and fueled by five to six hours of sleep per night and adrenaline.

I try to find joy in the everyday — even when it's wild, because without the little bit of joy, this life would be unbearable. This space is for the moms in the middle of it all: the ones juggling family, faith, work, and wonder. The ones that need someone else's messy life to make their own seem better or somewhat normal. You're not alone, and you're doing better than you think.

Welcome to Six Sweet Smiles — where we celebrate the mess, the miracles, and everything in between.