Bring career award does not mean absolute advantages. Because if they
directly ask "associate prof" position, then it might not work (need strong
publications to back it up if so).
At least three applicants who have NSF CAREER applied to our department (for
one junior position). The first has several OTHER NSF PI grants (besides
CAREER), - on site interview, the second one has CAREER and other grants,
pretty ok publications, - on site interview, and the last one has a recent
CAREER, but not so i