May the best candidate win

Career experts are apt to advise job-seekers to apply to as many jobs as possible, believing that the law of large numbers means that by casting as wide a net as possible, you’re sure to get a job.

I’ve begun to wonder why that is, because while it is true that more applications improves your chances, more applications can’t inherently get you a job. You can take steps to improve your odds, but even if you do, there's no guarantee.

And that’s because you’re dealing with people. People who have their own beliefs and biases and worldview.

Consider that for every job you apply to, the person(s) doing the screening and selecting and hiring won’t choose you unless they think you’re the perfect person for the job.

Which means that not only do you have to be the best candidate on paper...but prove you're the best candidate based on a 20-minute interview and a one-page resume.

That’s why job-hunting is a numbers game, and why the law of large numbers applies. Because you’re not just applying to as many jobs as your qualified for, competing against people who have less or more experience than you.

Instead, you’re competing against people who have less or more experience than you, while also trying to win the hearts and minds of people who might not give you a shot even if you really are the best person for the job (and who just might even if you're not).

That's why interviews matter. Or, depending on your outlook, it’s why interviews are a complete waste of time. Because—when it comes to landing a job—it often has little to do with what you know or what you can do for them, and more to do with who you know, how you come across, and especially, how well they think you’ll fit in.

In other words: it’s not (just) a meritocracy. It’s a lottery.