But why is this pleasantry about "luck" and not something else? You don't hear employers say "keep studying" or "we wish you a good effort" or "we hope you build cool stuff".
Isn't the employer referring to luck an admission from the employer that interviewing has a lot to do with luck?
Because "keep studying" can be construed negatively: You're not good enough. Unsolicited advice isn't usually a good idea politically.
Saying "luck" implies several things:
- You just weren't the right fit.
- I don't wish to imply your skills are lacking.
- I hope you succeed, even though I wasn't able to help.
> Because "keep studying" can be construed negatively: You're not good enough. Unsolicited advice isn't usually a good idea politically.
They're rejecting you because you weren't good enough (or because they suck at actually identifying talent).
> Saying "luck" implies several things:
None of which are good things about the process, because a process should be designed to drive the percent influence of luck to as close to zero as practical.
> - You just weren't the right fit.
Bullshit non-reason.
> - I don't wish to imply your skills are lacking.
We also don't want to admit that we may not have any idea what we are looking for or how to evaluate it.
> - I hope you succeed, even though I wasn't able to help.
If I don't need improvement but I succeed elsewhere in a similar job, that just means you screwed up.
Isn't the employer referring to luck an admission from the employer that interviewing has a lot to do with luck?