“This Role Has Already Been Filled, But Since You’re Here… (My Zoom Interview Experience)”

“This role has already been filled, but since you’re here…”

That’s what the recruiter said after 27 minutes of smiling politely through a Zoom screen that froze every time I made a decent point. I had worn a blazer. I had practiced behavioral questions in front of my toaster. I had updated my Zoom name from “iPhone (8%)” to “Alex [he/him] – Passionate About Problem-Solving.” I had done everything right.

And still—still—I ended up in the professional equivalent of someone forgetting to cancel a date after getting back together with their ex.

Apparently, the role had been filled yesterday. “But we didn’t want to waste the time slot.” Oh no, heaven forbid we waste your time slot. Let’s waste mine, just to be polite.

They asked if I still wanted to “have a conversation anyway,” like it was a casual coffee chat and not the interview I emotionally prepped for with three TED Talks and one meltdown. Sure, I said. What else am I doing? Emotional cartwheels for strangers who may or may not remember my name? Perfect.

So we continued.

They asked me what drew me to the company, and I wanted to say, “Desperation. Also, dental.” But I gave the professional answer I had rehearsed: “I deeply admire your commitment to innovation and inclusive growth.”

They asked me where I saw myself in five years. I said, “Alive.” They laughed. I wasn’t joking.

Then they hit me with the grand finale: “If you were a fruit, which fruit would you be and why?”

I panicked. I said kiwi. Because I’m misunderstood, fuzzy under pressure, and occasionally allergic to myself.

But here’s the thing: even knowing the role was gone, I still gave it my all. Because that’s what we do when we’re in job-hunting limbo. We show up. We smile through the glitchy camera. We pretend we’re not spiraling when they say “we’re exploring other candidates” like it’s a scenic route and not a dead end.

And the worst part? I still sent a thank-you email.

I STILL. SENT. A THANK-YOU. EMAIL.

“Dear [Name], Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. I genuinely enjoyed our conversation and appreciated the opportunity to learn more—even though the role has been filled and I spent $8 on dry shampoo to look alive for no actual reason.”

Okay, I didn’t write that last part. But I thought it loudly.

Look, job searching right now is like performing stand-up comedy for a silent crowd. You’re pouring your heart into each line—each story, each interview—and all you get is “we’ve gone in another direction.” No applause. No callback. Just echoing silence and the faint sound of your confidence packing a suitcase.

But you know what?

If I can get ghosted by three jobs, rejected by seven, and still log into Zoom like a hopeful digital gladiator—so can you.

Because the rejection isn’t a reflection of your worth. It’s just an unfortunate part of a system that forgot how to be human. And maybe—just maybe—the fact that we’re still here, still trying, still fixing our hair in Zoom’s mirror preview despite everything… maybe that is the real victory.

So if you’re reading this, freshly rejected, freshly confused, freshly wondering if you should’ve said pineapple instead of kiwi—here’s your reminder:

You’re not alone. You’re not broken. You’re just in the waiting room of something better.

This role may have already been filled.

But your story?

It’s still unfolding.

And trust me… you’re going to steal the show.