Underselling myself is probably also due to my lack of career intelligence. I don't know how to take responsibility for a career. I don't know how to give it periodic maintenance. I'm always living in the now, looking for my next jobs under pressure. Then I become so focused on tasks at the current job that I don't see the bigger picture (especially since I am just a temp worker).
Yes.
> Companies are usually more interested in hearing what the employee can do for them rather than what the employee wants out of their career.
That's true and is in line with what I'm suggesting.
My point is that you shouldn't position yourself as "I have no continuous experience, please hire me for my first real job". Instead it should be more like "I'm an experienced software developer, this is the kind of work that I've done and these are the skills that I have".
Also, you may be passionate about things you don't have a lot of experience in yet. A company that's not sure whether you are right for them based on your experience, might reject you for having no passions or ambitions, or give you a chance when they think your passion and ambition fits the kind of things they do.