With the recession having raised its ugly head, just about everyone seems to be getting laid off. The survivors are left staring at empty cubicles and wondering if they will be the next victim.

What can you do to find a new job in these tough times, if you are laid off? Here are a few pointers:

• Leave your job on good terms with your employer. Don’t burn bridges by giving in to your emotions when you have been fired. Keep a cheerful attitude and speak to all your colleagues before you pack up and leave. Exchange contact information and promise to keep in touch.
• Spruce up your CV and cover letter. Prospective employers derive their first impression of you from these documents so, make sure they are updated.
• Post your resume in all major job portals and make your resume “searchable”. If you are VP level candidate, it’s not advisable to post your resume in job portals. It might work against you. You need to contact executive recruiters and work with them to find your next job.
• Some people are tempted to go on a vacation as soon as they are laid off. They feel that they have earned it and the change of scenario will help settle the turmoil in their minds. It is well and fine to take a week end off and go camping or take a trip to the beach but a long vacation can make you lazy and ultimately, you will take a lot longer to find a job.
• Make job hunting a job. Spend the time that you would be working, say 8 hours per day, in searching for a new job. You can use the time to update your resume and send it to people you know, join networking sites and establish new contacts, check out jobs posted in different web sites and so on.
• You can use the web to highlight your skills. For instance, you can create your own website and post high quality information on the subject of your choice. People who share your interests are bound to visit your web site. Impress them with your knowledge.
• Let everyone know that you have been laid off and are looking for a new job. Tell it to your friends, relatives and even people you have just met. You never know who might be able to help. A casual acquaintance at a dinner party might end up being your new boss.
• Attend meetings and seminars in your area. You will keep in touch with the developments in your field. You will also get to meet new people who might be able to help you by word of mouth. Several vacancies are never posted online or in newspapers. Instead, they get filled by mere word of mouth.
• Hone your networking skills. Get in touch with old friends and acquaintances. Take an initiative to meet new people. Stock up on references. Get references from your old boss and colleagues. This will prove valuable in your search for a new job.
• If it’s taking longer to find a permanent job, try taking up some freelance work. You can find freelance jobs in fields like data entry, software programming and writing. Of course, it may not pay as much as a full time job but every dollar earned will be of use for your budget. You can even do some consulting work. If you get hired as a contract employee for sometime, don’t hesitate to take up the offer. You may be able to garner valuable experience that way.
• Cut unnecessary expenses. Now that you are without a job, you can manage without partying or going for movies or eating out often. Try to scrimp and save every dime you can.
• Try to learn new skills. You can sign up for crash courses or short term tutorial to help brush up your skills and increase your chances of landing a good job.
• Practice interview skills. You can do this by attending every interview that comes your way, even if you are sure that you won’t take up the job.
• Take time to do volunteer work. You can use your skills in your field of interest to help out government and non profit organizations. For instance, if you are a nurse, you can spend some time doing volunteer work at a nearby home for the aged. This experience will also be useful for your resume.
• Most important, never lose hope. It may take some time but you are sure to land a good job in due time.