A couple last notes for NoisyTurtle:
1. "Best is the Enemy of Better". Maybe (of course I don't know for certain - this is just speculation) you're just not ready to be gunning for "THE" dream job, but I bet if you knew you were on your way you'd be more satisfied with yourself. Maybe instead of focusing on your dream job you focused on jobs that will look great on your resume for when you do go to apply for the dream job. What these are depends on your field - ask questions, research.
2. Consider the possibility that:
a. Something is really wrong with your resume (the folks in alumni job placement at your college might be a big help here).
b. Your resume just doesn't stand out enough (try writing competitions, try tutoring English. Get creative and purposeful here: make it obvious in your resume that you are busting your butt to be the kind of person that the dream job requires).
Both of these possibilities require you to entertain the notion that somebody may be better at something than you are. If you have a problem with (and that's not meant to sound facetious - I really don't know) then deal with it. Be thankful for any feedback you get and gracious to anybody who gives it - you'd be amazed at how far basic manners can get you. Of course some people will make frivilous comments that aren't helpful. Use them as an opportunity to practice being thankful and gracious anyway - that practice will serve you well when it comes to be truly thankful and gracious.
If you have actually sent out 450 (you've said 450 and 1000 at various points in your thread so I don't know where the hyperbole actually stops and reality starts) then either one of the above (or some variation of them)
must be true b.c. I don't actually believe that the entire population of Seattle is actively conspiring to keep you down and I hope you don't either. Just realize that your dream job isn't going to gift-wrap itself for you.
Finally, be thankful for the fact that you know what your dream job is: you're really lucky in this regard. Many would probably say that that's the hard part. From what it sounds like, I'm probably older than you are and I still have no idea what that job is: I'm just glad enough when I find work that is actually challenging.
In addition to all of the above, but only as a coping method to help you get from one point to the next on your journey to your dream job, there's a comedian who's got some sage advice about happiness baked into one of his most famous tours: Dennis Leary's "No Cure For Cancer."
I'm not recommending this to sound like a smart a**, because I really do think this advice to myself frequently - it's the bit centered around the title of his new book (you'll know when you get there - I don't want to spoil it) but it's hilarious and it really is something we all need to say to ourselves when we begin letting ourselves feel overwhelmed.
I do this ^^^, and then I get on with solving the problem.
That's All Folks,
K