I have a lot of experience in recruiting staff. Over many years as a senior manager I have become accomplished at identifying the right candidate for the job. Only twice have I appointed some one I came to regret. And for one of them I was bounced into it by the other two members of the interview panel and the lack of an alternative. I am fully aware of the risk of unconscious bias, having frequently  seen it creep into the scoring and decision making of other members of the interview panel. Of course I am aware that I am not immune.

I have no idea how many of the candidates I rejected would have made as good if not better appointments than the ones I made. Although I have occasionally been surprised when some one I didn’t consider ready was appointed to a senior management post in another authority.