Editor's note: Following is the sixth installment of a series on bouncing back from a layoff. Look for the next article in this series next Thursday.

What's your next move? The answer is up to you and depends on a variety of factors. Your next step after a job loss, at least in the short term, may be for financial survival, a stopgap measure until you can get back on your feet. Or, it may be a retrenchment -- a plan to jump back into a company, industry or situation similar to one you've left. Or you may choose to turn in a different direction by changing careers, starting a business, returning to school or arranging for a better work-life balance. While many people contemplate changing direction, the most common moves after a job loss are 1. maintaining career continuity and 2. ensuring financial survival by seeking contract or part-time work.

Never underestimate the power and appeal of a regular paycheck and insurance benefits. To some, having a job is as natural as breathing, so it's important for them to find a new position, preferably in the same or a related field. If you enjoyed your job, love the industry and want to remain in it, then your next move may be a very simple one. Staying put in your field and industry can be a safe bet, since you know the ropes and likely have experience and contacts. The following are three steps you can take to start your career comeback.

Your former employer's main competitor should be one of your first calls. Don't bother with the human-resources department or online job postings. Start by contacting the head of the department you wish to work in and tell him or her directly about your experience.

Strange as it may seem, your setback may be a blessing. You may stand a better chance of securing a raise or promotion by changing employers than by remaining with the same company.

If you love the industry you've worked in, but want a different type of position, consider working for a related organization. Your industry experience and transferable skills are attractive to an employer in an allied profession because you have to learn only a small piece of the business rather than start as a rookie.

3. Look into jobs with smaller companies.

You might have the skills and credentials to climb the ladder but are tired of the pressure, wear-and-tear and fast pace. You may be burned out and think that your work-life-balance scale needs to be recalibrated. If you enjoy what you do but would like to slow down, consider working for a smaller company in your chosen field. Although there are always exceptions, smaller employers may be less demanding and provide more variety to your work. Plus, if you have been a highflier with a large organization, you're a prize catch to a small to midsize company (or nonprofit) that can use your experience and might offer you a more appealing culture.

Sometimes you don't have the luxury of waiting for the "right" opportunity. Perhaps your industry (or bank account) has been decimated. Globally, hundreds of thousands of employees in the telecommunications, technology and airlines industries (to name a few) face diminished prospects and an employment landscape that has been changed forever. If you are in this category (or if your search can be measured in months or years), working for a competitor or in a related job isn't an option. Surviving and getting by is your priority. If your needs are immediate, here are two options to consider.

Companies of all sizes frequently outsource projects or hire contract professionals to perform certain work. Employers love these arrangements because they gain high-level skills without the expense or liability of employing a full-timer. Free-lancing or working as a contractor allows you to earn an income doing what you're trained to do, while keeping up your skills and making additional contacts. You also have the freedom to pursue other opportunities should they arise. The downside is that you have no job security or benefits, but it's a solid way to survive financially and work in your field.

Another option is to work part time in any position that you can find to simply pay the bills. It doesn't matter whether the job is in your field. Just find something that gets you out of the house, around other people, generating an income and contributing.

Some career experts may disagree, and you may have concerns as well. Remember, this strategy is a means of surviving financially, not a long-term career plan. If you have a financial cushion, plenty of options and can wait out a job slump, then this move isn't for you. If you don't have these luxuries but still have doubts about taking part-time work, consider these rebuttals to the following common qualms:

• "Part-time work is embarrassing and will hurt my self-esteem."

  It may be embarrassing. But it's less embarrassing to work in a job for which you're overqualified than to fail to take action to meet your responsibilities as you wait for the offer you want to come along. There's never shame in doing the right thing, being independent and working hard. Certainly don't take a job that's demeaning, but put your ego in storage and do what needs to be done.

• "A part-time job will detract from my search and hinder my prospects."

  It's best to take a part-time job that's unrelated to your field and is "disposable." If an interview or job opportunity poses a conflict, you can reschedule your part-time gig or, in the worst case, walk away from it. But always leave in a responsible manner and on good terms. Never just fail to show up one day.

• "How will part-time work look on my resume?"

  Your part-time stint need never be on your resume. You're earning extra cash while you're in a bind, not making a career move. If an employer asks you what you've been doing or to explain a gap, say that you have obligations and have been working part time to earn money to meet your responsibilities as you pursue your next career move. It may be difficult to say, but interviewers will respect your honesty.