Right place right time. Started as admin for a team, 4 months later the entire team quit, all the analysts and the manager. Leaving just me.
I got drafted to be a fill in due to no other options at the time and I was only one who knew the new database. I realised then the huge opportunity that had just fell in my lap, I could have just done what I usually did and just coasted, thinking that a 'job was just a job' . But I owned it, I was vastly under qualified for the analyst role but I worked my ass off. I absorbed everything one of the new analysts could teach me, I did online excel tutorials at night after work religiously.
Due to that happenstance, I finally realised that I could succeed, that I could do better, and even though I didn't have a degree, that was no reason for me not to do well, that I could learn and do things that I never thought I was 'smart' or 'good' enough for.
I honestly thought I was going to be a secretary for the rest of my life as it was the first job I got out of high school. Maybe eventually working my way up to office manager someday. I never in a million years imagined that I would be analysing data, using calculus, statistics and mathematics as part of my everyday job. And I'm pretty sure my high school maths teacher never saw that coming either.
And then it happened again a year later, the entire team of analysts, the manager and new admin girl, all left around the same time. Again, I found myself in the position of being the most experienced left and had the opportunity to just go for it. I was promoted to senior analyst, then not long after the team lead. Within 2 years my salary has risen by nearly $50,000 .
Two weeks ago, I was headhunted by a Big 4 firm for a manager position, offering more money that I ever thought I could earn ever. Which has made me doubt myself. Have I truly got to where I am because I'm good at it, or was I just as the right place at the right time (Both times)? Could being successful in a smaller company of less than 50 employees translate in a bigger organisation?
I don't know. But I'm still going to go for it regardless.