It's true: after my first job I made connections with people who then knew I wasn't a total fuck-up. Later on I had to start from zero when I decided to go into a different industry but learned my lesson when I started working in that first industry again.

But I haven't had to deal with HR bullshit for more than a decade. I just get waved on past, and buddies of mine tell HR "hire this guy and pay him whatever he asks, and don't do any of your normal bullshit". No drug tests, no evidence of vaccination, hell I've never taken a personality or coding test.

When I tell people "don't look to fire the reddit mod for being a reddit mod", this is what I mean. Don't worry so much about refusing to deal with people you hate. Worry more about being in a position where you can wave your buddies through the front door. And if you piss the bouncer off in the process of doing so, all the more power to you.