As we are all facing challenges of a tough economy many of us are feeling over worked, underpaid, and short staffed. Maybe you have already put your resume out (only) to be disappointed by little or no feedback. Working and living in a down economy is never fun. It's easy to get depressed and have negative feelings when you're tired from working long hours at decreased pay with limited resources and a reduced budget. You are not alone. Every time I turn on the television or read the newspaper there is talk of war, mortgage crisis, and layoffs. The conversations are heavy, often plagued with a story of a friend or loved one being laid off or having a hard time finding work. It's easy to be drawn into the negativity these days.

The good news is you are employed! Remember, the situation could be much worse. More than ever, forcing oneself into a positive state of mind with an optimistic view versus a pessimistic one is the key to surviving and appreciating how fortunate you are and how much worse things could be.

Some survival tips:

Stay focused on the positive!

Be thankful for your position, for your paycheck, the benefits, and the people. Embrace this work experience and it will provide you with the skills and experience you need to move on to a new more lucrative opportunity.

Dress it up; when you're feeling down put on something that you love, wear your hair differently, re-decorate your office or cubicle. If you do something to stimulate conversation, and personal interaction, you will start feeling more positive and increase your motivation and energy level.

Keep both feet planted, and don't check out of your current position. Long term, it could really affect how your colleagues view you and their perception if anyone were to inquire to them about your performance.

Set a goal; use this time to learn a new skill and take on a special project that will make you stand out.

Keep looking for new opportunities, but don't let it interfere with your current work responsibility. The key to a successful job search is timing and who you know. Don't be afraid to keep networking, but don't obsess over it.

Network: Rubbing elbows with folks within your industry will keep you on the radar and indirectly help in your job search. Your current employer may also benefit from the information you acquire, relationships, and participation. Plus, it gets you out of the office.

Understanding your frustrations is the first step to becoming in control of those things that contribute to your frustrations. Simply learning and determining what you can and cannot control can be very freeing.

If none of these tips help, the final key is to remember that you will not be stuck in this job forever.

There is a big misconception that a high unemployment rate provides a collection of available, skilled, elite technical professionals. Although the unemployment rate is higher than usual, recruiting and attracting top talent is still quite a challenge in this market. Companies increasingly require workers who bring expertise from different areas along with the intangible communication and leadership type skills. Despite massive layoffs, companies still struggle to find top technical talent.

As the market breeds insecurity, the talented individuals most companies would like to attract remain gainfully employed, and they are not driven to make changes to uncertain opportunities unless highly incentivized.

There is a false impression in the market place that a tight job market allows room to negotiate down on salary. In most circumstances the greatest talents are not actively looking for new opportunities, and they have no desire or motivation to make a career change that involves a decrease in vacation, benefits, stock, and pay. Most will remain with their existing employer in what is perceived as a secure environment, and utilize offers to leverage counter offers versus stepping in with an unknown entity. Unfortunatley when a candidates does take a pay cut, we often see them depart their new employer for higher compensation fairly quickly when the market turns around.

To attract and retain top talent, the elite must be courted. The process must move quickly, to avoid interruptions, counter offers, or other unknown derailments. Neither candidates nor employers want to walk through the entire interview process or navigate busy schedules when there is no ability to come to terms in final stages. Salary requirements must be defined up front and in advance, and agreed upon prior to any activity. A clear expectation for both candidates and potential employers is the only way to proceed so that everyone is on the same page.