If this job market has taught me anything, I would have to say it boils down to three things:

Patience

Perseverance

Passion

Patience: I have never seen a market that reacts so slow and deliberately in its hiring cycle. It doesn't matter how many calls you make to follow up. It doesn't matter if you have other competitive forces driving your need for closure on a given opportunity. It doesn't matter that you're chomping at the bit to get back to work. The market is glacial in its speed and you're not going to change that pace. I'm not saying you shouldn't be diligent in your efforts, nor have a sense of urgency about your job search efforts. I'm saying that you must be diligent and have a sense of urgency. You just need to keep things in perspective. Be patient my friend, otherwise you will wind up in a twisted bundle of nerves, frustrated and disappointed that the rest of the world doesn't want to move at your pace.

Perseverance: Never lose sight of the goal, never let up in your efforts, and never cease in believing that the right opportunity is out there. The job market in its current state is disheartening to say the least, but there is opportunity out there to be had. That opportunity goes to those who are creative in their approach to marketing themselves, and who persevere in their efforts. Others who don't have this level of commitment give up after a few weeks or a few months, and settle for something that does not fully leverage the talent they bring to bear. This is the easy part of your search, people. Those who take themselves out of the race because they don't see the finish line immediately in front of them with the silver cup, a dozen roses, and a bottle of champagne awaiting them. They settle for a pat on the back and the consolation of "nice try....maybe next time." The finish line is there. Keep a steady pace, let the others who don't have the intestinal fortitude drop like flies as you pass them by, and continue to forge your way towards your ultimate goal: A job you're qualified for, and that has some level of personal fulfillment.

Passion: As frustrating as your situation may be, never, never, never lose your passion. This is what differentiates you from those around you who give up. Show passion in everything you do, even in light of sometimes falling flat on your face in your efforts. Get up, dust yourself off, put the smile back on your face and get back in the race. Passion is infectious. People see it in your efforts, in everything you do. I'm not just talking about your game face for interviews of the networking calls you make on a daily basis. I'm talking about the posture you portray in your posts in social media. It's how you cheer for your child at their sporting event. It's the fact that you are out doing the gardening and lawn work, yet stop and take a few minutes to have an upbeat conversation with the mailman or neighbor that stops by. It's how you interact at the dinner table with your family, folks. Show passion in everything you do, plain and simple. You'll be amazed at the reactions you get and how it impacts your efforts in your job search.

I can say all this because I've lived it for the past few months. Looking back on my experiences in my job search, these are the three basic elements that have helped me maintain a degree of success in my efforts, and keep some level of sanity in light of what at times seems to be overwhelming circumstance. Patience, Perseverance and Passion.... not necessarily in that order.... have proven to be the keys to success in my efforts. I'm turning the keys over to you, now. What you do with them is up to you.