Almost anyone in any company can go to HR and say, &quot;This person is great, we should interview them for position X&quot; 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.<p>Contacts are also good at helping you find unposted jobs.  You have to &quot;Reach out&quot; first.<p>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 &quot;reach out&quot; first.