Thought I'd share my story as I had been looking for a job since January of this year. I probably applied for about 50 jobs or so, various places but a lot of state jobs. I maybe heard back from 8 or so after apparent rejection. In June I was crushed because the job I wanted, which involved social work, I didn't get even with a Master's degree in psychology. It was more then 50 miles away so that might have been what did me in.
Nobody was hiring me, but my work history was somewhat lacking in large part because I did a lot of my own things such as selling on ebay and the like.
Anyway, I applied for the same job again, this time in a city closer, and I got it this month. I'm in my second week of training now. So, near 11 months it took of filling out countless applications and probably 20 interviews that nearly always I never even heard back from.
I guess, just don't give up is what I'd say if you think you have the qualifications. Weird thing is, I was the only person they hired for that office. Other offices hired like 3-4 people, this office, just me. Sometimes, you just have to wait for the perfect opportunity, for you, in that you are what they need at that moment.