You’ve been doing everything you can to find a new job– scanning your Rolodex, going to networking events, revamping your resume, you even joined that Twitter thing. And finally you’ve got one! But before you get a chance to get your feet wet, the opportunity is swiped out from under you because of a hiring freeze or your start date is pushed back…indefinitely.

Having a job offer rescinded or withdrawn is becoming more and more common as the economy keeps flatlining. This not only is a major disappointment for anyone who thought their job search was finally over, but if you’re in a position of uncertainty, you might pass up other, safer opportunities while you’re waiting to see what happens. So what do you do?

Rachel Zupek wrote an article for Career Builder with some advice which includes:

Negotiating: “If you left an old job to work for a new company and your offer was retracted due to the economy, you can try to negotiate unemployment benefits or a severance package from the employer.”

Doing Your Homework: “Before accepting a job offer, it’s important to evaluate what’s been offered. Ask about the employer’s financial health and find out if the position is approved.”

Read the rest of her advice for this sticky situation here.