You are now in the sales and marketing business, and the product you are selling is you. So let’s get personal.

• Take a look around and be grateful for what you have. You probably have reasonably good health, a place to live, food to eat, people who care about you. Not a bad place for starting over.
• Write down your abilities and accomplishments. Include your technical and your interpersonal skills. Develop a short “commercial” to use when talking to people about your job search and during interviews. Being able to clearly and concisely describe your education, experience and skills will set you apart.
• Take a look in the mirror. Maybe you could lose a few pounds. Maybe your teeth could be whiter. Maybe you could use a hair cut. Spending some time and money on your appearance is one of the best investments you can make.
• Don’t lie around and feel sorry for yourself. Follow a daily schedule – work on your resume, make calls, do research, set up meetings and informational interviews. Add exercise to your routine.
• Avoid isolation. Keep up with your contacts and work to expand your network. Attend social and business events.
• Improve upon or learn new skills. Employers want workers who have multiple skill sets and are up to date with software applications.
• Consider the type of company you want to work for next, or whether you want to become a consultant, open a franchise or start up your own business.

This scenario has played out for millions of Americans in the last two years, and it’s still happening. As of December 2010, the national unemployment rate had inched up to 9.8 percent.

The old days of working for one company your entire career have given way to shorter tenures with many different companies and even career changes.

Financial hardship is one matter, but job loss affects many aspects of your life, including your self-esteem, your sense of worth and purpose, daily routines, your social status, relationships and dreams for the future.

Here are some tips to survive this stressful time:

• Find out about your severance package (if any) and health insurance options.
• Contact your state unemployment insurance office to apply for benefits. It’s usually better to go in person even though the wait can be lengthy.
• Take a hard look at your finances and seek ways to cut back. You may need to contact creditors and set up a hardship plan.
• Talk candidly with family members so they understand your situation.
• Find out if there are support groups in your area for unemployed people. Or talk with a trusted friend, spiritual advisor or counselor.
• Don’t get ripped off by scams targeting desperate people offering bogus work at home opportunities or resume services.
• Develop a great resume. You’ll need several versions appropriate for different industries or jobs.
• Network, network, network. Use personal and online networking to let people know your marketable skills and the types of jobs you’re interested in.
• Register with online job search engines.
• See your doctor or a psychiatrist if you need antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication.