Interesting discussion springing from Zappos new recruiting site: they have no application inbox.
You have to “join” their social network. Follow them or somesuch.
One view I heard a clever guy laying out was: WTF? Why would I go through all that trouble to get a job at Zappos?
On the other hand, this fellow got his present job in the following way:
Friend posted on Facebook to say “Amol is hiring for help with his company and investments. Email him.”
He emailed and I invited him to have a beer one Friday afternoon.
He seemed friendly and I let him try out the Knotable product.
He tried it and I gave him access to the source code to see if he could build it. After a whole he did.
I gave him some other assignments and offered to pay him for his time to work on them on the side. He did those.
Then we offered him a job.