"We didn't hire a recruiter (on purpose), so I've read all of them. One thing stood out. Why aren't you a good fit Our application form consists of three questions: Surprisingly enough, the question that helps to spot our potential matches the most is the second one - why aren't you a good fit? Turns out, very few people can answer this question in a thoughtful, sincere, and empathetic way."
"Note how the first sentence is a half-hearted attempt at answering the question, and the rest is self-advertising. A few people went even further than that: Why aren't you a good fit? I can only not be a good fit if I am not selected after an interview and I will like to learn how to improve. People can't help but radiate self-confidence even if nudged otherwise."
Hiring for an Educator role produced 107 applications and all were read without a recruiter. The single question that proved most revealing asked candidates why they were not a good fit. Very few applicants answered that question with thoughtfulness, sincerity, or empathy. Common responses defaulted to self-promotion, dodging the prompt, or overly confident assertions. One standout response admitted chronic overthinking and a need for teammates to encourage faster shipping, demonstrating self-awareness and actionable growth areas. The question served as a strong filter for humility and honest reflection during screening.
Read at Antoniokov
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