By PHYLLIS KORKKI

Q. You are looking for a job just as the economy appears to have entered a recession. Every day you hear about layoffs, hiring freezes and budget cuts. Do you need to look at your job search differently?
A. Yes, you probably do. During a downturn, you may need to work harder and longer to find a job, and be more flexible and creative in assessing your options.
The important thing to remember now is that as large numbers of jobs are disappearing, “whole new categories of jobs are being created that nobody ever thought of before, said Richard Nelson Bolles, author of “What Color Is Your Parachute? , a career book he has revised continuously since 1970.

Q. What needs to be done differently as you look for a job in this environment?
A. Accept that you may be unable to move into a replica of the job you just held, said Bernadette Kenny, chief career officer for Adecco, a staffing company.
It is time to think harder about transferring the skills you have or acquiring new ones to move into a new type of job or industry, Mr. Bolles said. Be receptive to the idea that in the future you may be working “in the service of new technologies, he said.
Of course, check the job boards, keep your resume sharp and send it out regularly. But during a downturn, understand that you may need to do much, much more than that.
At a time like this, it is more important than ever to use personal and professional networks, including alumni associations, so you can obtain referrals to help you stand out from the crowd, said Jon E. Zion, president of Eastern United States operations for Robert Half, the financial recruitment agency.

Q. What are some areas where demand for workers remains high?
A. Demand is strong for people with expertise in information technology, including software business applications, Web development, database management and network administration, Mr. Zion said. And certain areas in accounting and finance are still thriving.

Q. All the rejections you are receiving, compounded by all the negative headlines you see, make it hard to stay optimistic.
How do you keep from feeling discouraged?
A. Make a list of what you need to do each day, and “try to keep your emotions separate from the tasks of the day, Ms. Kenny of Adecco said. “This is not the time to say, ‘Well, there aren’t any jobs out there, so I won’t look,’ she said.
With the right attitude, job seekers “can often turn this crisis into a real advantage for themselves by moving their life in a new and more fulfilling direction, Mr. Bolles said. When they look back, he said, they often realize that “this is the best thing that ever happened to me.