#i cant help but wonder how much of the candidates decision

So, my supervisor has left and the head of the department has been reviewing resumes to hire her replacement.

There was one candidate she was sold on from the resume. There’s an email that literally says “She’s perfect.” The head of the department said after the first phone interview, “I just got off the phone with the person I hope is our next [position title].” They had her come on site for an interview.

(I met her for about 5 minutes, which, is, y'know not exactly how long I’d like to be able to talk to the person whom I’d be working most closely with.)

Internally, I’ve been thinking throughout this process that it’s not great to have your hopes set on a single candidate (of hundreds) from the resume stage.

Today the head of the department shared that her ideal candidate let them know she is going to stay at her current place or work. The head of my department: devastated. In her own words, shocked. Basically lost hours yesterday afternoon because of this news.

I am…not surprised.