If your job search is stuck, and it can happen regardless of how qualified you are and how many jobs you are applying for, one question that you should be asking yourself is "What can I do differently?"
Regardless of the type of job you are applying for, just sitting at your computer and applying for jobs isn't going to work. I've heard from job seekers who have submitted hundreds of applications and have heard nothing. Whether you are applying for an hourly retail store position or a top level management position, there are things that you may able to do differently to get your job search back on track.
Here's what to ask yourself if your job search is going nowhere:
Are you applying to all the right places? Are you applying for jobs you are qualified for? Are you finding the most current job listings and getting your application in as soon as you can? The job search engines are a great way to find job listings fast and to get new postings delivered directly to you.
Are your job applications perfect? They all should be regardless of whether you want a job as a cashier at Walmart or a job as an executive. If you have to fill out a job application, and many companies require them for all candidates, make sure there are no typos or grammatical errors. The same holds true for your resume and cover letters. Make sure you get your employment history right. A mistake can cost you a job if it doesn't match what a background check discovers. Here's everything you need to know about applying for a job.
Have you done more than just apply and wait? Do you have a contact at the company you can ask to put in a good word for you? For a professional position, do you have a LinkedIn contact who can help? If you applied to a specific person listed in the job posting, have you tried to follow up with them? For a local job, you could even stop in and ask in person about the status of your application.
What type of networking are you doing? Networking is still the best way to find a job. If you are unemployed, have you told everyone, and I mean everyone, you know that you are job searching? If you're working that's another story and you need to be more discreet. Are you tapping your social media connections on LinkedIn, Facebook and Google+ to see if they can help?
Have you expanded your job search? Have you taken your job search a step further? If you have a company you'd like to work for (and here's how to make a list of companies that would be a good fit) have you checked to see if they are posting jobs on social media? Here's a list of companies posting jobs on Twitter. If you see one that's of interest follow them. Check Facebook (search by company name) to find company career pages with job postings.
Are you blowing the interview? I've heard from too many people lately who have gotten job interviews and then blown it. You don't want to be one of them. Before you head out for an interview, take the time to prepare and be sure that you are as ready as you can be to turn a job interview into a job offer.
Have you looked for help? Even when you're doing all the right things, it can be helpful to get ideas and support from someone who isn't as vested in your job search as you are. Here's how to find free job search help.
These ideas are only the tip of the iceberg. There's plenty more you can do to get a stuck job search back on track. Here are more ideas on how to unstick your job search.
What else can you do? Take a look at these job search success stories shared by About.com site visitors and if you have advice to share, here's how to add it to the list.
Read More: 10 Steps to Find a New Job