Almost anyone in any company can go to HR and say, "This person is great, we should interview them for position X" and they will go to the top of the pile. If

Almost anyone in any company can go to HR and say, "This person is great, we should interview them for position X" and they will go to the top of the pile. If you reach out to someone you know at a company, if they like you, and you are good, usually you can get an interview there. Contacts are also good at helping you find unposted jobs. You have to "Reach out" first. Contacts can also recommend you to a hiring manager. The best hiring managers trust a reference based on a long working relationship over 30-45 minutes in an interview. But you have to "reach out" first.