On why you didn't get an academic job (or no, it's not always demographics).
A colleague commented to me that his demographic likely cost him a job.
I was taken aback. This colleague was one of my more liberal, open-minded friends.
I've heard this trope in various forms since I was in college in 1989.
I'm pretty sure that I repeated it as a young person. I've come to know that I was utterly off-base regarding academic hires as I've grown more familiar with hiring processes.
As an aside, If I ever said something like that to a reader of this post, I'm sorry; I was wrong.
Having helped to hire a few people, the reality is that gender or race rarely comes into the final hiring conversation.
Typically, when a person does not earn an offer - it's for one of three reasons.
First, the candidate rubbed someone wrong.
Let's call it spidey sense; someone on the faculty or in the Dean's office felt strongly that the candidate either would not fit in.
Because we work in small departments, perceived personality & value misfits are the kiss of death for a job candidate.
Second, the candidate's research talk was not convincing.
While the research presentation may have been smooth, the ideas may not have been well-articulated, the topic might have been dated, or there may be a flaw in the method.
Even worse, more than content, you may have come across as having hubris or being unable to answer questions.
Any combination of these factors, but particularly the inability to answer questions, will call into question your ability to conduct independent research or teach graduate students.
Absent perceived independence AND the ability to teach at the highest levels many schools will turn to a different candidate.
Third, the candidate's teaching fit just wasn't there.
Every school claims they hire the best person available - but many do not admit that their first heuristic is teaching.
All things being equal (research, personality, pedigree), schools hire candidates who fit their teaching needs.
Absent teaching fit, no matter the gender, most schools will not hire an underqualified candidate.
So, if you're a man and did not get a job, the odds are pretty good that one of these three reasons, or a combination of them, explains why you did not get a faculty job.
This does not mean demographic characteristics are never part of the equation.
All things being equal, they do. But the odds are slim they were equal.
Some set aside positions for an opportunistic hire of a qualified woman or under-represented group - which is ok by me.
No matter the gender, race, or ethnicity in the USA, at least, to secure the position, that candidate must pass all three tests - personality, research & teaching.
SO never question whether a candidate earned the job.
SO what can you do? To earn an academic job? Improve yourself!
Grumbling about who did ... gets you nowhere.
Best of luck.
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