[pmorici]

Yeah, I totally agree. There are really two ways to find a job, what the OP describes and, as you say, via professional connections you've built over your career. If you can get a job you like through professional connections that is hands down the way to go.

Personally, with the exception of my first job out of school, I've always used the professional connections route. I probably couldn't get a job doing what the OP describes to save my life. Luckily, my reputation is such with prior employers and colleagues that I could call any of them up and they would go out of their way to hire me.