The 1990's brought widespread corporate mergers and acquisitions that resulted in employees being faced with something they had never faced before—losing their jobs. Early into the 21st century, and although not as rampant, the downsizing trend seems to linger.

Losing your job can really take a toll on your ego, but it can also take a toll on your lifestyle. Here are some strategies for riding out the storm and getting back into the workforce. Remember, whatever doesn't kill you, will only make you stronger.

Reevaluate your family's financial situation—look closely at your income versus expenses and make a realistic assessment of where you are at. Halt any unnecessary spending to protect your credit rating. Involve the whole family. Hold a family meeting to discuss what the family's new priorities are, what luxuries are dispensable and how each family member can help out during this time of volatility.

Make a list of the mainstays. Your life does not have to stop during this time of transition. If it is financially feasible to send your son to basketball camp or let your daughter continue swimming lessons, do it. Keep in mind, unemployment is a temporary situation. Anything you can do to keep life as normal as possible for you and your family will benefit everyone in the end.

Your life has just undergone a dramatic change. You have evaluated your financial situation and realigned your priorities accordingly. Now it's time to put all your efforts into your own success. First things first—is your resume up to date? If not, get it up to date. Consult family, friends, colleagues, and a career counselor, if possible, to put your job hunting tools back in order.

Determine your financial timeline—how long will your contingency fund last? This will help take the panic out of your job search. Consider borrowing from your life insurance policy or retirement account for short-term cash needs, but don't forget the importance of these funds to your family's financial future.

It's time to hit the pavement—or the web, rather. Today's technology-driven world offers job seekers countless resources for finding jobs, researching careers and companies and communicating with potential employers. A study done by the Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM)* found that more than 34% of Human Resources professionals preferred to receive resumes via email, but only 17% of current job seekers were actually sending their resumes by email. Now is not the time to take the scenic route. Once you've done your research and found the companies and positions you are interested in, your best bet is to get your resume into the hands of these potential employers as quickly as possible. Use the technology available to you.

There are so many life considerations to make when transitioning between jobs. Especially when that transition comes abruptly and without warning as with a layoff. But don't lose sight of your goals—personal or professional. Look at this as an opportunity to reevaluate your career goals, and make improvements wherever possible. Make the most of it. Take a class, stay current on industry publications, maintain regular contact with your network of friends and colleagues. Remember, life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we respond to it.