Job Hunting - Networking and Recruiters

I figured I'd write about my job search here, since that's part of being a software engineering world.   Hopefully some people will benefit from some of my experiences.

1. Keep a list of opportunities - Company name, position, status (applied, first interview, etc.) any notes about each interview.   This will come in handy when talking to your network or recruiters.   I use a Google apps spreadsheet for this.   Keep the active jobs at the top, and the 'no' list at the bottom.
2. Use your network - Don't be afraid to reach out to your industry friends and former co-workers.   I used to feel that this was kind of... 'cheating', but that is a big mistake.   These are people that know you, that have worked with you.   You don't need to convince them of anything really.   Your friends will be happy to help you out if they can.    You would do the same for them, wouldn't you?   If they don't have anything suitable at their companies, maybe someone they know will.
3. Go to some tech meetups in your area - In addition to maybe learning about some new things, it's a great way to meet other technical people.  Often, if a company is hiring they will encourage their engineers to go to these events and look for talent.   It might be a good idea to print up some personal business cards to hand out.
4. Use recruiters to gain access to other opportunities - A good recruiter will have access to some opportunities that you may not know about.   They will also handle the interview scheduling, and give you more insight into the structure of the hiring company.   When you're interviewing through your network, you have to do all this yourself.  
   
   • Make sure the recruiter lets you know about any job before sending your resume anywhere.   Check your list to make sure you haven't already applied.
   • Remember, recruiters are getting paid by the hiring company, usually as a percentage of the yearly comp.   So, they will put much more effort into a senior level position than any junior position.
5. Filter the opportunities, especially when going through your network - If the hiring manager requires certain technical skills that you don't have, don't just send send your resume.   If the job sounds really interesting, but your skills are not a great match, maybe a short conversation with the hiring manager is in order.   Sometimes, the hiring company wants to hire "good people" who can learn the technology specifics.   Other times, the company really wants something very specific (which IMO is a bit of a red flag), so if that's the case don't waste everyone's time by applying.
6. Filter recruiters - If a recruiter is not showing you anything exciting, isn't efficient at scheduling interviews, or doesn't prepare you well for the interviews then move on.   No point in wasting time.