Also - any pyramid has less jobs at top than below. By definition, you can have 100 people be as awesome as you like but if there is only one open position 99 w

Also - any pyramid has less jobs at top than below. By definition, you can have 100 people be as awesome as you like but if there is only one open position 99 will be disappointed. As such it's not about the qualities of the candidates it's about the internal politics of the organisation. Once "it's about the internal politics of the organisation" rules it's time to tear down the organisation.