My First Big Interview: The Dream Job That Wasn’t Meant to Be

My First Big Interview: The Dream Job That Wasn’t Meant to Be

You never forget your first job interview. The nerves. The ambition. The heavy weight of expectations. For me, that moment came shortly after I graduated from university, clutching my Human Resources Management degree with big dreams and even bigger prayers.

My first interview was with none other than Lafarge, the French industrial giant and the world’s leading cement manufacturer. In Zimbabwe, getting into Lafarge is considered hitting the jackpot. So, imagine a fresh graduate like me walking into a room filled with over 100 graduates, all sharp, all hopeful, all dreaming. They were recruiting across departments: engineering, safety, management—and human resources, my lane.

The Human Resources Manager, a woman I still remember vividly, stood before us and gave us advice and encouragement before we began the selection process. It started with a psychometric test, and as the day went on, the numbers dwindled. You either made it or you didn’t. I remember walking out of that test completely shattered—I was sure I had failed. I even cried. Yes, tears were shed.

But then came the twist: I passed.

The results came out the same day, and I was invited for the next round. I had clicked with another candidate, a girl named Samkheliso (I hope I got the spelling right), and I kept telling her how bad I thought I’d done. Meanwhile, in my head, I had already built castles—I was going to take care of my family, build a house, get a car, thrive.

The next round was a group interview. Only 10 of us remained in HR, and they were watching how we interacted. The more vocal and collaborative you were, the better your chances. I gave it my all, but it was clear that some candidates had inside connections. Some even already worked for Lafarge. It was disheartening, but I pushed through.

Then came the final interview. Just three of us left: me, Sam, and a guy who, oddly enough, seemed to have appeared out of thin air—I don’t even remember seeing him in the earlier rounds. But he was there, and it was down to us.

Spoiler alert: he got the job.

I was crushed. I really believed I’d nailed it. I’d even told my family that the job was mine. It wasn’t just a job—it was my dream. And suddenly, it slipped through my fingers. 

I was angry. At myself. At Lafarge. At the whole process. I kept asking God, Why? Why didn’t I get the job I worked so hard for?

But a few weeks later, Sam got called back for a temporary position. She eventually left, but before that, she gave me the real scoop: the work environment was toxic, the pay wasn’t as glamorous as it sounded, and even the guy who landed the job quit after two months. Just like that. Gone. Bear in mind I am not trying to badmouth Lafarge, Sam was just telling me her experience. 

It was a moment of clarity for me.

I realized that sometimes God protects us from what we think we want. I had all these plans mapped out, but God had a different route in mind. Looking back, I thank Him. Maybe I would’ve hated the job. Maybe I wouldn’t have grown the way I have. Maybe I wouldn’t have discovered new paths—like moving to Japan, teaching, and exploring creativity through content creation and photography.

I’ve sent countless job applications. Applied on LinkedIn. Shared opportunities with friends. I’ve seen the closed doors. But I’ve also seen how rejection is just redirection.

So, no—I’m not preaching today. I’m just speaking from the heart to someone out there who feels stuck, overlooked, or forgotten. Maybe you didn’t get the job. Maybe your plan A failed. But trust me, you are not off track. God is still working. Ask not “Why me?” but “How can I grow from this?”

Maybe, just maybe, your no is making space for a greater yes.

"Rejection is often just the universe’s way of saying, ‘Hold on, I have something better.’”