The uncomfortable truth is that you can be both qualified and a DEI hire. A lot of jobs are competitive and have multiple excellent candidates. 🤷‍♂️

For some hiring managers it is absolutely a bonus to add to the office diversity mix. You get a qualified candidate and you get to feel or look good for having a diverse team.

Of course for other hiring managers, the diversity candidate gets the short end of the stick because (insert excuse here) blah blah culture fit.