From the company on a recent telecon - paraphrased but you'll catch the drift...

Internal recs are HUGE. If you have an internal rec your application bypasses (a/some?) wickets and for lack of better term "is viewed faster." They certainly value internal recommendations.

However...if you have a rec it does not guarantee you anything. Was mentioned that although you may have recommended your best buddy you've known for years...there may be something the company turns up they don't like.

All this being said...and as others have mentioned...no rec guys have been interviewed/hired.

Break.

It is what it is. A lot of folks are scratching their heads trying for Atlas as well as other companies.

I've come across folks who have the absolute mins to be hired and others who have the 10K hour patches. Great people regardless of backgrounds. A plethora (El Guapo - what is a plethora?) of hours doesn't make you an ideal candidate. There is a matrix they are using that seems to be working.

I'm Ron Burgundy??