[readme]

It helps if you pick a pet project that uses the technology of people that are likely to hire you.

If some decent looking startup publishes a new API, jump on that. If your app is any good, they'll be excited to try it and help you promote it.

This is how I was extended an offer for good freelance work recently.

[jsolson]

Actually, I was lamenting the working-on-my-own-stuff part, not the getting hired part :)

I tend to build what I think is a cool pet project, then completely fail to put it in front of anyone other than friends who happen to be in the room while I'm tinkering with it. Usually by the time I've managed to build anything substantial, I no longer think it will be interesting to anyone.