This ties into the most consistent mistake EVERY manager makes - people don't change. I know of maybe 5% of people who do change, but that is so inconsistent and unpredictable that it can't be relied upon.
Managers hire "almost great" candidates and think they can affect change and get a good deal, and this NEVER works out. Any red flags on the interviews/trial period will and do persist forever. In the end, it's always the reason the person gets fired, and the company loses the time they invested into the person.
based on my experience of 10 years leading tech and marketing teams. Curious if anyone has conflicting experiences to share.
Quite the opposite. People change slowly but people's *behavior* can change a lot depending on the environment.
I've been in the industry for twice your years. I've seen a lot of people changing their behavior completely and in many ways. Mostly due to good or bad management or being in the right or wrong company or team.
I would think an almost great candidate is someone who knows how to do most of what you need them to know how to do, people not changing is generally in referral to their innate personalities and not some idea that people can never learn anything.
This is also one of the biggest dating mistakes people make, believing a partner will change. Odds are they won't, and if they do it may not be in the way you wanted them to change.
