Given that most selection procedures actually do pre-select people (through application forms or CVs) of similar qualifications and capabilities, and given that there are many more CPL/IR graduates than jobs available for them, it follows that a significant number more than are needed will be invited to interview in an effort to select the best available from a large pool. Needless to say, the majority will fail - at least at that attempt. The fact that the schools continually graduate more pilots than the industry can absorb suggests that many will continue to fail until they finally give up.
The reasons for an individual's failure can be many and varied, but a lack of self-awareness may be one of them, just as you found in your experience.
Recent selection processes involving Wannabes at BACX, FlyBe, Britannia and others back up my statement.
Scroggs