This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Cathy Xie, a 25-year-old marketing professional based in Toronto. It's been edited for length and clarity. I remember opening my laptop about a month into my job hunt , seeing yet another automated rejection, and feeling this kind of collapsing desperation. I knew I needed to do something different in my approach if I wanted to stand out in the job market. I tried three new job-finding strategies, but I didn't get hired until I sent an email