As 2010 winds down with the worst unemployment rate (9.8% as of 12/3/10), over 15 million people are seeking new opportunities. Over the last couple of years, we’ve found that Baby Boomers didn’t retire, giving way to Generation Y and their “entitlement” (which I don’t think applies as much, by the way) of having the corner office, company car, and generous expense account. The housing market hasn’t recovered, and analysts aren’t so sure it will any time soon. 2010 also brought history’s most trying tests of nature and mankind with BP’s catastrophic Gulf oil spill, the Chilean mine collapse, and devastating earthquakes, outbreak of cholera, and alleged corruption in Haiti to name a few.

But, through all of the bad, there’s also been good. Whether it is the immediate relief for those that were personally affected by things like I mentioned before, career experts and coaches that have dedicated themselves to get job seekers back on their feet by empowering others (Check out Top 3 Twitter Chats for Job Seekers) to make a better life for themselves, humankind has proven to be more resilient than ever.

So, with all the doom and gloom out there, are you staying on top of your game as a job seeker? An even better question would be “how are you staying on top of your game? What keeps you going?”

Here are some tips that come to mind:

Know your support network. This can be made up of friends, family, really anyone who can help you with positive reinforcement. The best friends are those that stick with you when life is toughest, helping each other succeed. On the flip-side, know who isn’t supportive, who brings negativity to everything, and cut them out. There are enough people out there that are struggling. You don’t need to keep someone around if they’re going to kick you when you’re down.

Keep your goals in front of you. Posting your goals or aspirations in places such as above your desk or on the refrigerator door (works great if it’s a weight-loss goal) are good ways to keep them in front of you. Every time you look up, you’ll see the goals set for yourself. Sure, you can adjust as you go if needed, but having the visual reminder can help a lot!

Take a break, get out and get involved. Stuck inside your four walls because you don’t have money to spend outside them? Volunteering can help. It’s a great way to get better connected (to yourself and the community) while giving back. Plus, while you’re giving back, you’re also going to learn skills such as leadership, communication, and project management. You’ll find yourself energized when you return home because you’ve made a difference in someone’s life.

I’ll leave you with this quote that I stumbled upon recently that brought inspiration and motivation to my day:

“The best is yet to be.” – Robert Browning

What other things are you doing? Have a tip for fellow job seekers? Please don’t forget to leave a comment below. Your insight is greatly appreciated! As always, thanks for reading.