Part 5/11:
Underlying much of this discussion is the unsettling truth that hiring success often hinges on a complex and unpredictable mix of competence, timing, luck, and recruiter mood—sometimes influenced by whether they’ve had their coffee. Even highly qualified candidates can be rejected over superficial factors like tone or seemingly trivial profile details. Meanwhile, genuinely skilled candidates might be overlooked due to small gaps or inconsistencies that could be easily addressed. This randomness underscores the importance of navigating the process strategically.