[malechimp]

There. That's it. All this is a far-from-optimal filter for the total strangers. Get a foot in the door with an established insider and you get right to the last interview(s). No WBs, no take-home projects.

[non-entity]

Does this actually work in practice? From my understanding knowing someone might get you past the initial HR / ATS hell to a first round, but you mostly have to follow typical processes after that.

[Trias11]

In some cases yes.

In my experience they were even apologetic "sorry, we have to do this, let's get over it".

Once the pull to get you in is in place - it will help to put a checkmark in internal bureaucracy checklist and minimize unrelated interactions.