On my page “The best job search: Smart, not hard!” I emphasize the importance of smart networking if you want your job search to be effective and efficient. The most important reason for this is that most vacancies are not advertised publicly and can therefore not be found on online recruitment platforms etc.
The Forbes article “6 Ways To Crack The ‘Hidden’ Job Market” also addresses this aspect and offers good practical advice in this context. Since effective networking requires a continuous approach, it is definitely worth reading this article, even for those who aren’t looking for a job currently.