If you lack a skill commonly required for jobs you're seeking, spend time each day developing that skill.  Take advantage of numerous free resources online, including tutorials, eBooks, and how-to videos. 

There are two parts to networking: reconnecting with your old contacts and forming new ones. Depending on where you are in your career, reconnecting might mean contacting professors, college advisers, and internship supervisors, or it might mean getting in touch 

with old colleagues, bosses, and business acquaintances. Find them, email them, call them. See if they know of anything or anyone. Most importantly, follow up! At a temporary dead-end with your current contacts? Make new ones. Go to networking events sponsored by

your university, industry, city,and so on. And look beyond traditional networking events.

Volunteering can increase your chances of being hired if you're strategic about it. Unemployed teacher? Help out with after-school programs or volunteer to be a coach's assistant. Web designer? Find a local non-profit in desperate need of a redesign and offer your services pro bono. By 

volunteering somewhere relevant, you'll keep your skills fresh while enhancing your resume.

Start a blog, spruce up your social media profiles, and/or create an online portfolio to showcase your work.  Find companies you're interested in working for, subscribe to their blogs, and follow them on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Find decision-makers at those companies and follow

them as well. Learn what they're talking about, do a little research, and then engage with them online. Impress them with your interest and insights.

Some job seekers are opposed to anything that's not a full-time job. If this sounds like you, it's time to change your mindset.  Freelancing is a great way to boost your skills, resume, portfolio, professional network, income, and confidence.