> "The first step, finding open positions that are appropriate to your skills and abilities, is overwhelming and impossible. The only way you have any hope of short circuiting it is to have connections with the right people who can open the maze from the inside. Or to become famous in a community."
You don't need to be famous, not even close. You did get it right though - you do have to know people.
Finding your next job is something you should be doing before you're actually thinking about leaving your current one. Go to meetups, look up interesting companies in your area and make yourself known to them - you'd be surprised how many people are willing to chat even with the knowledge that there's a 0% chance of you jumping ship in the foreseeable future.
It's not only a great way to get your name out there and make a few contacts, but it's also a great way to find out what's happening in your local tech community.
It is also necessary. In my experience the best employers and the best positions fulfill primarily via word of mouth. By the time a job hits a major job site it means the employer has already failed their first-choice option (i.e., a known referral by a trusted entity).
You don't need to be famous, not even close. You did get it right though - you do have to know people.
Finding your next job is something you should be doing before you're actually thinking about leaving your current one. Go to meetups, look up interesting companies in your area and make yourself known to them - you'd be surprised how many people are willing to chat even with the knowledge that there's a 0% chance of you jumping ship in the foreseeable future.
It's not only a great way to get your name out there and make a few contacts, but it's also a great way to find out what's happening in your local tech community.
It is also necessary. In my experience the best employers and the best positions fulfill primarily via word of mouth. By the time a job hits a major job site it means the employer has already failed their first-choice option (i.e., a known referral by a trusted entity).