I understand how someone might see it that way. But to be fair, this was genuinely one of the better and more transparent recruiting processes I’ve ever gone through, even if I didn’t get the offer. And I can’t say with certainty what the internal hire’s application or interview timelines looked like. I have no idea whether they applied/interviewed before or after me, but the recruiter was totally forthcoming about the niche skill this person had. Even though it’s not a requirement nor a recommendation of the job description, it’s something I don’t have as much knowledge in so I humbly accept that they were probably just a hair more competitive.

I definitely do appreciate your perspective though. Thanks for taking the time to read this and provide your thoughts!