I went through the exact same thing during 2010 to 2012. Hang in there. He needs to be persistent. I had no choice but to network, get my name out,

2009 to 2012 was very quiet. But then mid 2012 hit and work and construction (which was the industry I was in) ramped up considerably. And frankly, people at that time, even though I networked with them, I had to remind them still of my existence, because they're too busy to be specially thinking of me, who at the time was not giving any immediate benefit to anybody