Put Yourself Out There and Meet People
I used to be of the opinion that heads-down good work would always speak for itself. However, much like a good SaaS product needs to focus just as much on marketing/sales as on the product itself, a new technologist needs to make sure that their work is getting recognized and heard about.
On the job-front side, this means asking people for informational coffees and referrals (most people will say yes!), building a portfolio and asking for feedback, and tracking down every lead and opportunity to show off your talents.
Conferences and meetups are great for meeting others who are interested in the same thing you are. They often also lead to opportunities if you are a presenter, or even if you simply strike up the right conversation.
