As we all know, times are tough [1] so chances are you have a friend or two that's been laid off. If you're in the same boat, you probably know what helps and what hurts when talking about it, but if you have yet to be affected by job loss, I have a few tips you might want to keep in mind if you have to support a loved one who is newly unemployed. Check them out below and if you have any suggestions you'd like to add, please do so in the comments below — we could all use as much advice on this subject as possible!

• First things first: If your friend is in a panic after getting her pink slip, remind her of the five things she needs to take [2] with her from work.
• The most important thing to do when supporting someone is to listen. Typically people like to vent their frustration so let her get whatever she needs to off her chest and simply listen.
• While it's easy to say things like you understand, unless you're wearing her shoes you probably don't, so try not to rain on her parade and compare your sister's friend's job loss to hers — it's different.

Want to see two more tips? Just .

• Even if you're not in a position to do much to help, ask her what you can do anyway. She might appreciate simple things like you offering to babysit a few hours a week so she can interview, or inviting her over for dinner or a girls night in. Being around friends and family is crucial when you're feeling low.
• If you have contacts that could benefit your friend, offer to point her in their direction or pass along her resume yourself. Though it's tough to get a job in most industries right now, it always helps if you know someone.

Source [3]