Did my IR in 2011, I'm a little bit fat and a bit on the older side but busted my ass networking and meeting as many people as possible. Incredibly, I'm employed flying TPs.
Sending letters and emails is just not enough, you must get out and meet people and present yourself as a positive hard working person.
I've said this before, the hardest part about going professional is about getting the job, the licences aren't easy and they are expensive but networking and finding work is every bit as much of the process as going through the training.