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I just got an email saying they have to pass because they just hired someone with my skill set.

To me this is far more hurtful and depressing than the generic "We do not feel like you are the best fit at this time".

The very best interview processes produce at best an inaccurate melange of first-impressions, stress-related (or otherwise 'artificial') missteps (by the candidate) (or, worse, a candidates' misrepresentation of his own abilities/achievements), and a glut of grab-ass frequently misinterpreted/misrepresented by the interviewer(s) as High-Minded, Thoughtful, Rigorous Questioning To Make Sure We Only Hire The Best (tm).

Chances are if "they just hired someone with [your] skill set" it was random and doesn't reflect poorly on you (and possibly not them). Don't take it personally.

Shouldn't be - and I don't want to sound cocky here.

If they pick their hires randomly like that then you don't want to work with such a team, do you?

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