Thank you for the kind and encouraging words. I'm feeling pretty discouraged today; on the one hand, I know it's a competitive (though improving) market, but on the other hand, it's disheartening to get the feedback that I am over-qualified for the jobs I apply for that contain responsibilities I've already held, but I'm not qualified enough for the next step up because most of my tasks have been so heavily administrative and entry-level.

I just don't know how to market myself effectively to bridge the gap between what I enjoy doing most, and what I've actually been spending my time doing for the last couple years. I'm willing to keep doing entry level tasks, and I make that very clear when I'm interviewing, but apparently I'm not really hiding that the analytical and strategic aspects of what I have done, while limited, have been the things I am most excited about.

So far, the one phone interview I was most hopeful about, where the conversation with the hiring manager was not only very thought-provoking with both of us asking great questions of the other, but it was just fun - well, indications are that I didn't even make the cut for the in-person interview round.

Part of the reason I'm discouraged, though, is that I'm just plain drained at my current job. I've been unhappy there for such a long time and am really eager to move into a more positive environment. I'm trying to keep my enthusiasm and energy level up for job searching in all my free moments, but it's really exhausting to do both at the same time.