The more interviews you get, the more offers you're likely to receive. You've heard this one all your life, and you've probably seen that it's mostly true. In job search, contacts are king and credentials are lowly knaves. Those ads are the employers' wish lists, but the fact is, they'd welcome a highly recommended, lower-skilled worker any day. If you're not making new contacts every week in your job search, you're breaking one of the cardinal rules.
People hire people they like.
If this rule sounds a lot like Rule 3, it's because they're two sides of the same coin. Whether you know the interviewers, your job is to gain their confidence and put them at ease. Think about your personal demeanor. Every little bit helps. You're going to have to do this again.