I had my third interview with the SVP this week, it went genuinely well. Good flow, good alignment, no red flags. Naturally, I assumed I cleared that round. Two days later, HR emailed me asking to book a quick 10-minute call. In my experience, that usually means next steps, more details, or lining up the final round. So I booked it for the next day…And on the call, they rejected me. No explanation that really made sense.Just a short, polite ‘we’re moving forward with another candidate.’ What threw me off wasn’t the rejection! That’s part of the game. What confused me was why they scheduled a call just to deliver it, when an email would’ve done the same job. Has anyone else had companies do this? Is this normal now?

During the past months of trying to upgrade my career, I realized something important: Most people focus only on hard skills software, certificates, technical knowledge… But the biggest growth actually came from the “invisible skills” I never learned at school: ✨ Structured thinking – being able to break problems into clear steps ✨ Communicating like a professional – short, direct, confident ✨ Consistency & discipline – doing the work even when motivation dies ✨ Asking better questions – which opens more doors than having all the answers ✨ Managing energy, not time – focusing when my brain is sharp ✨ Long-term thinking instead of quick wins These skills quietly change everything — from interviews to salaries to confidence. I’m still learning every day, but each small improvement gives me a clearer path forward. What invisible skill changed your career the most? Let’s share something that helps the whole community grow. 🚀

This week I learned something surprising — “ghost jobs” are a real trend in the world… These are roles advertised without any real intention to hire. Some articles suggest that up to 30% of job posts might actually be ghost jobs. That number might be debatable — but still, it’s worth asking why this happens… and how we can deal with it. So why would companies do this? 👇 💡 Pipeline building — collecting CVs “just in case” they hire later. 💡 Employer branding — looking like a company that’s growing. 💡 Market testing — checking salaries or available skills. 💡 Internal politics — managers proving there’s “demand” for more staff. 💡 Simple admin errors — old posts that never got removed. From the employer’s view, it’s about planning ahead or keeping appearances. From the candidate’s view — it’s time lost, energy wasted, and hope drained. So how can you protect your time and energy? 1️⃣ Do your homework: Check if the same post keeps reappearing or lacks clear details (salary, start date, etc.) 2️⃣ Ask directly: Kindly confirm if the role is actively hiring or pipeline only. Good recruiters will tell you. 3️⃣ Know when to move on: If things go quiet after a couple of follow-ups, it’s not you — it’s them. 4️⃣ Don’t take it personally: Ghost jobs reflect processes, not your value. 5️⃣ Focus on real leads: Smaller companies and personal referrals are often far more genuine. ✨ Bonus tip: Follow recruiters who are transparent — they’ll tell you when a role is truly live. 🔁 If you’ve come across a ghost job lately, what did you notice? Let’s make this conversation useful for everyone who’s job searching right now.

These days I’m fully focused on my professional journey — applying for civil engineering roles, connecting with recruiters, and growing step by step in this field. 👷‍♂️ But there’s also another path that’s always been part of my life — the journey of self-knowledge and awareness. 🌙 Every day, I move between two kinds of structures: one made of concrete, steel, and precision, and another built from awareness, reflection, and patience. Both require balance, foundation, and clarity. Because an engineer who learns to build outside, must also learn how to stand firmly inside. Maybe real growth is not only about designing stronger buildings, but also about becoming a stronger, more peaceful self. 🌿💫

One thing I’ve learned in this community is that finding your dream job is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. It takes time, patience, and consistency. For me, this means improving my skills, building real connections, and staying curious about people and life. Growth doesn’t only happen in classes or jobs, it happens in simple conversations too. Sometimes it starts with something small, like talking about a great BBQ recipe 🔥 or a funny story about your pet. On this side of the world, opportunities don’t always come through official paths, sometimes they start with a smile or a friendly chat. Wishing Alex and everyone in Breakthrough Elites success and new opportunities ahead. 🌱