Someone pointed out I haven't bothered to reply to my own thread yet.
I got my current job because a buddy of mine helped me out.
Basically, IFI was recruiting a good friend of mine to move to Texas and take a full-time job. He was unable to accept the job, but told them: "If you're willing to try out a young guy, I've got someone perfect for you."
From there, they began asking people in the FIRST community about me. Enough people told them: "He's not a complete idiot" that they recruited me for a summer-coop (IFI uses this as a gruelling 3-month interview).
At the end of that coop, they made me a full-time offer, and I accepted (it was a good fit). Been here 7 months, and still having fun.
A combination of who I knew, what I knew, who knew what I knew, and dumb luck. I happened to be in the right place at the right time with the right skills, and knew the right people. Woo.
So yeah, a little luck helps sometimes too.
-JV
I definitely owe that good friend.