Career experts and many of Long Island?s formerly unemployed have advice for jobseekers ? it?s OK to settle for less.

Computer specialist Claudia Garbizu says it was difficult to go from a $100,000 a year paycheck to her salary as a part-time bank teller. She was laid off two years ago and says she was unable to find anything else.

?There [are] jobs out there, but I'm competing with hundreds of other people for the same job,? Garbizu says.

Career counselor Bob Simmons says a lot of people are in the same situation as Garbizu. He employs a social worker to help former high-paid, middle-aged people deal with the stress of accepting lower-level jobs.

?If they do get a low-level or temporary job, I tell them to try to get it in the evenings or on the weekends,? Simmons says. That way they can keep the 9-to-5 block open to continue their job search.

Still, as a single mom, Garbizu says having a part-time job is better than not having a job.