But the fact that someone who I would actually describe as top 1% of devs I've worked with can't get a job without relying on his network is kind of scary.

Isn't it expected and the way things have worked? Friends give friends who give you jobs. Applying blind is like the shotgun approach because the relationship between you and the candidate company is nonexistent and has no context. If you're a friend of Jack's from his previous company, you're already someone and you come from somewhere. Doesn't necessarily make sense, but that's how people are.

Further, exceptionally good programmers hang around with other exceptionally good programmers and in companies that have an eye for exceptionally good culture. Now, where's the link to your generic Big Co to which you send your application? Colleagues? Generally no. Management? I don't think so. Name of the exceptionally good company? Hardly unless one of the big global names. You get to keep the badges you're known for? Not really, because the field is different. Would you recognize a good CEO based on the small company he was working But the fact that someone who I would actually describe as top 1% of devs I've worked with can't get a job without relying on his network is kind of scary.

Isn't it expected and the way things have worked? Friends give friends who give you jobs. Applying blind is like the shotgun approach because the relationship between you and the candidate company is nonexistent and has no context. If you're a friend of Jack's from his previous company, you're already someone and you come from somewhere. Doesn't necessarily make sense, but that's how people are.

Further, exceptionally good programmers hang around with other exceptionally good programmers and in companies that have an eye for exceptionally good culture. Now, where's the link to your generic Big Co to which you send your application? Colleagues? Generally no. Management? I don't think so. Name of the exceptionally good company? Hardly unless one of the big global names. You get to keep the badges you're known for? Not really, because the field is different. Would you recognize a good CEO based on the small company he was working for? Even if the small company is the technical leader of designing pressure valves? And you're hiring him for the position of a CEO in a game company? He might be the rockstar CEO but you don't know the field.

My friend is a manager in a big consulting company. We talked and I suggested I probably wouldn't pass the hiring process of his company, eventhough I work for a lot more high-end technical company and would beat most of his employees technically. He was a bit stumbled but slowly realized it might be true. (And that he might not get into our company, despite his senior experience.) It's a whole different world there than where I am. ? Even if the small company is the technical leader of designing pressure valves? And you're hiring him for the position of a CEO in a game company? He might be the rockstar CEO but you don't know the field.

My friend is a manager in a big consulting company. We talked and I suggested I probably wouldn't pass the hiring process of his company, eventhough I work for a lot more high-end technical company and would beat most of his employees technically. He was a bit stumbled but slowly realized it might be true. (And that he might not get into our company, despite his senior experience.) It's a whole different world there than where I am.