Large companies are probably even less likely to hire due to networking - it helps more with smaller companies. I have helped gotten friends hired at companies I’ve worked at, and vice versa.

My boyfriend got his current job when my friend mentioned that her friend had the same degree as him and had mentioned the company was hiring, would he like to be put in touch? The company is about 15 people altogether.

I pivoted my career and got hired through networking (active attending meetups)

I've never not been hired through networking, and I've never worked for a large company. YMMV.

I'm working at a place where I don't know anyone who was hired except through networking.

Depends on what you call networking. Being involved (speaking), mentoring, reaching out to people in your social circle who have contacts in professional circles you're interested in, etc. Networking isn't showing up to a something posted on Meetup.com, grabbing a slice of pizza and a drink, and making small talk.

No, eating meetup pizza is not the whole of networking, but it's a very easy path that can certainly lead to the rest.

Of course, it's still a matter of initiative. You have to make those connections, not expect being on auto-pilot to result in a pot of gold.

I got hired in an industry (finance) I had no experience in after giving a talk at a meetup, then an 'interview' in a pub.