'Networking' as an activity is not the same as developing a professional network. We all develop networks as we go through our careers. You can't help it. But y

'Networking' as an activity is not the same as developing a professional network. We all develop networks as we go through our careers. You can't help it. But you can nurture it and maintain it so that when you need to find a new gig, you have people who know you that you can contact. As you work with new people and meet them in the course of doing your job, add them to your LinkedIn and Facebook networks. Networking as an activity involves contacting the people you know, then if necessary, people they know, and so on. Networking is what you do when you're looking for a new gig. Attending 'networking events' for people looking for work, you're going to have a low yield, because everyone there is looking for work. You may want to add them to your network for later, but it's not likely you'll find a job right away through that activity. In business, I've landed first-time contracts with people that I initially met 20 years ago. I added them to my network (by hanging on to their business card and checking in with them every couple of years before LinnkedIn came along). So really, you need to establish and nurture your career-facing network for the long haul. That is the way to stay employed over the years.