[Cpoll]

> If [the job applicant materials] didn't get you in the first time, they won't the next time

> we had one opening, but five or even ten excellent final candidates

Under my interpretation , these statements contradict each other. The former implies that a candidate's failure is always the result of their shortcomings. The latter implies that a qualified candidate can be edged out through little fault of their own. The parent poster complained of exactly this; they weren't sure whether they were ineligible or simply edged out.