The news is a virtual downpour of rising unemployment rates and sluggish job growth. In this dreary climate is it really possible to maintain any level of optimism about finding a new job?

If you are unemployed, statistics have little meaning; all you want is a decent job. Most of us have been touched by a friend, former colleague or relative, who has been lingering in job-market limbo for the past year or more and who remains unemployed despite every effort to pursue and follow up on job leads.

Bleak stories and sad statistics aside, people are finding meaningful new opportunities. Sometimes they are successful in their job search simply because they are qualified to work in fields that are in high demand. Or some people are just plain lucky. But the real story is that many people are finding jobs through methodical research and strategic contacts.

Here are some success stories of recent and local clients who were able to break out from unemployment shuffle and find a new opportunity. In many cases it took them from four months to a year to find a good job and they all struggled financially and emotionally during their period of unemployment.

I am sharing their stories because I think we need to hear some good news too. I also hope it inspires job seekers to think outside the box and not give up.

Young Professional

James, a young business professional, was laid off from his IT position. Since graduating from college he had always been attracted to working for SAP, a multi-national computer software company with an office location in Newtown Square. After several attempts to get through to an HR person, James thought his chances of finding employment at SAP were impossible. A recent MBA graduate of Penn State, James checked to see if there were any SAP alumni from his alma mater as well as checking his LinkedIn contact list to see if any of his contacts knew someone at SAP. It turned out that that James was linked to a former Penn State professor who was linked to the director of global development at SAP. Through the normal route of LinkedIn introductions, the SAP global director circulated James' resume to appropriate divisions and agreed to stay in contact with James regarding future positions. James eventually interviewed for a position at SAP and was offered a job.

Baby Boomer Accountant

Sally, a mid 50s senior accountant, had worked as an accounting advisor and controller for several years at local company. In early 2010, she was laid off from her job and just recently found a new position this August. During her period of unemployment, she served on the board of a nonprofit organization as the treasurer, creating and implementing a more up to date financial reporting system. Fearful of age discrimination, she updated her LinkedIn profile and expanded her knowledge and enhanced her skill level of online accounting programs. After careful research and taking advantage of her contacts, Sally was offered a position as a senior accountant for a company located three miles from her home.

Mid Level Attorney

Tom, a graduate of Penn law school, spent several years as an associate for three different law firms in Center City. When he was laid off from his most recent associate position, he was no longer interested in pursuing the law firm lifestyle and wanted to use his legal education and knowledge in public service. Since the opportunities for lawyers have dropped as quickly as the economy, Tom was rightfully concerned that he would not only be able to find a good opportunity in the public sector that would allow him to financially support his family. In both undergraduate and law school, he developed a compelling interest in environmental issues. Tom capitalized on his connections with former professors and alums from the law school and found a great opportunity in senior leadership at a major Center City public interest law center.

Recent Graduate

Fresh out of college, Lori was ready to hit the pavement running. She dreamed of being a writer at a very young age and wrote for her high school and college newspapers. During her senior year of college she wrote a fashion blog that was well received on campus, which fed her desire to become a writer. Following graduation she sent out resumes to several online magazines and publications and made calls to editors yielding no results. Living at home with her parents she found a nonpaying internship for an online fashion publication so she could stay connected to lifestyle writing.  One day while she was out at lunch with friends, she noticed a new women’s magazine that she had recently read sitting on top of a patron’s table. On her way out of the restaurant, she approached the two women who were seated at the magazine table to casually chat about how much she liked the magazine. One of the women at table happened to own the magazine and asked Lori if she would be interested in interviewing for a position at the publication. Lori is now a writer and editor for the magazine.

These success stories aren’t meant to minimize the struggle that many unemployed workers face. It is easy to fall into a deep funk when work and earnings have eluded you. In all the emotions that are stirred by joblessness, the key message is to not lose hope.