It didn't take long for Amanda to grow discouraged with her job search. Her first steps seemed deceptively simple and straightforward: prepare a resume, research companies, pull a contacts list together — all of which made her feel productive.

But the tough part began after trying to juggle her current position while searching for a new role that better matched her goals. After sending out 100 resumes but getting no interviews, Amanda was stymied as to what she should do next.

If, like Amanda, your search seems dead in the water, taking the following steps could help you reinvigorate your action plan.

1. Revisit your career goals. Are you sure your current goals are related to your skill set? If not, take the time to re-evaluate your skills, strengths and experiences against current market needs. If you didn't take much time to research and identify positions that are appropriate for someone with your background, do so now. It's especially important to examine your goals if you hope to relocate or change industries.

2. Make sure your resume positions you effectively. Your resume is your marketing tool. In Amanda's case, a generic resume — crammed with details about her daily responsibilities — was what hurt her search. When responding to ads, carefully scrutinize the qualifications required. Do you meet them and, if so, do they reflect the content of your resume? If not, you have to get your resume into shape in a way that markets your successes and relevant experiences. If you are pursuing more than one career goal, you will likely need to modify and customize your resume for each area. And be sure to follow the same process with your cover letters to maximize your overall impact.

3. Use the right strategies for your job-search campaign and create a schedule. If your only tactic is to answer ads, then expand your search techniques to create a balanced campaign. This may include learning new ways to conduct a successful search. Typically, getting too few interviews is caused by having too few contacts. Networking is not just chatting with contacts. It requires finesse and skill in steering each conversation. Expand your contact base, learn how to network effectively, and don't hide behind the advertised job market.

Also, develop a written, comprehensive search plan to serve as a road map. Include your targets, your skill set, the problems you're able to solve, your industry preferences, the names of employers you'd like to work for, and contacts you have in each company. Maintain your focus by setting up a daily schedule that includes specific, achievable goals as well as a time frame for making progress on networking, follow up, letter writing, customizing your resume, doing research and reviewing and responding to ads.

4. Follow up continuously. Don't wait for calls. Success comes from persistence and follow-up on your phone contacts and letters. During interviews, ask about next steps. Don't leave without finding out the decision timetable so that you'll know when to follow up with employers and how to stay on top of the process. After each interview, be sure to send thank-you letters. Follow the same procedure with your networking meetings. Send thank-you notes and follow-up periodically to keep your contacts aware of your progress.

5. Check your attitude. When trying to figure out why your search efforts have stalled, it's critical to be honest with yourself. Are you putting in enough time to be effective? Are you feeling blocked by unresolved issues? Are you pursuing goals you don't want? Do you need to work on your self-confidence to move forward in your search?

6. Consider interim employment options. Some executives accept temporary or consulting projects while pursuing their next assignment. Such an option may help to break up the monotony of a job search. It may also supplement your skills, add heft to your resume and potentially enlarge your network. Such projects can also boost your self-confidence as you accomplish new things during this interim assignment. Of course, temporary work often turns into a full-time opportunity.

A temporary assignment can also offer a needed break, which can renew your energy level and help revive your momentum. Searches typically have slow periods. While pursuing your ultimate goal, be sure to acknowledge the small victories along the way, such as completed action items from your daily schedule. This will go a long way to giving you a boost — especially when you need a shot of self-confidence. If you are persistent and steady in your approach, this may just be a natural lull. But achieving success in your search is only a matter of time.