[mathattack]

Get an introduction.

Go out and meet as many people as you can. (Meetups, Random drinking nights, etc) Connect to everyone you meet on LinkedIn. Have someone introduce you to the recruiter. Not everyone will do it, but enough people out there will be helpful. The recruiter has many more resumes than jobs. A referral will almost always cut the line. If you can the introduction to the hiring manager, even better.

By recruiter I mean corporate recruiter, not headhunter. No need to get an introduction to a headhunter. If you're a 100% match to a job, they're helpful. Otherwise they're not.

Good luck!

[mattchue]

I would absolutely love to attend meetups as Ionic/AngularJS is my core competency (which, as I understand, are big meetup topics), but I am currently seeking a job in Seattle, and I live just far enough away where day tripping on a weeknight doesn't mesh with my work schedule. This sounds like the most direction option for a referral, so taking time away from my current job to attend a meetup may be necessary. The 100% match is a great explanation, I guess if they're getting paid to find people jobs faster money takes a higher priority. Thanks so much for your response!

[mathattack]

Attend meetups where you are. You never know where the connection you make tomorrow will have connections. I had a friend in India refer me to a job halfway across the country.

Also... The best networkers give before they ask. Volunteer to help at the meetups you attend.

[mattchue]

With JavaScript and AngularJS as my core competencies, I'm a little intimidated to attend the only meetup I'm aware of in my town, which is for PHP. Are devs of all kinds usually welcome at these sorts of events?

Great note about volunteering, that was something I hadn't otherwise considered.

[mathattack]

Yes. Go and learn too. And help!