Originally Posted by
gloopy
Actually pretty much every airline these days employs significant amounts of "targeted selection". The OP asked about getting hired at DL. A large part of that is fitting in. What you call a "derailment" is actually one of the better answers to the question than you give it credit for.
How is "fitting in" and "targeted selection" the same? Not every 28-35 year old Regional Line Check Airman with 1250-2500 TPIC and an aeronautically oriented masters degree has the same personality. The math no longer adds up in the airline's favor for pilots with 12 letters of recommendation claiming their buddy from their Crashpad is a "good guy".