Why is it that job seekers so frequently play the victim? They cry age discrimination, complain about spam, criticize companies for not responding, bad mouth recruiters for being unscrupulous, blame the economy, blame the US for allowing jobs to be sent oversees, claim there are not any jobs in their field, etc.
No wonder these complainers are out of work. Can you imagine having that nay-sayer on your team? How would they handle a problem? What would they do to fix it? I can hear it now…"It isn't my fault" or "We can't do this" or worse.
Negativity breeds negativity. Stop making excuses and make changes. Become a "Yes person". Anything is possible if you put your mind to it, including finding a job.
Victim's get stuck in a rut. Yes people seize opportunities. You see, you just don't know where your next opportunity may come from and by eliminating opportunities, you've cut yourself off.
Instead of saying no, say yes.
If it is suggested that you speak to someone, say yes and get their contact information.
If someone you trust makes a recommendation that you change your resume, try it. And measure the results.
If you don't network, try it.
If you aren't using LinkedIn, do it now.
If you don't have current technology skills, get them. Pay for them yourself if you have to. It is worth every penny.
If you aren't looking for jobs in new cities, just take a look and see what's out there.
Taking ownership and holding yourself accountable for results is something employers are looking for. If you don't do it in job search, they can't imagine you would do it on the job.

Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.