If your job search is taking longer than expected, relax.

Sound counterintuitive? Not so, say career experts. When you're out of work, you're stressed and depressed - and it shows.

"You need to keep a positive outlook and remember that the bad news that we're hearing every day about the economy and job market doesn't apply to all industries," says Priscilla Claman, a Boston career coach and president of Career Strategies Inc.

To be sure, the nation is suffering its worst job market in recent memory. Individuals are taking longer than ever to find work and the longer they're unemployed, the harder their search becomes.

Claman insists that the United States has more than one job market and some industries are actively hiring. Her top tip for surviving a longer-than-anticipated job hunt: stay optimistic. Managers prefer to hire and work with positive individuals.

Jean Baur, author of "Eliminated! Now What? Finding Your Way from Job Loss Crisis to Career Resilience" (Jist Works, 2010), agrees that it's crucial to remind yourself that your unemployed status is temporary.

"You will find a job. You need to believe that," says the senior consultant at outplacement firm Lee Hecht Harrison, Princeton, N.J. Here's more tips to keep you motivated:

Keep a schedule: Your job is to secure employment. Claman says you need an office and adequate supplies. You should also maintain regular office hours and schedule activities to tackle each day. Baur says, "This isn't magic, but most people find that if they write down what they're going to do, it's a lot easier to do it without getting discouraged."

Be a good boss to yourself: Make a list of daily tasks, and once you have accomplished them, give yourself a reward, Claman says. It might be a walk in the park or on the beach. Recognize your accomplishments and pat yourself on the back. Likewise, manage your associations. Don't spend a lot of time with negative people or groups that may have a negative effect on your morale.

Seek an outside opinion: If you're not making progress in landing interviews, you may need to determine if you're making mistakes with your search or approach. In the Boston area, for example, Claman says you should be receiving five or six interviews for every 100 résumés sent out. Not meeting that rate? Ask someone to analyze your résumé and cover letter.

Change tactics: Too often job hunters focus too much time on applying for jobs online, Baur says. Instead, work through people you know socially and professionally. Focus on companies where you really want to work and offer a solution to a problem that they may be having. You should always have a handle on which tactics work and toss out the ones that don't.

Manage your stress: Be honest about your mood and state of mind. If you're falling into depression, seek professional help. If you're feeling blue, involve yourself in activities that make you feel good. "Take care of yourself through therapy, physical exercise, volunteer work, new projects or hobbies that you enjoy," Baur says. Make sure to socialize. Spending too much time alone with the looming stress factor of unemployment can lead to depression.

Invest in your future: You may realize that your professional skills need updating or that you want to go down a different career path. This is a good time to invest in your future, even if it simply means reading more books to add depth to your industry knowledge. If possible, pursue a training certification or an advanced degree. View the time as an unpaid sabbatical to focus on figuring out where you really want to go professionally.