“Rejection leads to redirection.”
That's how Meeloni chose to begin her graduation speech, reflecting on her experience in the KPI Graduate Programme.
She'd been through the frustration of sending out job applications and getting nowhere. After enough unsuccessful attempts, it's natural to start questioning yourself. Are you missing something? Is there something wrong with your qualifications or the way you're presenting yourself?
Many graduates reach that point. Meeloni did too, but she had a refreshing way of looking at it.
“You think that maybe it's me, but you realise it's them.”
I liked that. It's easy to treat every rejection as a judgement of your ability, when sometimes it's simply an opportunity that wasn't right for you.
And in Meeloni's case, the opportunity that came along took her career in a new direction.
Sometimes you have to wait for the bigger chocolate
Meeloni used another analogy during her speech that made me smile.
Sometimes you want the small chocolate that's available right now. But if you're patient, you might end up with a much bigger one.
It's a simple way of describing something many graduates experience.
When you've been applying for jobs without success, any opportunity can start to feel like the one you desperately need. You want to get started, earn an income and put your qualifications to use.
Waiting isn't easy, especially when you don't know whether something better is coming.
For Meeloni, joining the KPI Graduate Programme gave her the chance to change career direction and gain practical experience in data analytics.
But what I remember most about Meeloni wasn't the rejection she'd experienced before joining us. It was her curiosity once she became part of the programme.
The graduate who always had another question
Meeloni was one of those graduates who always wanted to know more.
Whenever we had a training session and I asked whether anyone had questions, she was usually ready with one.
Sometimes it was about something she didn't understand. Other times, she'd ask for clarification on behalf of the group.
In fact, it became something of a running joke. If the other graduates wanted something explained, they'd send Meeloni to ask me.
I remember asking her why she was always so engaged and why she asked so many questions.
Her answer was straightforward.
“I'm just a very curious person, and I always want to continue learning and growing and understanding everything around me.”
That explained a lot.
She wasn't asking questions for the sake of asking them. She genuinely wanted to understand what she was learning.
And I think that's an important quality in someone working with data.
Why curiosity matters in data analytics
You can teach someone how to use Power BI, write formulas or build a report. Those are skills that develop with training and practice.
But knowing how to use a tool doesn't automatically mean you'll ask the right questions.
When you're analysing data, you need to be curious about what you're seeing.
Why has something changed? Does that number make sense? What might be missing? Is there another explanation?
Often, those questions are what lead you towards a useful insight.
I've seen people become very good at producing reports without necessarily understanding what the information is telling them.
That's why I value graduates who aren't afraid to say they don't understand something or who want to explore a subject further.
Meeloni demonstrated that willingness throughout the programme.
She didn't simply want an answer. She wanted to understand it.
And when she asked a question that other people had been wondering about, the whole group benefited.
From graduate programme to Absa
Meeloni joined the KPI Graduate Programme in July 2022, completing her internship as a Data Analyst while gaining workplace experience at Absa Group.
The programme gave her practical exposure to data analytics and an opportunity to build a career in a field she could keep growing in.
At graduation, she spoke about how much the experience had meant to her.
She described it as more than a job opportunity and reflected on the people whose support and dedication had made a difference.
What I found particularly meaningful was that she didn't only talk about what she'd gained. She also spoke about wanting to make a similar difference in someone else's life.
After completing her internship in June 2023, Meeloni joined Absa permanently the following month.
Today, she works as a Junior Specialist in IT Data Quality at Absa Group.
Her career looks very different from where it was when she was sending out those unsuccessful applications.
What I took from Meeloni's story
When we think about graduate development, it's tempting to focus on the end result. Did someone complete the programme? Did they gain employment? What role did they move into?
Those outcomes matter, particularly when we're trying to create better pathways into the workplace.
But I also think it's worth paying attention to how people approach the opportunity they're given.
Meeloni came into the programme after experiencing rejection. She could have been cautious about putting herself forward or worried about getting things wrong.
Instead, she asked questions. Lots of them.
She made an effort to understand what she was learning, and she wasn't afraid to speak up when something needed clarification.
That's something I'd encourage in any young professional.
You don't have to know everything when you start a new role. Nobody does. But being willing to ask, listen and keep learning gives you a much better chance of making the most of the experience.
Meeloni's story started with a series of applications that didn't work out. It led to a graduate programme, practical experience in data analytics and a permanent role at Absa.
I think back to her chocolate analogy.
You can't always know what's waiting around the corner, and patience doesn't guarantee that every disappointment will lead to something better.
But sometimes an opportunity that doesn't work out makes room for one that changes your direction entirely.
Meeloni called it rejection leading to redirection. Looking at where her journey has taken her, I can see why.
Watch Meeloni's story
Hear Meeloni reflect on her experience in the KPI Graduate Programme, the setbacks she faced and the opportunities that followed.
