Originally Posted by sleeves

What you are leaving out is the fact that not everyone in the squadron or inside group gets the recommendation. The bad apples get left out. At Continental in the mid 2000’s a Pilot could get someone hired. I didn’t recommend many because I had seen their poor performance at the regionals. You are right in that you cannot screen someone in a few short interviews but, relying on past performance and those that have seen that performance is a proven method of screening talent.

Race, gender, sexual orientation should all be left out of it. None of those help or hinder talent.