Who's finding jobs now?

Getty ImagesWhile headlines continue to report on the grim state of the job market, people are getting hired every day. This ongoing series will bring you snapshots of who's getting hired now with the back-stories of how they're snagging the jobs.

This week's job successes include a nonprofit manager who made a move when it seemed like no one was hiring, an engineer who tweeted his way to a new gig, and an event planner who created a full-time position out of two part-time jobs to bring in extra cash during her slow season.

Dan Zarrella, Boston, Mass - From one job in online marketing to another position within the same industry.

Time searching: About a month

Techniques: Enhancing and promoting his "personal brand." Networking on Twitter

His story: When Zarella got laid off in December from a position at an online marketing firm, he took an approach that is becoming increasingly common -- he immediately worked on enhancing his personal brand and made himself more known in the community where he wanted to find his next job. (For a quickie course on personal branding, read Dan Schawbel's excellent new book, "Me 2.0") He tells his whole job search story -- on the blog of HubSpot.com, where he eventually got hired. Even before he lost his job, Zarrella had the foundations of a good personal brand in place. He already had a personal blog, on which he identifies himself with the clever moniker "The Social Media and Viral Marketing Scientist." He also used the extra time he had to develop some online tools related to Twitter, the microblogging site that is an essential networking zone for people in technology-related businesses. "Rather than trying to interrupt people in my space with advertisements about myself, I created things that people wanted to use and let them come to me," he wrote about the experience. He also posted on Twitter that he was looking for a new job and asked people who was hiring in the Boston area. A few people responded to his messages and directed him to Hubspot, where he saw that there were openings and submitted his resume according to the usual procedures.

Russell Langsam, New York City - From director of the NY office of the Posse Foundation, to Director of Service, American Jewish World Service.

Time searching: 6-7 months

Techniques: Held onto his current job while searching for the next. Old-fashioned networking. Following up on all leads

His story: Langsam had hit one of those plateau moments in his career. "I was managing volume more than mastering new things," he said. He wanted to stay in the nonprofit sector and knew it was a difficult time to find something new. So he followed the time-tested advice to hold onto a job if you have one while looking for a new one. That dance created some stress since he had to continue to perform well at work while doing what felt like another full-time job. His method was also a time-tested one. He applied to every posting he could find. He mined his network for contacts in the nonprofit sector and reconnected with anyone who might know of opportunities. He also went to events where he could mingle with the kinds of people who could steer him in the right direction. At a social entrepreneurship conference, he met a search consultant who thought that American Jewish World Service would be a good fit for his background. He followed up and learned they were hiring. From cover letter to interviews and offer took about three months. Though his search took many months, he said he learned that there are always opportunities out there. "Life circumstances take people in all sorts of directions," he said. And think about it -- he then left an open spot at his former organization.

Jennifer Bergeram, Breckenridge, Colorado - From self-employed event planner to administrative assistant/HR trainer in county government office.

Time searching: None

Technique: Responded to an ad in the paper. Proposed a job share when her temp position was coming to an end. Then created a second part-time position for herself when she saw a need begging to be met.

Her story: Bergeram runs her own event planning business, which typically slows down after the summer season. She wanted to fill in the financial gap with a part-time job so she responded to an ad in the local paper for a temporary position as an administrative assistant in a county government office; the job would last for four months, while another woman was on maternity leave. She applied, interviewed, and got the job. As the end of the position approached, Bergeram wanted to continue. She knew that many women don't want to return to work full time after having a baby, so she asked her boss to float the idea of a job-share with the new mom who was getting ready to return. Her idea was a hit, and the two women have been job-sharing since January. In her job-share Bergeram only works three days a week, so she had some extra time available. She noticed that the office was eliminating a position as an HR trainer for budgetary reasons. With two free days to offer, she apporoached the manager in charge and suggested herself for the trainer position for two days a week. That idea was accepted as well. Bergeram ended up crafting two jobs for herself, neither of which exactly existed in the form she does them. "I like security," she told me. If one of the jobs gets eliminated, she will likely still have the other. Plus, she also has her business to fall back on.

Yesterday, I was on the public radio show, The Takeaway, along with Russell, Jennifer and Dan, talking about their job search experiences. Listen here.

Have you recently got a job? If so, join in the conversation and tell us how you did it.