One of the reputed company's  HR reached out to me for a leadership role and they were very much interested in my resume and I was very excited about the company. Its one of the luxury car manufacturer. My skill set almost (80%) fits the role and the recruitment team was very proactive and supportive. They sent my resume to the hiring manager who apparently holds a VP position.  The guy didn't shortlist me because I had only 15+  years of work ex and not more than 18 years even though my skillset fits the role.  I understand that you need maturity and of course with more experience you bring in more value add to the role but then a difference of 2 - 3 years and I dont think its the appropriate way. I am right now hiring for a solution architect role in my current job and the guy who is my best buddy got an amazing offer @Apple and I am really happy for him and he had 3 years more experience than me but when am trying to fill that role, I am not going by the number of years of exp. I am going by anyone more than 9 years exp with right fitment. 

Also, there is a huge push on hiring women in senior leadership roles but then why cant we have a broader perspective on hiring a candidates with quality of work they have done than by the number of years of experience? I am first of all not happy with this gender bias, number of years bias. Infact, I have more females in the team when we did hire since I joined not because am a feminist but because I went by the fitment of the role. We could find right fitment in Romania where all my team members are women. But in India it was all men it was based on the right fitment and right candidates we got at that point in time barring the gender, location or the number  of years of experience. Of course for the band 3 position I didn't hire someone who is a fresher, But as long as the POCs I gave them and all the tough scenarios I put across they answered I hired them. It has worked out well so far. I believe its the proactiveness and willing to go that extra mile to fulfill the roles and responsibilities. Things have to change a lot in India in terms of maturity. I wish people stop having these kind of stigma for the hiring process.

I know am talking more controversial topics today. But I just couldn't hold myself anymore. I need to just get it out of my system and one such thing has been bothering me a lot off late and I have to put it out. Never mind I dont want to talk about it its too controversial to even talk about it. I will may be rethink on writing it again sometime later.