Work on closing relationship gap

It's the toughest job market in almost anyone's memory. A lot of people are looking for jobs, and a lot of them are having challenges getting them.

That's due, in part, to this fact: The way many job applicants look for a job is opposite of the way companies look for employees.
What do I mean?

Most applicants send a resume and hope that it gets noticed enough to allow them to secure an interview when and if there is an actual job open. Whereas companies often look for potential employees in this order:

1. Referrals from trusted colleagues and friends.
2. Candidates supplied by career fairs, recruitment drives, search firms or employment agencies.
3. Responses to want ads and Web sites.
4. Unsolicited resumes.

People hire people, they don't hire paper. So, you need to build relationships with the people who you think will hire you or help you.
Relationships almost always trump resumes. A resume is a great way to showcase your "stats" and experiences, but your resume can't vouch for your intangible qualities. It can't fully illustrate your character, your consistency, your ability to anticipate, your judgment, your creativity, your reliability, your passion, your genuine style, your management style and/or your coachability, just to name a few.

You need to find ways to demonstrate your intangibles, and when you do, you close the relationship gap that exists between you and the people who can hire you. You need to "recruit" these people.

How do you close the relationship gap and connect with the people who can hire you or, at least, help you?

Let's say there is a job open at a company and you don't know anyone at the company. My advice is, send your resume to the person listed (i.e. director of human resources) but also send it to the person you would report to. After doing that, continue to track every move that the company makes (i.e. new clients, new business, articles, etc.). Identify ways you can support their business needs based on knowledge you gather. Identify ways you can add value.

Be, what I like to call, "respectfully aggressive" in regards to "recruiting" them.

E-mail congratulations on their successes, ideas, articles you believe they may find interesting that demonstrates your awareness of their business. The overall goal is for them to realize you are in their world and that you can add value. If you do this well, you will demonstrate they need you and need to hire you to improve their business.
Or let's say a job opens at a company and you know someone at the company. My advice is contact the person you know inside the organization and make them aware that you saw the job posting and are eager to apply. Gain their blessing for you to copy them on your application to the person noted on the job posting. Also, ask if they would be so kind as to hand your resume or place a phone call endorsing you to the respective people in the company. Execute and then continue to close the relationship gap with the appropriate people inside the company. By illustrating your intangibles, you will close the relationship gap and increase your odds of securing an opportunity.
You will work about 100,000 hours in your life --- make sure you spend the time needed to find a career you love.