Pede, do not feel badly about accepting unemployment checks. Your former employers have paid into that fund on your behalf - with money they could have been paying you, if they were not forced to pay it into to the unemployment fund. So, it actually is your money, money that was seized from you without your agreement, and now is coming back to you.

This, too, shall pass. And yes, what someone said about sending thank you notes - it works. Send them as soon as you can after your future interviews. So few people do this, show that simple appreciation that anyone who does can't help but stand out. Also, followups can help.