Yes and no.

My sources are telling me they get a few hundred applications per day for just one role. Beating those odds will be a lot easier if you know the hiring manager.

Only works if your issue is getting through to the hiring manager and getting approved.

Ultimately, what I’m seeing is that companies are just more picky when it comes to interviewing too. Everyone is asking harder or less common leetcode questions than before and are evaluating more strongly than before.

It’s significantly harder to get an offer these days even if you get an interview.

I mean how bad is it out there if you have 5 to 10 years of experience the degree and a few certs like rhcsa and AWS professional?

Go to Leetcode, look up a bunch of LC hards, and you'll start to get an idea. Even with practicing those well and doing well overall, I am finding employers are looking for something exceptional. You can pass all of those questions optimally but if you don't add something "extra" on top - it seems like they're really ready to move onto other candidates.

This isn't even for top compensation either. I'm finding that the offers overall are meager as well.

I mean that essentially means that if you don't know the hiring manager then your chances of getting the job are one in hundreds if not thousands.

which essentially means you have to know the hiring manager to get the job.

It's significantly easier to find a job if you know hiring managers. It's not a gimme, but it will put you ahead of hundreds of applicants.