[evex]

> when they have given no indication that they would even consider it.

That's exactly why I'm asking this question,

> It might be better to spend that free time to build a portfolio of independent projects to showcase to potential employers.

I already have a couple(wordhunt.xyz, getquoter.app), but they do not seem enough to land me a job somehow, and I don't want to apply to 100+ companies to get someone to hire me.

I would like to choose a company that I like and believe are doing a good thing, and then apply and get accepted instead of randomly applying to any company with good pay.