KaneMorgan

Saying I worked hard is a more comforting story than saying I was lucky. I think people are likely to put more value on hard work than its due.

I actually like that it's informational rather than ideological.

I read it as they should be interested in something, not they should be interested in what you're interested in.

I agree with this. If you're passionate about it then going out and actually meeting people will help you a lot. That's what I did.

At the very least attending meetups/user groups will give you a feel of where you are relative to everyone else. It'll help you find out what you actually need to know.

Recruitment costs can be pretty high so small and medium sized companies are more likely to give you a shot if you go out and find them. But you won't find them looking exclusively online.

Searches are basically a popularity contest, and by definition companies that aren't as established aren't as popular yet.