> I don't know what "using my network" would even mean One example: look at the people on your direct team from your last job, and see are any of them working

> I don't know what "using my network" would even mean One example: look at the people on your direct team from your last job, and see are any of them working at companies that might interest you. If they are, message then directly and ask if they've got an opening in your area coming up. You don't need to be lunch buddies with the person. There's plenty of people I've worked with over the years that if they reached out saying they were looking j would have no hesitation referring internally, and at even a medium size company a job opening can appear.