In person networking, it still works and the ratio of signal to noise has only gotten higher post-internet.

SW/Hacker types have this on easy-mode compared to other industries because of how many professional / enthusiast groups we have floating around in every city. We do our jobs outside of work for fun. That's doesn't work for an accountant. Companies seem to vastly prefer recruiting from these events and they get you past the screens. I've never once not gotten the interview emailing or name dropping the event / company rep I talked to.

The internet but not the www existed when I started out. Cover letters were handwritten, the CV was typed and the lot was posted or delivered by hand.

My first job was from an ad in the local paper, I sent a copy of my resume via mail with a covering letter and my home phone number. Also agents were actually useful, they were a hub where employers went to look for people and the agent had a list of people looking for jobs.