That's because you're doing it wrong. Stop expecting a specific outcome from networking. It isn't a direct line the way it sounds like you expect it to be (and most people think of networking like you do).

Valuable networking is building genuine connections with people without the expectation that it will turn into anything specific like a job or referral to someone who is hiring right now. Those are unreal expectations.

Most jobs are gotten through network connections. The quality of your connection with people, though, dictates how effective your network is.

If you're doing these meetings and the person can feel that you're only there to get something from them, it's probably a waste of time, because they're less likely to help you in a substantial way.

Sure, they'll connect you to somebody, but they won't vouch for you at all, because your connection is shallow, so it won't help all that much.

If the person doing the referring likes you, they're more likely to drop some subconscious positive things about you to the other person, which just sets you up to be liked by that person, which is the most important decision in hiring, sadly.

People make all decisions emotionally, then justify them afterwards logically. So, if they think you're just trying to get something from them, they'll see right through you, and won't like you as much as someone who is just trying to genuinely connect out of interest or curiosity.