Fit, as a rejection reason explained.

I had written about this a few years ago and the link is added in the description for those who’d like to read it https://www.bhumikazhaveri.com/post/enough-with-the-fit-nonsense from Jan 2017.

Now, my thoughts on many things have changed and updated as we grow as professionals but one thing I am still convinced about is that “fit” as a rejection feedback to a job, a project or a team or a business is more or less biased; packed politically correctly.

Let me explain this in easier ways: If you were rejected in a fast growing startup based on fit because the rest of them were wearing hoodies and were younger, then you can see that there is an underlying conscious or unconscious bias there. Whoever was in charge of the decision had an underlying bias that you were not going to be comfortable or happy with the culture of the business or the dress code and other assumptions they may have made without actually clarifying them as concerns which should ideally be tackled in an interview.

Another example is if you were successful in all interviews at a company but one, where the feedback was fit related rejection; you should know that a particular individual has a bias against some part of you, it has nothing to do with your capability or the business but their personal bias which they are projecting in professional, unprofessionalism. This doesn’t mean that you change who you are, to fit every single person and company; because that is impossible and not authentic, it simply means that someone has issues and is unable to accept someone different, for various reasons including insecurity bias in professionals.

I have heard from many here who have often complained about getting rejected for not being the right fit, and not really being able to understand how they can do better, because you can’t do better to please someone or some companies “fit” agenda. Plus explaining this concept is like explaining it was OK for a girl to be harassed because of the way she was dressed, because it is not OK under any circumstance.

I suspect Fit was introduced as a way of rejection a long time ago when people still hired based on their “gut” feeling… when gut was classed as not the right way to make a decision by HR because it was obviously biased and everyone’s gut is based on their own being, fit as a fancy alternative was introduced and since has been used like an unstoppable machine. If there is no reason to reject but you don’t like the person, call it fit. If you feel they may be smarter than you, and you are insecure, call it fit… I can go on and on but you get the point.

Now I know I may have some of you disagree with me and that’s fine, however I would urge the ones who disagree to either explain their understanding of fit as a rejection feedback so we can all see from your point of view, because most certainly in my experience when you start explaining it you will start seeing the point I am making.

I am not saying by any means people do it on purpose, but then most bias is not conscious so it is about educating and questioning every form of decision we make as individuals to ensure we are not being biased for right or wrong reasons, especially when professional hiring is concerned because it affects the business and their bottom line. And for hiring teams and recruiters, if there was a competency driven or a structured interview, please give competency driven feedback and not the fit excuse, because it reflects on you as a professional and your organisation as a whole.

Please leave comments, like and share if it inspired or helped you, and have a lovely weekend; most of all be safe.

“Life is about living to it’s fullest & contributing to your best ability, paving way for the next generation!” — Bhumika Zhaveri, Author & Job seeker in modern world.