So, there is an important distinction between technical skills vs the softer political skills. I ran into this problem as I had up-leveled myself before a job,

So, there is an important distinction between technical skills vs the softer political skills. I ran into this problem as I had up-leveled myself before a job, but I was a complete n00b at the people problem. Sadly, the people problem dominates most companies, and even pure technical tracks require people skills of a different nature due to the parallel power structures.