In reading your post however, I was struck by the thought that when we make hiring decisions based on “chemistry” we are often choosing people who mirror our own personal backgrounds. We feel most comfortable around people who come from the same type of schools,  socio-economic strata, or religion because we share a common set of experiences. The notion of selecting someone based on who you would like to have a beer with, or for that matter go on a retreat with, seems divergent from the spirit of meritocracy that the digital economy is based on. No doubt team cohesiveness and trust are of paramount importance in business, but the more pertinent question is would your outcomes be greater if someone who brought a different set of perspectives to the table and with whom you did not share chemistry?