This blog goes out to all the great candidates who find themselves unemployed despite having top agencies and great account experience featured on their resumes. I have been there. And ‘there’ is akin to hitting rock bottom and picking up a shovel. The ad industry is not for the faint of heart. Accounts go into review and the smart agency people send out feelers for employment in the (likely) event that the account heads out the door. Very few people who have been in this business for a decade or more have escaped the hatchet of circumstance. There are things that you can do to get through the dry spell when you find yourself out in the desert. Freelancing is a great way to pay the bills and can even turn into something more permanent if you play your cards right. All the big agencies are in need of freelancers across the board, regardless of discipline, for projects large and small. Also, in addition to working with recruiters, regularly check out all the job boards, particularly http://www.talentzoo.com/. Many of the best agencies use job boards in addition to recruiters and you could be missing some real gems if you’re only checking one site. And lastly, if more than a few months have passed, and you still have no leads and nothing looms on the horizon, then perhaps now is the time to consider relocation. You may love your city and your friends but, at the end of the day, you are responsible for paying the bills. As someone who has wandered the desert – twice – and made it back, allow me to share a piece of advice. Hold onto hope. Our jobs are no small part of how we define ourselves and having a void in place of purpose can warp perspective horribly. Maintaining a positive, hopeful attitude will go a long way towards ensuring that you make it out of the desert intact. Until then, Talent Zoo has recruiters, a job board and a website brimming over with great advice, good humor and industry wisdom. Use us and happy hunting!