215: You Can’t Hack Your Way Into a New Job: Correlation Does NOT Equal Causation!

215: You Can’t Hack Your Way Into a New Job: Correlation Does NOT Equal Causation!

From Interview Boss by Interview Boss

February 18, 2026 · 25 min · Season 6 · Episode 6

About this episode

In this episode, Sarah and Emma discuss the misconceptions around job searching and the importance of understanding that correlation does not equal causation.

Job searching can make you feel a little superstitious. One person swears a specific resume template got them hired. Someone else says it was the follow-up email. Another is convinced one “brilliant” question in the interview sealed the deal. But we have to remember: correlation does not equal causation!!! In this week’s episode, Sarah and Emma unpack the urge to assign a single cause to a complex outcome. We break down why our brains love to create neat little stories (hello, confirmation bias), especially when so much of the hiring process feels outside our control. We explain why those conclusions are often oversimplified, and sometimes completely wrong. If you’ve ever gone down a Reddit rabbit hole trying to reverse-engineer someone else’s success, this episode will bring you back to earth in the best way. The truth about landing a job is usually far less sexy than “one weird trick." 🏀 Shoot Your Shot - Shoutout to Lulu who bought us a coffee! “I've been job-searching for 16 months. I've had a good job at managerial level, but wanted to find something closer to home as the commute (1.5hrs each way) was too much with a family. I have been with my employer for 10 years so I…

People in this episode

Hosts: Sarah, Emma

Topics covered

  • job searching
  • correlation vs causation
  • confirmation bias
  • hiring process
  • career advice

Keywords

  • job search
  • resume template
  • follow-up email
  • interview questions
  • confirmation bias

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