The luxury of time

I saw a post the other day from a hiring manager arguing that the most "attractive" candidate is the one being picky: the one carefully choosing their next move rather than just "needing" a job. To be honest, that hit me the wrong way, especially in this market. The difference between a candidate who is "carefully choosing" and one who "just needs a job" is often just one thing: Time.

Eventually, the luxury of being picky runs out. Bills need to be paid. Families need to be fed. But even beyond the financial reality, people need a purpose. They need to be doing the work they’re good at. We also need to normalize answering "Why us?" with total honesty. Sometimes the true answer is: "I've been looking for 6 months, you have an open role I'm qualified for, and I need to provide for my family." That shouldn't be a disqualifier. Needing a job shouldn't be a penalty. It doesn't mean a candidate will be less impactful or less skilled once they’re in the seat. It just means they are navigating a reality that many of us have faced.

Let’s stop equating "the luxury of time" with "the quality of talent."