hi -- I'm a TSC staff writer, and interested in creative ways that people are getting by on unemployment. Do you have an interesting or creative story that you want to share? post here!

For moral support, the sharing of practical job-hunting skills, and to particpate in joint efforts to track down new job opennings as they appear, one can join or start a local job hunters self-help (member-run) community support group.

Two websites that provide practical information and contacts for for find or (if no group is anywhere nearby) join with others to start a employment community mutual support group are:

To find or form a community job club:
http://www.quintcareers.com/job_club.html

To find or form a church-based job seekers support group:
http://www.workministry.com/resources/LeaderGuide.shtml#Forming

There are also a few local non-profit self-help group clearinghouses that help people trying to find or start a job seekers support group. See listing at:
http://www.mentalhelp.net/selfhelp/selfhelp.php?id=859
So if you live in NJ, you can learn about local job seekers groups or any other type of NJ support groups, by contacting the NJ Self-Help Group Clearinghouse at 1-800-367-6274 (a toll-free that works only within NJ). Contact them for free help in starting a group.

One can also check out online job seekers job groups.
Heck, one of our newest staff, Michael, where I work here at the NJ Clearinghouse, started an online mutual support group at Facebook (where even a homeless fellow using a local public library for access was a member) before Michael left Kentucky for his job here.

My husband has been employed approximately 2 of the past 6 years. As an executive level person, jobs are harder to come by and harder to keep. We know about living with un and under-employment. Here are a few tips:

Live in the moment. Just because you don't have a job, doesn't mean you should stop living. Continue to do the things you love to do and set aside time from job-hunting to get caught up on those things you never had time to do. Take time to celebrate your children and their accomplishments, the holidays and family and friends.

Work at finding a job. This may sound intuitive, but keep on a work schedule. Get up and get to work - revise your resume, set up networking meetings, update your skill set.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. We've been through it all - the guy who is looking to retire, but then changes his mind after you have signed on; the partners who decide the moment you are on board decide to split; the guy starting the company with angel funding which never appears, or has already been used up. Be careful.

Take contract work if you can get it. The best way to get a job is to have a job and better yet, to be working the job you want.Temporary work can lead to full-time work.

Join an organization that has leaders in the business you want to get hired in. Better yet, take a leadership position in it.

Set personal fitness and health goals. Exercise relieves stress and will get you in better shape. It will improve your self-confidence and translate into a better job candidate. Plus, it is often free!

Get to know your finances. Where can you trim, where can you borrow? For children's activities, are scholarships available? What income do you have? Unemployment? Investments? Contract work?

Let people know you are available. This isn't 50 years ago where no one lost a job except for incompetence. Job loss is common and most people 40 or above have lost a job at some time or another. We have lost 2 where large companies imploded. Literally. Let people know you are looking and you might be surprised where your next job comes from.

Stay positive - if you look desperate you won't get the job.

Happy hunting.

Ooh, I forgot. Check out gap health insurance. If you have a job, but have not yet started, this can save you lots of money over COBRA.