A referral through someone in your network is a highly effective way to land a job. Sometimes, it’s not just what you know, but who you know. An endorsement from someone the hiring manager trusts is an extremely powerful means of influence. People in your network are also a great source of information about relevant job openings, and may be able to provide advice about how best to position yourself to the company. RELATED: Need networking tips? Watch these Sometimes, the best opportunities don’t reach job boards or recruiters because people within the network of the hiring company get to it first. For these reasons, I highly recommend continually putting in time and effort to building a strong professional network. Below are five ways to meet new professional contacts: