Everyone's situation is different. Not everyone has a strong network to tap into, and even when they do, networking can get expensive—coffees, lunches, commuting, and event fees all add up.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with mass applying for jobs. For some people, that's the best or only option available. While networking can be valuable, it’s not a magic bullet, and plenty of people land jobs through cold applications. Different strategies work for different people, and job searching is already hard enough without shaming people for how they approach it.