How often do employers truly reject good or even great applicants simply out of cultural reasons?
It seems to me that even if your expertise couldn't fit the job advertisment any better, if you simply ... look different and have a too different sounding name, there is a high chance you are gonna get declined.
I am not asking to shame, but rather I could imagine it being a legitimate point of concern for employers to think "this guy is great but I fear he is not gonna fit into our team culturally speaking".
So I just wnat to know how common it is.
We interviewed a very qualified candidate. Answered all our questions excellently. Well, he directed all his answers at me - and completely ignored my boss. Every time she asked him a question he turned to me (a man) to give his answer. He seemed completely incapable of acknowledging or speaking to a woman.
Unsurprisingly we passed on him.
On another occasion, I was interviewing someone for a very senior management role. Again, excellent on paper, gave a great presentation, asked smart questions, delivered brilliant answers. Until we asked a question which was something like "How do attract and maintain a diverse and representative workforce?"
His answer was, basically, "Well... it just happens, doesn't it? I don't believe in racism. So if they want to apply, we should let them. I try to treat them as if they're equal to us." And then he rambled on a bit. Instant no from the entire panel.
I don't think I've ever rejected someone for supporting the wrong football team, or not wanting to go for after-work drinks, or for having a silly haircut.
Work is a team-sport. Having a "brilliant arsehole" on the team just means that you have an arsehole on the team. A 10x engineer can't make up for all the 1x engineers they drive away.
I generally had a good feel for if I would hire someone within a minute or two of the interview starting. That was based on body language and personality though more than appearance (even the body mod appearance items I listed above).