Most people looking for a job will tell you they are networking. And most people are wrong. All you have to do is carry a small notebook around, log how you spend your time during the day, and you'll likely discover you weren't networking as much as you thought. Probably not even 25%.

Networking is like dieting. Most people on a diet will tell you they don't snack between meals. And most people are wrong. Just tape a piece of paper to the fridge, write down every morsel you stick in your mouth during the day and you'll likely discover you were eating more than you thought. All of which means what, exactly?

If your job search is struggling, it probably says more about what you're doing (and what you're not) than what the economy or employers are doing. And since most jobs are found via networking, what you do (and what you don't) when you think you're networking will largely determine how fast you find work.

Tip: To network effectively, give first. The job leads will follow.

With the growth of social networking web sites, it's never been easier to make contact with people on the inside of companies you want to work for. And those contacts can give you an "inside" advantage when applying for jobs, according to Doug Berg, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at Jobs2Web.com.

"One way to research a company is to visit Facebook and Linkedin to find out who works there, make contact with those people, and ask them about the company and its culture," says Berg.

About 30% of companies offer referral programs that can pay their employees $1,000 or more to refer new hires, according to Berg. So, if you can forge a relationship with an employee at your target firm, they might help you get hired by referring you through the back door.

Kevin Donlin is Creator of TheSimpleJobSearch.com. Since 1996, he has provided job-search help to more than 11,000 people. Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The New York Times, CBS Radio and others. Go now to check out his latest product, The Simple Job Search System.

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