Is it the best qualified or the best package/promoted who gets hired next?

  .    VS.    

 

 

That's the question job candidates wonder when they don't get hired.  When you get the job , do you really care at that point why you got selected over the others.  Especially if you have been out of work for too long.

Way back when after I got hired as a facilitator for Cadillac dealerships, I was told that 200 candidates were screened, 50 invited for interviews and I was one of 17 hired.  Lucky me or was it the package and promotion on my part.  There were others more qualified [having retail car dealership experience], but they didn't get the interview/offer.

I recently sent out the above question to my LinkedIn connections to get their feedback.  Two candidates, one is best qualified - the other presents a better package & promotion. Who is more likely to get the offer?  I got many replies which you can read here.

Here are a couple of samples:

• I honestly think it is a combination of both. Granted, the most qualified may not have the best of packaging or promotion, but without the packaging and promotion the hiring managers probably won't find them.
• ...Given that in general when we are pressed for time, we will naturally gravitate to a "slick" package that is well thought out. It says that this product (whether true or not) has a smart, well organized person behind it that I want to associate with. We are painfully aware of the fact that managers and HR people are swamped now with no time to fish through the perfect candidate. They are naturally go to the best presented candidate that will be an easy sell for approval so they can move on to the next thing in thier [sic] days agenda.

One reply asked the follow up question, "Why isn't the best qualified person also the best packaged & promoted individual? I have an opinion, maybe you do as well.

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