There are lots of things it's perfectly fine to do or not do; that's not the issue. When it comes to competition, you must take advantage of every edge you can

There are lots of things it's perfectly fine to do or not do; that's not the issue. When it comes to competition, you must take advantage of every edge you can get. And when you're seeking a position, you ARE in competition. As an individual, there are a number of edges that you can leverage to your benefit: raw talent, acquired skills, shipped products, your network, and politics. Which ones you build and practice is your own affair, but for your future's sake at least build SOME of them.