Networking
The key to successful networking is to use your available resources to market yourself and try and uncover hidden job opportunities. There isn't anything complex about networking and it should be a key aspect of the job search process.
Your career network can and should contain current and former co-workers, contacts from your school, a wide range of people in your industry, and personal friends. If you have been out of touch for a while with people you already know, don't let that stop you from re-establishing contact when you start your job search. Everyone you speak to will have had to look for work at some point in their career, and most of them will be sympathetic and helpful.
To spread your business and social networking net even wider, you may need to start making the acquaintance of new people also. Every time you talk to a friend or colleague about your job search, ask for suggestions of other you might speak to, and follow up on their referrals.
