[kevin42]

For me it's all about the networking.

Make sure you put time into staying in touch with people you know, especially people you have worked with before. Tell them you are looking for work. Talk to them about the interesting stuff you are doing.

I've noticed that the more excited I am about work I'm doing, or the work they are doing, the more opportunities I have.

The biggest contracts I have ever received started with a conversation over some beers, playing darts after hours, etc. A lot of listening to their problems, offering advice and saying "that sounds really interesting, I'd love to help with that!"

You have to do this even when you are really busy doing work you already have. Keep the pipeline full, it can take a long time for opportunities to show up, so stay in people's mind constantly.