Why is pay for play a scandal? 100 % do it.

[Adrahil]

10. It's called patronage....

... and it is not 100% bad.

Like in any job, you want to work with people you know and trust. When I went to my new company, part of my mandate was to set up a new department. I looked to hire the people I knew who had a skills and talents necessary to make it a success. One guy I hired was a guy who actually hired ME for a previous job. From the outside, it might look like payback. But the truth is, the guy was extremely capable, and I thought he had what it takes to do what we needed. It's that simple. Hiring from resume and interview? Sure I do it. But it's sometimes a crap shoot. The guy who is extremely qualified on paper might be an asshole once you work with him for a while. Or he may not have the intangible skills he needs. I'll go for the person I know, if I have a choice, and that person is good.