You can recruit without loving networking, but avoiding it completely can reduce the information and relationships available to you. Networking is especially useful for learning how offices and firms differ and for making your application more informed.

You do not need to turn it into a high-volume cold-message campaign. A smaller number of genuine conversations with alumni, classmates, or people in relevant offices can be enough.

Treat the conversation as research rather than a transaction. If you are genuinely curious about the person's experience, it usually feels much more natural.