Do you line up work before you move, or land first and search on the ground? I can see arguments both ways and I'm paralysed. What worked for you?
Having my right-to-work sorted was what actually made me hireable — plenty of employers won't start the conversation until you can legally work. That drove my sequencing more than anything.
Local networking beat cold applications roughly ten to one for me. Coffee with a stranger who does your job locally is worth fifty online forms.
A bit of freelance bridge income took the desperation out of my search, which paradoxically made me interview better. Don't underestimate what "not panicking about rent" does for you.
A local phone number and address on the CV noticeably lifted my response rate — recruiters read "already here and set up" as lower risk. Cheap change, real effect.
So the honest answer is "a bit of both, but sort right-to-work first". That clears my paralysis — thank you all.