Too many all do the same thing.
Got to separate yourself from the masses. Think outside the box...you know, use that thing you have called a brain?
I've only heard and/or seen a few overall people, for example, standing out on the street corner with a sandwich board/sign with something creative written on it to get noticed.
One just did in Tampa and got spotted...MBA degree/15+ years of experience. He was up on some colleague's social networking accounts after being 'spotted' and within about 2 days got 6 job offers, one for $100K.
Meanwhile, everyone else just submits resumes, punches in database fields, calls the HR office...
You have to get noticed!! You have to make it happen, because no one else will. If your job skills or what you do don't fit your market/area, well, time to learn new ones or move.
As for that woman story above...ignore her. Sure she might have a slot someone theoretically would kill for. She's also smart and knows how to work the system based on the present rules. Maybe karma gets her someday and things fall apart. Maybe not.