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Looking for a new job sucks, even when the economy is good. And when the economy is bad — especially really, really bad like it is right now — the word “suck” doesn’t even begin to cover it.

According to job-search experts, it’s not impossible to find a job right now.

The key is remembering something employment-%placement folks call “transferable skills.” They’re the skills you learned at your old job, in school or through training that employers in other industries are looking for.

“Don’t just look to your particular industry during your job search,” said Chakib Chehadi, executive director for Workforce Solutions Alamo. “Given the nature of our economy, there may be some other types of jobs that are growing while the area you worked in is shrinking.”

Just to throw a goofy example out there, let’s say you were the top doorknob polisher at Dom’s Doorknob Emporium, but you got laid off after the doorknob industry went into the crapper. But couldn’t you apply that skill somewhere else, say polishing apples at Arnie’s Apple Emporium, which just happens to be hiring?

Workforce Solutions runs a database that cross-references jobseekers’ skills with other positions available in the San Antonio area. Jobseekers often are surprised that positions in other industries with similar skill requirements pay more and offer growth opportunities, Chehadi said.

Let’s say you’re a customer service representative, and you lose your job.

If you’re doing customer service work in San Antonio, that means you’re probably making around $11.37 an hour, according to Workforce Solutions’ database. It also means you were working in an industry with a high turnover rate.

Did you realize that, according to the same database, insurance claims clerks have about the same skill requirements? And did you realize that it’s a growth field and with average hourly pay of $14.12?

So, keep those transferable skills in mind when doing your job search. Here are some other tips that can help you make the most of them:

- Don’t just dust off your résumé — make it sing: Give your potential employers reasons to hire you. That means identifying all your skills, experiences and awards. Things like perfect attendance awards or training in software packages do make a difference. List them.

- Take your time during the application process: I know filling out an application wearing a too-tight tie and listening to the buzzing fluorescent lights in the human resources department isn’t exactly fun. But don’t race through the process and forget to identify skills and experiences that could get you hired.

- Start networking: Meet new people who can provide you with potential leads about new job openings and industries that are expanding. Ask friends and neighbors if the places where they work are hiring.