Everyone is changing jobs these days, thanks to layoffs, mergers, a sagging economy and free agency. Web sites are wall-papered with resumes, but jobless rates are the only economic indicators that keep going up. Unfortunately, those are numbers we don't want to get any bigger. Maybe this topic would be more accurate if it were called "Hunting Jobs."
It is possible you are here because you chose to leave your job. If that's the case, congratulations. That option is always out there, this being the land of opportunity and all. But in 2004, we're betting our next paycheck that most of you who venture onto this page of our web site were invited to leave by your employer, its parent company or the business analysts who insist that companies turn a profit.
No matter what your circumstances, you are not alone. The average American changes jobs an average of nine times before the ripe old age of 34, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (April 2000). And you are anything but average. The good news with that stat is, you won't need to bother dusting off your résumé because there won't be time for the dust to settle.
If you're trying to figure out which direction to head on the "changing jobs" map, you might want to take a look at a recent study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Tomorrow's Jobs" (at bls.gov) predicts the fastest-growing occupations through 2010. Not surprisingly, most of them involve technology (computer software engineering, analysis and systems management) and require a college degree. Other industries that may provide job growth include health care and education. The study also predicts plenty of work for librarians, accountants, auditors, meeting planners, graphic designers and financial professionals.
Whenever you change jobs--no matter what the reason--consider the benefits offered by prospective employers before you change. Nearly 28 percent of your total compensation is derived from employee benefits (Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 2002). Benefits include group health coverage, retirement savings plans, paid holidays, life insurance, long lunch breaks, computer games, free photocopies, and Internet access in some cases.