For one couple, the uncertainty is the hardest part. For another pair, it’s holding on to their home. For a third, an altered financial lifestyle is most trying. Across the United States last month, 14.5 million Americans were jobless and unemployment stood at 9.4 percent. For some households it has been a double whammy, with both breadwinners losing their jobs.

Richard Bayer, an economist and chief operating officer of The Five O’Clock Club, a national career-coaching and outplacement organization, said there are several steps people can take to help keep their jobs while preparing for the worst—a layoff. Here are some tips: Get your ducks in a row: People who have not been laid off but consider it a possibility should start testing their market with a preliminary job search.

Economists with the Virginia Employment Commission predict the unemployment rate will average 6.2 percent this year. If that holds true, the trust fund that pays out benefits will likely need a loan in 2010. “Right now, we have enough money to get us through this year, but about this time next year, we’ll be out of money,“ commission senior economist James Wilson said.

Finding a new job is never easy, and it’s even more challenging in a recession. But there are ways to set yourself apart and improve your chances of landing a new job quickly. We asked a few experts to give some tips for job seekers: Network, network, network: Gone are the days when a company would call you out of the blue to offer you a job, said Pat Haynes, owner of Commonwealth Personnel Consultants Inc. in Henrico County.

Employment Transitions workshop: This free seminar will be held from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at First Baptist Church, 2709 Monument Ave. in Richmond. Unemployment benefits, insurance, résumé writing, interview skills, credit counseling and other topics will be discussed. Registration is requested, though not mandatory, by Feb. 18. Box lunches will be available for purchase. The workshop is sponsored by First Baptist Church and Needle’s Eye Ministries. To sign up or find out more information, go to http://www.FBCRichmond.org.

Charles Cook, 45, never has filed for unemployment benefits before, but hard times started in November. Two weeks before Thanksgiving, he lost his job. Virginia’s unemployment rate rose to 4.6 in November, up 0.4 percentage points from October.