Unfortunately it's not always just a hiring manager being rude by not sending out a rejection letter, it's time. Unfortunately in this enconomy it's more likely that more than 20 people applied for the position and the person just doesn't have the time to deal with it. I have used craigslist booth looking for employees and job hunting and the last job I posted for my employer got over 103 email replies!!! crazyness.

The next thing is.... how do you choose a handful to do interviews out of 103+???

I am in the same boat, I'm unemployed. But, I did take a temporary job. I'm working for the Oakland Zoo doing data entry (I'm on lunch right now). And doing some pet sitting jobs on the side, bringing a small amount of money every month.

Just throwing out my methods for job hunting (things everybody probably already knows, but, maybe there's somebody I can help out there):

I use all the online job hunting websites, craigslist, yahoo, monster, careerbuilder, here in the bay we have bayareahelpwanted.com. I think all of those websites also have my resume posted.

I also go directly to the source. Grab a phonebook for your area or an area you'd like to work and go to everybodies websites (sometimes you'll spend 10-15 minutes just trying to find their open positions listing) And if the company doesn't have a website call or walk in (with resume and cover letter in hand)

One of the things I've been told over and over again by hiring managers is that people applied for the position, but, when you read their cover letter, it's form, it's not specific to the duties and their experience relevant to the position, those are the people that are applying to every single job posting and don't really care about the position.
For the younger group out there and even those asked to fill out an application on top of a resume, remember to cater your application too! Make sure your experience from a past job that is relevant to the position your applying for is made a really big deal of!

I too (and my husband... who is now working full-time at Home Depot to make ends meet after his layoff) am incredibly frustrated by the down economy. So please, let it off your chest, there's a lot of people in the same boat out there that are more than happy to provide an ear, advise and a hug of support!

Keep your head up.

On a brighter side of things: the market is on the gain! The dow Jones is up over 9000 today (so far!) ::crosses fingers:: and hopes is stays that way!