I"m mad as hell...PS, I need a job.

Hopefully you get the reference to Network in the post title. It was either that or "I'm a people person!" from Office Space.

Networking can shorten a job search if the job seeker is able to speak to the right person at the right time. Plus, since so many jobs are not advertised, it's the only way to break into certain positions.

The Gig, a blog at Fortune (in partnership with CNN and Money magazine), has a warning and some tips on how to network without turning off potential allies.

In my experience, the tough truth about networking is that many job seekers (especially youth and the chronically unemployed) have not cultivated relationships for job searching and references. Youth haven't had the time or opportunity to have supervisors and colleagues. Individuals with frequent job separations don't stick around with an employer long enough to make a mark or they leave on bad terms. I commonly encounter job seekers that do not even remember the names of their past managers.

The solution for job seekers who are building their networks is cold calling, professional organizations, and industry mixers. Comments from the post on the Gig lead to other great resources. Alexandra Levit cites and summarizes a good post from Laura Roeder about approaching people that we might ordinarily think are too busy or too important to talk to us.

These tips are also perfect for job developing, and the Employment Specialist's network is a jump start for the job seeker's network.