Referral program logic

A friend of mine is working for a company and is new to the referral program. I asked her to help a brother out and get me to work at her company. We did not know how the referral program works. I applied for the position thinking that once she referred me after I applied, she will be able to point that resume I submitted and have it placed on the "gold box". Then her coworker told us that I should not have applied too soon. I should have waited til she referred me first, then I can apply. I am confused. If I get rejected tomorrow and then she referred me the next day, will my resume be valued? I am not understanding why I should apply after I have been referred. Please explain to me this logic.

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