I've done nothing special, other than actually put some effort into my chosen craft.

Well, this is a bit confusing, because in the earlier reply you said

If you're getting recommended or hired by close friends, interviews aren't needed.

Note that I'm not saying you would be incompetent, but getting hired because you know someone is different from getting hired through interviews, because in the latter case you are being hired based on your merit alone. Arguably you need less merit and proofs to get hired if you know the manager, although the same argument could be turned upside down (in that if the person you know is aware of your lack of skills, getting the job may be harder).