If you lose your jobs...

Unemployment is rather low these days — with a recent national rate of just 3.7 percent — but that doesn’t mean that some people aren’t losing their jobs. Here are some things to do if you lose yours.

Assess your financial situation and perhaps revise your budget, cutting out unnecessary spending. Don’t cash out your 401(k) if you can help it, because even small sums saved and invested can become large if left to keep growing.

Feel your feelings. It’s very reasonable to feel hurt, angry and/or scared. You might even feel ashamed, but don’t let that stop you from letting others know that you lost your job, as they may be able to comfort or help you. (Do avoid badmouthing your former employer on social media or in interviews, as that can make you look unprofessional or unappealing to potential employers.)

Reach out to your network of former and current colleagues and people you know in your field. Ask them to keep you in mind if they hear of openings that might suit you — and perhaps to put in a good word for you.

Don’t expect great success from mailing out lots of letters and resumes. According to some reports, around 70 percent of jobs are not listed publicly on job sites, and up to 80 percent of jobs are filled via personal and professional connections.

Take some time to read up on job search advice, interviewing tips and suggestions for how to advance your career. (It might be smart to earn a new certification or designation, for example.) Beef up your Linkedin profile, and become a regular visitor to sites such as Indeed.com, Glassdoor.com and Monster.com.

Losing a job isn’t fun, but your next job may end up being much better.