I think you can define ‘culture fit’ in many ways, as I totally agree that I’d hired on attitude (curiosity, stoicism, lateral thinking) but absolutely not whether someone has ‘our company values’, ‘specific soft skills that fit in with the existing team’, or ‘loves Microsoft hates Apple’.

Nepotism really depends whether you’re being helped up the ladder or are helping someone up the ladder. Sure, if you’re capable and someone’s in a mess it could work — but the existing people will always be miffed that someone’s jumped the queue. Why not just go through the company’s hiring pipeline and get a hiring bonus for the recommender?

Perhaps, with demonstrable skill, that can work out. However, if someone’s dropped in and they’re absolutely hopeless, well, that speaks volumes about the company!