In 2013, long term unemployment was at its highest level since World War II, and today it still hovers at 5.5 percent, so if you lose your job, apply for unemployment benefits right away. It could take up to three weeks to receive your first check.
Also try shopping around for lower prices on your cable, cell phone bill or car insurance. Cancel your cable and sign up for a Netflix or a Hulu account to save more than $50 a month.
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Roll over your 401(k) to a Roth IRA. The rollover could be taxed at a lower rate while your income is less.
And remember to build an online persona. Use LinkedIn, or create a personal website for networking. More than half of employers use social media as a recruiting tool.
Volunteer, join networking groups and attend industry conferences. You never know who you might meet and up to 80 percent of jobs are found due to who you know.
And apply for jobs on a Monday! Experts say your chances of landing a job on Monday are 30 percent higher than on any other day.
Finance experts also say it can take up to three months to find a new job and if you've been out of work for six months or longer, you have just a 12 percent chance of finding one.