According to a job statistic in Elma Mrkonjic’s blog on goremotely.net, you have “a 40% better chance of getting hired” over other applicants if you have a referral.
Depending on the company and field you are interested in, job boards are impersonal, and when used alone they can be a less-effective method of getting a new job. Part of the reason is that human resources departments tend to post a “one size fits all” description. According to a job statistic in Elma Mrkonjic’s blog on goremotely.net, you have “a 40% better chance of getting hired” over other applicants if you have a referral. Also, without a personal contact within some companies, your unique skills might not be recognized on paper.