My sister lost her job a week ago. The direct marketing company she had started working for only four months ago lost two of their biggest clients and decided they couldn't afford their newest staff postions. My sister received the news and a small severence package on Monday of last week. The timing could have been better.

As the market searches for a place to settle so the world can herald a new beginning, people are losing their jobs and reports say it will only get worse. For my sister things weren't as bad as they could have been. She was able to pick up consultant work fairly quickly (by last Wednesday) for a previous employer in the DC Metro region. But for many others, who have families/overextended mortgages and who live in an area with fewer opportunities the results could be dire. This is a scenario many have predicted and warned about for years. Entire organizations have been built around the idea.

Here are four tips to set yourself up for success

1. Is the résumé passé?

Not entirely. Of course, anyone looking for a job will need a résumé. As always, it should be strategically crafted, truthful and spelling-error free.

But relying on a résumé to get you a job, or even to get you noticed, is no longer realistic in this highly competitive environment, according to Jennifer Kushell, employment expert and CEO of Your Success Network.

"I don't really love the idea of relying on the résumé anymore," Kushell says. "I think it is an antiquated piece of technology because the idea that any of us express ourselves on a piece of paper is very old school."

You have to connect with people and present your self to the people that have those jobs to offer, she suggests.

2. Work your network

You have to get in front of and "wow!" the people responsible for making the hiring decisions. "If you're not networking you're crazy, because you are limiting your options and opportunities," says Kushell.

She advises clients to get out of their comfort zone and join industry organizations, go to parties and events and introduce themselves to new people. In this job environment, the good jobs are not listed in the newspaper and, they are not on job sites all the time. You hear about them by having a network of people who are well connected in the industry and willing to help you.

And people should be doing this type of preparation all the time and not just once they lose their job.

3. Manage your brand

Social networking may be all the rage but it can be a career killer if you are not careful. Potential employers often search potential job candidates on the Internet and any inappropriate pictures or postings will sink you in the applicant pool.

According to a recent study by YSN.com, a global work-force consulting firm, about 30% of young people surveyed said there is definitely or probably something online that they would be embarrassed for their employer to see. Take it down, clean it up, and protect your reputation like it's your job; Or it could end up costing you one.

4. Look beyond borders

If opportunities on the home front aren't materializing, Americans may want to turn their attention overseas. Some of the fastest growing economies -- Russia, China, India, Dubai and countries throughout Asia -- are eager to import American talent.

"Business is becoming very Americanized all over the world and talent is required that has training in America; they want people that have the work ethic and the DNA," says Michael Karp, CEO of executive search firm Options Group.

Multinational companies that are expanding overseas or international financial firms may be looking to snatch up newly unemployed American workers.

How else can you use social media to your benefit? Michael Port (who can be a little too over-the-top for my personal taste, but who has some sound advice) or William Aruda might help guide you into building your personal brand, if you haven't already.

What do you think?

I'll get around to explaining "why" I'm here in due course. For now, though, I wanted to point out the one thing that drives me nuts when it comes to any large event: cost.

Whoa! Wait! Don't leave just yet. I'll explain.

I understand that these things cost a lot of money to run. I think that most of the time, the ticket prices for these events are justified. What I think is being missed, however, is a marketing opportunity.

In the same way that Adobe and Microsoft have "Education" or "Student" editions of their software, which are usually limited only by the license agreement attached, I think conferences can do something similar.

There are plenty of these conferences I'd like to attend but as a student they are waaaay out of my budget. What I would like to see is a sort of "taster" event for students. Perhaps a session that's one or two hours long and free to students. It could be a sort-of keynote summary by the major speakers (say, 15 or 20 minutes each). Maybe hold an evening event, too, where full-paying ticket holders and students can mix and network. Primarily, such an endeavour wouldn't necessarily take a lot out of the conference schedule, but it would do a lot in terms of goodwill and face-to-face marketing. A student, who may have never been to such a conference before (which assumes that they're about 10 years younger than me, too) will be a lot less cynical and a lot more willing to act on the messages being put forth at the conference.

So, once again, it's more of a marketing event. The "message" being put out by the speakers will be directly heard by those about to enter the industry, they will have the opportunity to network with others in the industry, and, since they've been to the event before, they're more likely to convert to a full-fee-paying conference attendee when they're working in their chosen careers.