Lost your job, and can’t afford the services of a professional? Look to these tips to get yourself out of the doldrums and onto a new career path.

Send out a call on your network. Let your friends and family know that you are looking for work. If you have an account on linkedin, facebook or twitter and have stayed in touch with colleagues from past jobs, it will be even easier. A network isn’t made overnight. You need to cultivate it over time, and these times are exactly when your network can help you.

Join a professional group. If you can’t afford the fees of a professional group linked to your own career, then head to local job boards or meetup.com, and form your own group there. This can be a valuable way to learn more about your field and expand your network even more.

Evaluate new career choices. Find out which careers are more stable than yours, and consider retraining in that career. Visit servicelocator.org to look at government-funded retraining options. If you do decide to go back to school, attend the best program possible, specifically one in which a large percentage of students were hired after graduation.

Revamp your resume. If you aren’t getting offers but you have the experience, take a good look at your resume. Could your objective statement be more focused? Have you described all your job duties accurately? Have you mentioned all your achievements at past jobs? Brainstorm a list of every time your boss praised your work, and make sure those skills and talents are listed on your resume.

Be prepared to sell yourself. Every single person you meet could lead to a job opportunity. If someone asks you what you do, don’t be shy. Say you are looking for work, and be positive. Then explain what it is that you do and the kind of job you want. This information will likely just be a part of the conversation, but the person you’ve just met might know someone who can help you later on. Having your game face on for every person you meet can open up new opportunities.

Help others. Good karma goes a long way. Whenever you hear of a job opportunity that isn’t for you but might suit a friend, pass it on. Your friend might make a connection down the road that can help you. Volunteer work can also help you build new skills that you can use in the workplace. For example, if you are an amateur Web designer, take it to the next level, and offer to build a Web site for your church, your class or your new professional group.

Keep doing what you do best. Are you a chef? Then don’t stop cooking. A copywriter? Start your own blog, or keep writing on a freelance basis. Sharpening your skills and sticking with them, even if you aren’t being paid for it, can prove to a potential employer that you are passionate about your work.