The online reference doesn't take much time at all. I have no idea how a non-pilot employee would make a recommendation and more importantly, how much weight it, if any, it would carry. If it's coming from FS himself then I wouldn't think you'd even need an interview! If it's coming from somebody in Facilities Management or International Overseas Sorting, the ACP's who look at your app package are collectively going to say "Who the he!! is this?"