Stay on good terms with at least two competent recruiters.

All other things being equal, take the project that's the more visible. Building up a good reputation gets you more opportunities, and it's hard to build a reputation if you're working off in a dark corner.

Always make sure that you're solving the right problem. That means listening and asking clarifying questions--even at the risk of sounding stupid--before reaching for the latest neat algorithm, design pattern, or technique. You don't get points for solving the wrong problem.