Martha Finney finished writing her guide to surviving a layoff months before the book's February 2009 release. And while the economy has slide precipitously since then, Finney is sticking with her story. She wouldn't change a word.

"Being laid off is an individual journey," says the Santa Fe, N.M. author. "How you handle it between your ears and in your heart has a greater impact on your prospects than what's going on in the economy."

Drawing from her book, "Rebound: A Proven Plan for Starting Over After a Job Loss" (FT Press, 2009), Finney talks about the journey of unemployment.

Federal government jobs are supposedly very secure, yet your father lost his CIA job in 1977. Is there such a thing as a recession-proof job?

Finney: The short answer is no. And if you target your job-search and professional-development efforts to finding something that's recession-proof, you're selling yourself short. You're moving away from something that might be a passion and might light a fire that will fuel you throughout your career, versus pursuing something that will burn you out because it doesn't really interest you.

Can jobseekers afford to shoot for the stars or should they take whatever position they can get?

Finney: One of the biggest mistakes people have been making since the economic downturn is to low-ball themselves, applying for positions that are lower down on the organizational chart. If you do that, you're setting yourself up for more failure. Recruiters can tell if you're lowering your sights. You may be more than qualified, but they'd prefer to hire someone for whom the position is an exciting challenge, not someone who'll leave as soon as they're given half a chance. And targeting jobs like that feeds into your own negative self-talk. When you're not hired, you think 'I'm such a loser.'

Security is a basic human need. If there's no such thing as job security, how should people go about meeting this need?

Finney: People seek security in their spiritual lives, in their communities and from family and friends, but that's beyond the scope of my work. The way to find career security, though, is to think of yourself as self-employed no matter who you're working for. Any decision you make about your career should advance your own interests and passions. You should never assume that if you make a sacrifice for a company, it will come back to you. It might or it might not. You should keep your skills up-to-date and your network alive. A critical piece is to help people. They'll repay the favor when you're the one who needs help.

If you've just been summoned to the boss's office and it's clear you're about to be laid off, what's the most important thing to keep in mind as you brace for the news?

Finney: Keep your mouth shut as much as you can, especially if you're feeling angry. It's entirely human to get upset, but don't voice any rage. One woman I interviewed for the book was hired back by the same company. It's never a good idea to burn bridges. At the very least, if you keep it together, you'll be glad you did later because you'll still have your dignity to help carry you through. My other advice is to sign nothing. They might hand you a severance agreement with a check attached to it, which makes it very hard not to sign right then and there. Take some time and talk it over with your spouse. Go down line by line by line and ask yourself, 'What am I signing away?' The fine print might say the company has no further financial obligations after you've signed, and maybe you'll recall a business trip that the company still owes you for.

Immediately after a layoff, what's the wisest thing to do emotionally?

Finney: Don't take it personally. It's just business. It's a terrible economy and a lot of really great people are getting laid off, so you're in good company. A layoff is not a blanket statement about your value as a human being.

What's the wisest thing to do financially?

Finney: Don't overreact and make decisions out of panic. A lot of people start slashing expenses immediately. Give yourself time to calm down first and think through what's meaningful and what's not.

What's the wisest way to kick-start your job search? Finney: Ideally, you should start before you get laid off. If you suspect there will be layoffs, even if you think you're safe, you should take home a copy of your contacts list. This includes co-workers, vendors, clients and your counterparts at other companies. Then, start making lunch dates.