When I was a CP a century or so ago we never advertised so had no set criteria.
We had a couple of full time pilots in addition to myself and a couple of (very) casuals we would use if needed.
We got a dozen or more CVs a week even though we would never have needed any new pilots that someone at the organisation didn't know personally.
I am sorry to say I never often read the CVs and just binned them.
Yea, you sound real sorry. Give yourself a pat on the back while you're at it.