Knowing the right people at the right time seems almost like a super power for getting your career going. I've gotten all my jobs by referral/invitation and eve

Knowing the right people at the right time seems almost like a super power for getting your career going. I've gotten all my jobs by referral/invitation and everyone I then tried to refer myself also ended up getting hired straight away. Now that's a totally useless sample size, but when I see people on here mention having sent hundreds of applications with no response, it just feels like I got super lucky somehow or they're doing something wrong. I started growing a small network by doing some hobby programming during uni, being pretty good at it, joining communities and being active there, helping people with their problems, etc. Purely online connections with people I never met in real life, that others kept telling me are worthless. In the end getting those connections seems to have been the most important thing I've ever done, because they reached out to me when their companies were looking to hire. A referral from the right person makes even old boundaries like being on the wrong continent meaningless. Just work remotely then, the company will figure something out... since you were recommended by someone they already trust, they're going to be far more willing to invest some extra resources.