Yes, when you have 3 years of experience, you by default haven't absorbed a lot of details, and interviewers should know that and not expect you to have senior-level answers. Which means not interviewing you for senior-level positions, even if it says "lead" on your resume. Getting "promoted" because you're the only person there isn't the same as working your way up in companies where there are other choices.

Or, you made the whole thing up to set up for the second half of the article.