Never put all your eggs in one basket!

The secret of keeping your hopes alive during a job search is to always have alternatives. Never keep all your efforts and hopes focused on few approaches.

There are twelve alternative ways of looking for work. They are:

1. Self Inventory. Before you do anything else, do a thorough self-inventory of the transferable skills and interests that you most enjoy and do best. And then use this knowledge to focus your search for work. 
2. The Internet. Use the internet, to post your resume and to look for employers 'job postings' either on the employer's website or elsewhere such as Rozee, LinkedIn, Bayrozgar etc.  
3. School. Ask a former professor or teacher for job leads, or join alumni group of school, college or university.
4. Civil Service. Take a civil service exam to compete for a government job.
5. Newspaper. Answer local job ads in a 'classified' section of your cities newspaper. Read most popular newspapers either in a library or online.
6. Journals. Look for professional journals in your profession or field. 
7. Resumes. Mail out customized resumes blindly to anyone and everyone in your area of interest. 
8. Choose Places That Interest You. Knock on the door of any employer, factory, store, organization or office that interests you, whether they are known to have a vacancy or not.
9. The Phone Book. Identify 5 - 10 subjects, fields, or interests that intrigue you and then call or visit the organization/business listed under these headings. 
10. Volunteering. Volunteer to work for nothing, short-term, at a place that interests you, whether or not they have a vacancy, with the hope that down the line they may want to hire you!
11. Work for Yourself. Start your own small business, trade or service, after observing what your community lack but needs. 
12. Retraining. Go back to school and get retrained for some other kind of occupation than the one you've been doing. 

There may be many other ways of looking for work, therefore don't give up easily.