🌍 I Underestimated My Competitor… And Got Caught Off Guard

Recently, I was working on a role that was open to candidates in both Hong Kong and Malaysia.

My Hong Kong candidate made it to the final round. 

She was highly experienced, came from a well-known asset management firm, and was one of the strongest professionals I’ve seen in this sector locally. 

I was confident she would land the offer.

But then the line manager informed me they had chosen someone else.

When I asked who, the answer surprised me: 

A candidate from Malaysia, with similar experience

But at a lower cost and lower recruitment fee

I was taken aback. 

The original budget was high, so I didn’t expect them to look outside Hong Kong. 

That’s when it hit me:

✨ My competition isn’t just local anymore. 

It’s regional. 

And maybe one day, global.

This incident humbled me. 

It reminded me that overconfidence can be dangerous. 

I thought I had the edge, but my blind spot was not realizing how wide the talent pool really is.

Yes, it upset me.

But it also taught me a valuable lesson: 

Recruitment & competition today is borderless. 

We need to adapt, stay sharp, and never underestimate the competition.

👉 Have you ever felt overconfident, only to be outcompeted unexpectedly? How did you handle it?

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