Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the jobless rate in the United States dropped down to 9.0% in October, which is the first time it declined since July. There has also been a lot of talk about thousands of manufacturing jobs returning from overseas. The encouraging signs are out there for the workforce to see, but try telling that to the millions of people who are currently without a job.

According to a poll conducted in a joint venture by The New York Times and CBS News, 50% of jobless Americans reported feeling ashamed or embarrassed due to being out of work. More than half of respondents said they suffer from anxiety, depression or other emotional issues because they are unemployed. The study revealed some disturbing trends that indicate the nation’s unemployment woes are taking a toll beyond financial burden.

The huge population of unemployed consumers will tell you that securing a job in this economy is no easy feat. On the bright side, and there always is one, it is not impossible. When applied, the following tips can help the jobless find work in spite of these rough economic conditions:

Networking has been an effective job securing tactic long before social media came along. You can be the most qualified candidate of the bunch, but as the saying goes, it’s not always what you know, but who you know. It would be great if you could rub shoulders with a few inside sources who can give you some solid information about the companies you want to work for. If not, use whatever resources are available to you. You can come up on some quality leads by simply contacting the people you know and informing them that you’re on the hunt.

Even in this day and age, several people are strictly traditional with their job hunting methods. While there is certainly nothing wrong with submitting applications in person, job seekers who have the means should be tapping into the internet and its vast amount of resources. Online you can find a countless number of websites showcasing employment opportunities in fields that range from food services and real estate to manufacturing and IT. In addition to the go-to sources like Career Builder and Monster.com, Twitter, surprisingly enough, when paired with LinkedIn can be a great way to generate job conversations. But there are many more options:

Plaxo, which integrates with Simply Hired, is a good place to set up a profile and begin the hunt. There’s also Jobster, which functions much like Career Builder but allows you to picture and tag skills. Facebook can be a great way to find out more about jobs you want or keep abreast of a company’s social channel, though it’s not the best place for a resume. More informally, Craigslist is a great way to find contract jobs – though finding permanent or corporate jobs amidst the anonymous and the scammers can be more difficult. MyWorkster is a network devoted to finding jobs for college graduates and alumni, so if you’re still in school or closely connected to your college or university (or even went to college or university), it’s a good place to check out. Then there’s Jobfox, which claims to specialize in connecting seekers to jobs that are the best fit for them.

Today’s job market is more competitive than ever. People are finding it extremely difficult to land work, and the seeker to availability ratio is a big part of the reason why. With so many candidates putting their name in the hat, it could literally pay to take a more flexible approach with your job search. In the current state, it may not be wise to turn down an opportunity that isn’t necessarily a dream job. Of course you don’t want to settle, but you also don’t want to miss out, either. Besides, who knows where you can go once you get your foot in the door?

”Finding a job is a job,” but often the experiences and friends you have in stepping stone jobs will lead to a more stable career in the future.

Many of the nation’s unemployed will no doubt agree that finding a job these days can be a long, grueling journey. Some people have been searching for years. You may hit a few dead ends in your search, but that is no reason to get down on yourself. What’s important is understanding that you can’t sit back and wait for things to happen. You need to keep your head up and go out there and make it happen. You will.