Not to be rude, but how many hiring cycles have you witnessed and been a part of?

Because to be under the impression that networking may not seem as important it is is naive at best.

If you were to take a poll of EVERY new hire class at UAL, the ones that networked in some fashion are in the majority. Doesn't matter if it was job fairs (multiple in many cases), the M&G's, interns, or whatever other method.

You'd also find that the ones that get "cold called" (for lack of a better term) are in the minority of a class.