[ThrowCatchElse]

I got here because I spent several years doing non-paid work on a very popular open-source project (writing code, but also spending a lot of time answering questions on the mailing list, on the support forums and on StackOverflow). Eventually I got a reputation as a good dev and I started getting job offers, some of which were remote. *

I guess my point is that you have to give them a reason to look at you, even if it's just "Hey, I remember that guy/girl from that blog/mailing list/conference. They seem decent."

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* Most of that activity was driven by enthusiasm. I'm not sure I'd have the determination to invest that much time into an activity just as a career move.