Good luck! I hope you find work in the industry! Just for reference, have you read
Tim Sale: Black & White? I received this book over the winter holidays and it has a wonderfully candid interview with Tim and includes rejection notes and early criticism of his work - it's fascinating.
Also, have you read Brandon Thomas's
How NOT to Break Into Comics (with
part two and
three). You may find them helpful, too.
Once again, good luck! I hope to read your credit someday!