What is a purple squirrel?

Do you know the meaning of the term “purple squirrel” in recruiting?

The term purple squirrel is used by recruiters to describe the “perfect candidate” who has the right training, the right qualifications, and the right experience to perfectly match the recruiting managers’ needs. In theory a “purple squirrel” could immediately handle all the tasks and responsibilities of a specific role without needing any training or support.
The concept implies that the perfect candidate is as rare as a purple squirrel.
The term can first be traced back to 2000 in the article “Purple Squirrel” by recruiter A. Camilleri. In 2010, CBS published an article using the term, saying ‘companies are trying to do more with fewer workers, for this reason they would like ‘purple squirrels’ to cover a wide range of functions.” In 2012 a recruiter from Google, Michael B. Junge, published a job seekers support book that contributed greatly to the term spreading further: “Purple Squirrel: Stand Out, Land Interiews, and Master the Modern Job Market.”