Years ago, when I was desperate for a job, I applied at a number of places for which I felt I was qualified and found one I particularly liked the looks of. Right on the bus route (I was then without a car), good employee benefits, very nice work environment, etc. The interview went well, I felt, and the tests I did (typing, spelling, etc., as it was a clerical position) went well. I was very hopeful.
I didn't get the job and was very upset, to say the least...
Then another place I'd put in an application, where I thought I wouldn't get hired because I wasn't that qualified, called me back. In fact, they tried three times, because I didn't actually have a phone at the time (this was before the days of cheap mobile phones and pre-paid SIM cards) and I kept missing the messages from the person who had agreed to receive calls on my behalf.
The job I did get was about a million times better than the one I thought I wanted. I learned SO MUCH on that job! I learned all kinds of technical skills, I learned a lot about myself, I built much-needed confidence, I made friends and earned the respect of my co-workers, and I just plain loved the job! I even got a pay raise and the pay was more than I'd ever made (it wasn't a huge amount, but for me at that time in my life, it was really good pay).
Basically, the universe knew better than I did what job would suit me, and which job would work toward the greatest good. To this day, I still have almost nothing but good memories of that job, and enduring gratefulness to the owner of the company who took a chance on me and hired me.
So, as others have noted, if you don't get the one you thought you wanted, it may well be because the one you really want (and need) is waiting for you to find it, or for it to find you.
