[jon-wood]

I’ve hired at multiple smaller startups, and the rule has always been that if someone gets referred by an existing member of staff then the referrer isn’t involved in the interview process beyond being a high confidence reference check.

[throwawaythekey]

My experience at a startup is if you get referred you get hired. We are ~50 people and about half are friends/contacts of previous employees.

[ozim]

100% that.

Networking gets you to be exposed to opportunities at those companies, maybe some tips to prepare for something specific for that company. But it is not going to take away hard work that needs to be done.