I was about 25. I did actually work my way up through sheer knowledge base within the first 6 years at the company. But after several years of going for a more technical position the boss slept with a new hire who was new to the industry and gave them the position.

I promptly left the company and heard that the person who gain the position through I'll gotten means not only messed up a lot but also injured themselves doing stupid shit anyone who's been in the industry would not do.