Good theory. However, even at networking events for UX designers I've attended, where they announce job openings, the hiring manager compels you to go through the online application process. Depending on the quality of the ATS software, completely qualified candidates can get kicked out.

I wrote a long piece on this a couple of years ago. Example of how bad it can be: Job ad for a UX designer. I uploaded my resume to a place that does an ATS "preview". It told me that it thought I was a UNIX programmer and that my resume didn't match the job ad requirements.

Too many HR folks have ZERO clue the algorithms in the ATS software. They just want to "save time" in having to, heaven forbid, read through applications that applicants labored over.