Since the start of this recession at the end of 2007, some 7 million people have lost their jobs. And although unemployment rates appear to be lessening, it's certainly still rough out there.

One of the problems, of course, is that there is a large demand for a very limited number of jobs. The competition is stiff, and if you've limited yourself to applying to only a certain kind of position, in only one specific field, you're going to have a tougher time getting back to work. So this week, let's talk about taking those blinders off. Experts say that the people who are rising to the top of the resume pile are those who take risks, who are open-minded about different opportunities and who use a lay-off as an opportunity to do a little soul-searching. Here's how you can be the same:

-- Expand your horizons. Not surprisingly, a lay-off has a tendency to send people into panic mode. Immediately, a million questions come up, not the least of which is how you're going to support your family. And that's perfectly normal. But once you've calmed down a bit, take some time to really think about whether this is an opportunity in disguise. "This is a chance to brainstorm ideas and think outside the box. Tap into your childhood dreams, your passions and your heart," says Hallie Crawford, a certified career coach in Atlanta, Ga. What is your ideal job? Spend some time jotting down answers to this question, however feasible they may be. You can weed through them later, but if you're honest with yourself, you may end up with a few career moves on your list that are entirely within reach.

-- Be realistic. It's possible that a little brainstorming revealed that you love the field you're in. Maybe your ideal job truly is the one you had before you were pink-slipped, or the one you envisioned when you enrolled in grad school. That's perfectly fine, but it's still in your best interest to be realistic and do a little browsing. The wider a net you are willing to cast, the more chances you have to land a position. Does that mean you should blindly blast your resume to every job board posting? No. But it does mean that you should be open to different ways of reaching your ultimate goal. "There are a lot of kids coming out of business school, and Wall Street isn't hiring. If that's you, don't ask yourself 'What's a job that's going to make me rich?' but 'What's a job that's going to get me started in this field?'" says Alan Webber, founder of Fast Company magazine and author of the new book "Rules of Thumb: 52 Truths for Winning at Business Without Losing Your Self."