This blog post by Nicholas Gavronsky is an excellent explanation of why network recruiting is the better way to find a job, both for job-seekers and hirers.
As Nick says,
when an amazing opportunity comes along someone in your network can say "Hey, I know a great guy for this position." Personal introductions are so much more powerful than a resume drop.
This is exactly why I created HoneyComb to help manage network recruiting. Network recruiting is a better way to hire, and HoneyComb is a better way to network recruit. It makes the process transparent, manageable, and wider reaching.