I'll actually go one step further on that: make personal connections. Think about anyone you know reasonably well who is in the field. Use them as resources. I got my first programming job via a friend of mine; you may say "nepotism", but think about it this way: if you're gonna hire someone, would you rather have one of your employees vouch for them, or have to rely solely on the impression you've gotten by chatting for an hour or two?
I've recently found myself job-hunting again, for the first time in ten years. While I am indeed going on an interview today, after having been called by a recruiter when he saw my resumé on Dice, I have four strong leads - one of which is for my "dream job" - and all of those came by contacting people I know.
Things I can mention that have worked very well for me:
Good luck!
IF I HAD A MINE SHAFT, I don't think I would just abandon it. There's got to be a better way. -- Jack Handley, The New Mexican, 1988.