Networking isn’t just for the unemployed. As more workers look over their shoulders in anticipation of the dreaded tap, they’re increasingly reaching out. According to The New York Times:

With companies firing workers in droves and those with jobs worried that they could be next, 2009 is shaping up to be a golden era of networking. Universities have shifted alumni outreach efforts to focus on career counseling and networking instruction, rather than social gatherings. The Center for Networking Excellence in New York, which advises companies, says requests for corporate seminars have increased 50 percent in the last year. Informal groups are popping up everywhere, inspired by people’s hopes that any connection might lead to the next job.

Katherine Wu, an executive at NBC Universal, also offers a good approach to networking: “I equate this to dating. Networking is a basic numbers game. If you don’t get out, you won’t meet as many people.”

Obviously, not everyone enjoys the dating scene. Still, networking's an important part of the job hunt, so check out the Web, local universities and professional groups for the right gatherings for you. It looks like new ones are springing up daily.