In fact, I sent off 25 resumes before I heard so much as a whisper when I first started applying to work onboard a cruise ship. And I know people who took over a year and several interviews before they got their job.

The people who eventually land their ?dream job? of working on a cruise ship, are generally the ones who persisted the most. These people did not give up at the first sign of rejection - they kept on applying - no matter how many knock-backs they got.

Here's one such great example of persistence that I'd like to share with you. It's an email I received a few weeks back from a girl who proved to be one of the most determined people I've come across so far.

After many, many months of trying, applying and even flying (she once flew to Belgium for an interview!) and MANY rejection letters received - she finally got her ?dream job? as a Purser for Carnival Cruise Lines.

Here's her email:

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Hi Neil,

I know it's been a while since I send you some news. But the last 3 weeks have been really hectic and busy.

I left Ireland last Sunday, I went back to France to visit my family and my friends and now, I'm writing you from.... MIAMI!! YEAH!!! I got the job with Carnival and I start working this Sunday. I stay at the Holiday Inn North West Corporate Center, close to Carnival's offices and everything is great.

I'm completely jet-lagged, that's why I'm on internet so early this morning. I'm actually awake since 4am!!! We have a meeting at the company today at noon to meet our manager, to get our final affectation (probably Los Angeles for me) and to have more details about the job.

I just wanted to let you know the good news. I'm really, really happy and excited (and tired!!) but I wanted to say THANK YOU for your support and your constant emails to give the strength to keep going. It's a fantastic experience that's going to start and I'm very, very glad it happened to me.

Regards,

Marie-Eve Fluechey (Republic of Ireland)

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I use this email to act as a bit of inspiration, more than anything else.

You see, the people who win in this game are the people who did not give up at the first sign of rejection and instead just kept applying. So if this is what you really want to do (and you'd be mad not to!) then just go for it and keep going at it.

Eventually you WILL get there. Marie-Eve is proof of this.

Besides, the chances are that when you do start applying, you will get a few rejection letters (heck, I have a whole file full!)

So what? Don't beat yourself up about it and give up hope. There are hundreds of other companies you can apply to and hundreds more positions available that you can do onboard, so just keep applying!

Persistence really is the ?secret?.