[taprun]

There's nothing to prevent you from networking while you have a job. Here's what I suggest:

1) Find a specialty. It's easier to get referrals when you're the "shopify guy" then when you're the "generalist programmer guy." You don't have to BE a specialist, so much as present yourself as one at the initial stages.

2) Let people know that you have that specialty. Introduce yourself as such, gives talks on the subject, build a blog about it, start a newsletter, offer to help people in related chat rooms / discussion boards.

3) Along the way, try to be helpful to other people, both in your field of expertise and not. Helping people strengthens bonds in a network and makes them more willing to recommend you.

4) Every once in a while ask if people you know might know of people who have problems you can help with (and get paid for)

Feel free to contact me, I'm happy to help...

[AnancyDotWS]

Thanks! I will definitely think about presenting a more specialist image and asking people I already know esp. family.