No one can put a happy glow on this set of circumstances. Those who have lost jobs feel discouraged and maybe even disgruntled with their former employers. Depending on their financial situation, they might also feel anxiety or—worse—doom. These feelings may be perfectly understandable — even appropriate — but they are not a suitable foundation for looking for work. The very nature of the task requires a job seeker to be positive, upbeat and self-confident. These are the qualities employers look for.

To land a new job, then, a laid-off worker has to set aside negatives and strive to recapture whatever confidence has been lost. For some, a well-fortified supply of ego works naturally for them in trying times, but most who have been laid off go through a tailspin. The key to getting beyond the doldrums is to deal with them honestly and openly. Ignoring anger and frustration rarely works, and most prospective new employers are perceptive enough to pick up the signals, diminishing your likelihood of landing the job.

After all, employers have choices. Others want jobs, too. They would rather take their chances with candidates who seem more positive. It’s best to deal with your feelings before you begin your job search. Acknowledge them to others you can trust. Help may be available through a high-quality outplacement service offered by the employer from which you are being separated. Take advantage of it. These programs are offered in a spirit of empathy and support that can serve you well. Explain your feelings to an outplacement counselor. Get help in overcoming them.

If outplacement help isn’t offered, you may want to consider seeking it through a private career counselor. If you are a college graduate, your school career center may offer career services to alumni. The advantage of talking to professionals is that they are familiar with these issues and have generally developed techniques to address them. They also have the advantage of distance. They are not mired in your problem. Friends and loved ones probably want to help you, but their closeness can make it difficult for them. Chances are they, too, are subject to the same set of worries, doubts and hostilities you are battling. Although they want to be supportive of you, they may not be able to come through in the way you need.

You may need to adapt as you undertake your job search. For starters, if your job search experience is limited to the past decade, you may have to become familiar with job search techniques that have fallen into disuse with the advent of Internet technology. Before easy electronic access to abundant job listings, most people found work by networking or direct inquiry. Both involve a lot of interaction and putting your ego on the line.

The 1990s didn’t offer much preparation for this, but these time-tested techniques will need to be dusted off once again since job listings are not likely to be plentiful in a downturned economy. If professional help is not available to you, consult job search advice books. The hot job market of the ’90s also enabled many job seekers to look for perfect jobs that met their every need. Now may be the time to take off occupational straitjackets and think more broadly.

Consider taking a step down or sideways on the career ladder before resuming your ascent. Job searches in a tough economy require persistence. Quick fixes are unlikely and the best odds go to those who can stay at the day-to-day grind of getting out and about, talking to others, looking for opportunities and staying ready to seize them.

Neil Murray is director of career services at UCSD.