make it easy for companies to hire you by making connections with people. im now in a position where i'm interviewing people for open positions here, and it is not a fun task (especially for entry level jobs). if someone can show up, demonstrate some level of competence, and an enthusiasm for learning, it is such an advantage over the faceless resume-senders.
some technical advice would be to demonstrate your understanding of the underlying tech of whatever popular framework, library, etc. the company you're applying to is looking for now - its important, and Sr. devs will appreciate it more than you think (especially if you're self-taught).