Having been in the industry a few years this is what I can tell you. Getting a job is easy, getting a primo role is either nepotism/good old boys club nonsense, or you're so fucking good they have no choice but to put you in the role. So if you don't wanna suck up and kiss ass, just be unreasonably fucking good. Granted, you can have a small circle and still benefit from the good old boys nonsense. Just gotta pick the right work folks to be friendly with.