Designed for students approaching graduation, early professionals navigating their first roles, and adults making mid-career switches, the piece speaks to anyone unsettled by the gap between being chosen and being useful. It helps readers make sense of early confusion without self-blame, especially in exam-driven, hierarchical workplaces common in India. By separating entry skills from survival and growth skills, it clarifies why smart, qualified people still struggle at work. Readers gain language for unspoken expectations, practical lenses to evaluate real contribution, and reassurance that discomfort is part of learning. The value lies in faster adaptation, healthier confidence, and a clearer path from selection to sustained impact rather than chasing credentials alone while building careers grounded in reality daily.