The form works. Having a mate on the inside is not required to get a job, nor is it compulsory to have an Airbus rating - but it helps. What is compulsory just now is considerably more than the 2500-3000 hours minimum stated on the website.
And Janine does not work in HR!
As for hold pool times, I'm sorry, but I can't give any more authoritative info than you've already seen here. It's true that both fleets are currently absorbing the guys from the finally-defunct Classic fleet, which will affect take-up from the pool, but that shouldn't affect things for too long.
Scroggs