Many times. Recommendations exist because they're more valuable than "cold-hiring". It can (and normally is) as easy as seeing someone in your network (that you

Many times. Recommendations exist because they're more valuable than "cold-hiring". It can (and normally is) as easy as seeing someone in your network (that you know, or that knows you) is hiring, and knowing of a different person that's looking. Generally you don't "get" them a job, per se, in that they usually still have to interview and get hired, but IME the recommendation shifts the interview from assuming negatives to assuming positives. Meaning, rather than an interviewer thinking you didn't do well on a question because you're incompetent, they think you're just nervous or misunderstood. Again IME, that change in perception goes a long way. I have also made it a priority to be aware of my network. Who's where, what they're working with, if they like it, but also keeping track of people that are good at their jobs that may drift out of my immediate working-sphere.