For anyone who has researched what it takes to find a new job, it’s a sure bet that networking has surfaced as one of the most effective approaches in learning about potential opportunities. After all, networking consists of making contacts and finding out about jobs you otherwise may not have found on your own.

Networking also allows you to tap into the “hidden job market” — jobs that have not been advertised publicly.

Once you’ve mustered the courage to announce you’re on the market for a new job, don’t think you can kick back and wait for the phone calls and e-mails to start rolling in with promising leads. Too often, job seekers make the mistake of reaching out to their friends, family members and former colleagues with the expectation that a single request for assistance will suffice. It often does not.

While your contacts earnestly want to help your job search, it is easy — and understandable — for them to be distracted by the demands of their own responsibilities and forget about you. To stay fresh in their minds, it’s essential you periodically keep them apprised of your efforts, such as upcoming interviews, employers you are pursuing and networking events you will attend.

A good balance between maintaining an informed and active network and becoming a nuisance by overcommunicating is to limit your correspondence to every four weeks.

Remember: As discouraging as a prolonged job search can become, it’s essential you don’t fade away until you’ve landed a new job.