"Gainful employment is a relative term," Birkel said. "Taking a temporary, stop-loss job during the holidays is not a bad thing. You do whatever it takes to feed the family.

The reality may be that they might have to take on what we call a 'stop-loss job,'" Lincoln says, referring to a lower-paying position the typical duppie once scoffed at.

"You have to survive before you can expand your horizons," Lincoln says. "(Stop-loss jobs) stop the loss of savings or financial reserves, or at least extend what's there so a person can continue to pay the bills.

You got to stem the loss first. And in many cases, you know, checking your pride at the door on a temporary basis, while you look for full-time work, is an OK thing. I mean, you have to do what you have to do and it is what it is. And, you know, it's not easy and it's not simple, and there's no way to sugar-coat it, but my recommendation is, you know, if your resume is intact and you're ready to roll, I mean, I would consider taking a stop-loss job while you sharpen your re-employment toolbox and look for full-time employment opportunities.