I recently interviewed for a Crisis Counselor position and was genuinely excited about the opportunity, as I have over two years of experience in crisis work and a strong passion for supporting people in mental health crises. During the interview, I demonstrated my strengths in suicide risk assessment and overall crisis intervention key skills for any crisis line. However, I was surprised and disappointed to learn that I was not offered the role, primarily due to not having direct experience with gambling or extensive substance abuse calls. I was honest in the interview and explained that my previous role did not involve a gambling crisis line, and while I have handled substance abuse-related calls, they were not frequent. Still, I emphasized that I have a solid foundation in crisis work, and I’m actively pursuing further training to strengthen my skills in those areas. It felt unfair that the decision seemed to come down to very specific experience that was not mentioned in the job description. I assumed, as this was a crisis role, that the company would be focused on core crisis competencies especially since topics like gambling and substance abuse can be addressed during training. If an organization is urgently trying to fill positions, they should consider the value of candidates who already bring strong crisis experience, proven ability to learn, and a sincere dedication to growth in the field. I still respect the mission of the company, but I hope they reflect on how they assess potential in future hiring processes