But the fact is people get hired every day. And that lucky group could very well include you.

So, you've already e-mailed hundreds of resumes. You scan the help wanted ads and online job sites every day.

Now what?

Truth to tell, your work has just begun, says Joe Kran, president of OI Partners -- Gateway International, a career counseling and coaching firm with offices in Philadelphia and Princeton.

"This is a time when you need to continually re-examine every component of your job search and be open to new and different strategies," he says.

First, tailor all communications with prospective employers to fit that particular company.

"Not just your cover letters but your resumes and e-mails also must be customized to showcase your experience that is related to the job," Joe Kran says.

Don't spend all your time sitting in front of the PC or banging away on the laptop. Get out there and volunteer. People with skills in marketing, accounting, public relations and law can be especially helpful to nonprofit groups, he notes.

Volunteering not only helps others but you could develop a new skill along the way, as well as make important new contacts who could help you to land a paying job.

Working on a freelance or contract basis can benefit a job seeker on many levels. In the short term, it will help to pay the bills. In the long run, it could result in a full-time position. Or perhaps you will discover you enjoy being self employed and will develop your own business.

Don't think you are no longer a technician or a banker or an electrician simply because you are temporarily without a job. Keep going to meetings of professional associations. Attend trade shows.

"These groups are among the most important networking resources," Joe Kran says.

He also encourages job seekers to target growth industries. Meds and eds (medicine and education) are obvious choices. But don't overlook opportunities in building, engineering and green technology as those industries likely will be the first to respond to President Barack Obama's economic stimulus package. When you do get a nibble, act quickly. In an electronic age, putting off a response when you learn about a prospective position is a no-no.

"Taking 24 hours to respond to an opportunity is an eternity in today's job market," Joe Kran says.

Cast a wide net and keep expanding it. Don't just let people in your field know you are looking. Share your progress with friends, neighbors and people you know at church and civic organizations.

In these hard times, as always, people genuinely want to help one another.

Remember that. And don't give up.

Eileen Smith offers commonsense insights on personal finance and career enrichment in her Sunday column. Reach her at (856) 486-2444 or esmith@courierpostonline.com