> Hiring is not an entirely rational process

Agreed! I'd go so far as to say hiring is irrational in the aggregate.

The usual "rational" artifacts, if we can call them that (coding challenges, resumés, etc.) serve almost exclusively to eliminate candidates rather than boost good candidates. Firms are generally ok with false negatives from these artifacts as simply the cost of doing business.

> From there, it follows that meeting someone and letting them know you exist increases the chances (however small) that they can and will assist you on your career path.

I've seen this described as "people hire who they vibe with", and I've yet to see it play otherwise in my career. I'm not saying this is good, or fair, or desirable. It just is.

The folks who get offers are the ones who can meet people, tell stories (even true ones!), listen, and demonstrate that they can empathize with and contribute to messy, flawed organizations.

Humans have yet to invent a technology more powerful than social relationships, and I think technologists downplay this at their own peril.