All those are discriminators are in place to narrow the process. Not really necessary to fly an airplane but if everyone with a pilot's license applied then it would be impossible to go through that many applicants. SO - "requirements" are posted. Then to make it even easier those with recommendations are considered. Thinking here - if someone takes the time to vouch for another in written form then there must be some value over and above the "requirements" that justify priority hiring.
Now if your a notorious pest then the recommendation practice could work in reverse.
The advantage of the job fair goes something like this: first impressions are powerful. The biases are in place to make or break an applicant. A better process in the job fair model would allow for screening initial screening by an HR rep who could provide notes or ck boxes to be considered by a final board not made up of the screeners.
The good old boy system will always be a factor and "Guard" buddies will almost certainly get the jobs.
In conclusion - don't let these arbitrary discriminators lessen your sense of value or self worth. The hoops are not a true measure of what makes a capable pilot or person. One could argue that today most higher education provides more brainwashing than training - a position I have come to appreciate.