Ask HN: Why isn't it easier to get former coworkers hired at my current company?

I've seen both perspectives.

In a country like Israel, connections seem to go farther than skills and knowledge which is quite unfortunate.

Just because you are smart doesn't mean your best friend is at the same level...

I see it as taking a major shortcut and a huge negative if a company would let people's "friends" in the backdoor. Sooner or later, these employees would sell referrals to their company to strangers....

Exactly. In government, this would be called cronyism. Most people instinctively understand the controversy there.

> They are still funneled through the exact same process that often ends up with them being rejected.

You can always count on Human Resources mucking up hiring good people.

That’s why we have a ‘Talent Shortage’.

If the actual Hiring Manager has any true authority—- tell them to interview these individuals directly.

Leave HR to handle administrative details.

What size of company are you working with - my last couple of startups were almost all hires that started with recommended past experiences from the earlier employees. Companies do have to follow equal opportunity laws though - so some standard process has to apply.