I think hiring people with diverse experience levels is actually a good thing. Not bagging on anyone's friends/squadron mates, but the people that do our hiring generally do an excellent job screening candidates. Some of my high time friends have also been trying to get interviewed and can't get a call. I assume there is a reason. We often don't know the full story or don't care to see past that friendship. Over the years I have learned to not try and make sense of it.