[SKCarr]

Not really my experience in a science department at a top university in Canada. I've served on several hiring committees and also been involved in about 20 hirings over the years. Yes, there are typically 100+ applicants, but only about 5-10 of them are truly excellent.

In contrast to what the writer described, I had an experience where a colleague strongly opposed considering his former PhD student for a position because their research interests were significantly different from the advertised position.

One thing that has consistently surprised me during these hiring exercises is encountering candidates who appear exceptional on paper and deliver a decent public talk about their past research but completely fail when it comes to their proposed research talk.

At least in science, if you're truly exceptional, you will find a position at a top place, despite whatever politicking or EDI considerations are influencing the hiring process.