Editor 's note : Clark Howard , the Atlanta , Georgia-based host of a nationally syndicated radio show , is host of a television show designed to help viewers save more , spend less and avoid getting ripped off during these tough economic times . The show airs at noon and 4 p.m . ET Saturdays and Sundays on HLN . Clark Howard says use the Internet to hook up with powerful networking groups . ATLANTA , Georgia ( CNN ) -- Many years ago , I had the opportunity to start an Atlanta-based civic program called Career Action . The program 's goal was to provide free resources to help the jobless and underemployed find steady work . That was 1979 . Today , it 's 2009 and the need for job assistance is greater than ever as unemployment continues to rise . The conventional wisdom about education and employment -- that as your level of education rises , the less likely you are to be impacted by layoffs -- has been completely flipped on its head . This recession knows no boundaries in terms of education , skill level , training or years on the job . So , what do you do if you 're laid off or have your hours cut at work ? First , do n't panic ! You 're going to need to apply for unemployment insurance . I 'm hearing a lot of people badmouthing unemployment compensation . There 's nothing shameful about it . Employers pay premiums over time during the good years to provide for those who get laid off in lean times . It 's not beneath you to accept this insurance money . Next , you need to triage your finances so you know which debts to prioritize and which to neglect if your money runs out . Paying your car note is central to finding employment for most people . It 's practically higher than paying your mortgage or rent . In fact , you may need to live with friends or relatives until you can get back on your feet . What should n't you prioritize paying ? Your credit cards . People say , `` But that will hurt my credit ... '' Look , if you 're in a situation where there 's no money coming in and you have to decide between paying the mortgage and putting food on the table , chances are your credit is already damaged . Once you get organized financially , it 's time to job hunt . Looking for work is a full-time job and you need an action plan . Start by reviewing your list of contacts , but understand that people do n't like to be called and asked if there 's a job . But they do love to give advice that may lead to a job opportunity . Visit in person with your contacts if possible . I 'm also a big believer in networking groups and unemployment support groups . Networking for jobs has become something of a lost art in our country because people think the Internet replaces everything else . It does n't . However , there are ways to use the Internet to hook up with powerful networking groups . There 's even a new organization called LaidOffCamp that is like a free day camp for the underemployed . According to the movement 's Web site , it 's `` an ad-hoc gathering of unemployed and nontraditionally employed people ( including freelancers , entrepreneurs and startups ) who want to share ideas and learn from each other . '' You never know whom you might meet . When you are job hunting on the Internet , be sure to check out screen-scraper sites like SimplyHired and Indeed.com . They 're both `` one-stop shops '' that collect content from all the traditional job sites such as Monster and Yahoo ! HotJobs , plus the career pages of individual company sites . In addition , The Boston Globe recently recommended several specialty sites when you 're looking for work in a specific field . BioSpace.com is geared toward the science and biotechnology fields ; Idealist.org focuses on the nonprofit charity world ; and for those who are 50 years or older , there 's a site called WorkForce50.com . In the course of your job search , you may find that you need money immediately and ca n't sit around waiting for a job offer to materialize . In that case , certain skill sets -- Web design , programming , marketing and videography , to name a few -- lend themselves to consulting work or freelancing on a project . The Internet also offers a variety of sites that match freelancers up with employers . A recent article in The San Francisco Chronicle suggested ELance.com , oDesk.com , Guru.com and crowdSPRING.com as starting points . And if you can afford it after all of your necessities , it 's always a great idea to keep your mind sharp by taking classes to improve your skills or learn new ones . You can never be too smart .
Clark says you 're going to need to apply for unemployment insurance . You need to know which debts to prioritize , which to neglect if your money runs out . If the government is paying a lot of interest on its debt, it's not easy to get that money back in any case. With certain skills , try consulting work or freelancing on a project .