Author Peter Weddle reminds us that true networking is incredibly valuable, but it’s also a lot of work. If you’ve ever been in a relationship, you know two things about them. First, you quickly learn that they are hard work. That’s why the word is spelled the way it is: It’s netWORK, not net-get-around-to-it-whenever-you-feel-like-it. Second, you come to appreciate that relationships take time to develop. They don’t happen with the click of a mouse, whether you’re on LinkedIn or any other social or professional “networking” site.The Golden Rule of Networking is that you must give as good as you get. It’s fundamentally an exchange of information, ideas, and/or assistance from which both parties derive value. That mutual allocation of benefit establishes familiarity and trust, and those two factors are the twin pillars of a relationship. When networking is working, it creates a relationship. The best hiring managers truly are the best networkers because they are frequently and proactively helping a group of professional peers who are ready to return the favor when the time is right.