When people say you should network, they mean you should talk to people.
People are happy to help others if they can.
You need to be clear about HOW you'd like their help and clear about what you're looking for. First, make a list of all the people to whom you can talk. These people do NOT need to be friends, or even acquaintances, just any and all people with whom you have enough of a common thread to initiate a conversation. If you can pick up the phone and call them, for any reason , they are potential networking contacts. Using this loose definition, most people have hundreds, perhaps even a thousand contacts.