For the past few years, job changing was a scenario among the Malaysian workforce. Companies staff-pinched experienced employees from competitors to work for them. Head-hunters approached knowledge workers to offer them higher pay, better benefits and fatter packages. Even the young and inexperienced people entering the workforce were likely to change jobs a few times before they finally settled down in a company to offer their lifelong services.

This desire for a change in jobs or in life is natural because human beings are not easily contented with what they have already possessed. Career change is a reality of modern workplace, regardless of your age, sex, education, experience and position. If you have been counting the hours until the end of the workday, feeling the sting of not being promoted fairly, or wondering whether your superiors are taking your hard work for granted, perhaps you have already made up your mind to leave the current job and look forward to a new challenge in the world of work.

But before you act, consider the cause and effect of changing your job. Given the negative scenario of employment and not knowing when this economic turmoil will end, you need to take more precautions to make sure you land a better job than your current one. You certainly need more information about the industry, field or profession to help you assess the gains and losses as a result of changing your job. Useful information will also give you more options should you decide that it is time for you to make the move.

Take into consideration what is happening in your department, company and industry. The national economy, the community, employment trends, demand for your expertise as well as competition from others can affect your job and you in many ways. Ideally, you want to be able to identify and recognize career advancements as well as obstacles. A brief analysis on your own strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and the challenges ahead will help you visualise your career objective more clearly.

Here are some questions to help assess your value in the company, your relationship with the current employer, and the degree of job security in your position:

• Where do I see myself, with my present employer, in one year's time?
• Do other companies offer positions comparable to mine?
• What qualifications are employers seeking for positions similar to mine?
• Does my boss, and his or her position, seem secure within the organisation?
• Have there been recent changes in the top management of my company?
• Is my company going through a merger, acquisition or injunction?
• How is my company doing financially?
• How is the sales or revenue of the company recently?
• Does the company lay off or retrench employees who cannot perform?
• Are there any pay-cut or cost-saving practices?
• How is my company doing in comparison to the competition?
• Have I received any oral or written warnings on the job?
• Are there any hostile actions or complaints pertaining to me or my performance?

If you are uncomfortable or dissatisfied with your job, ask yourself why and who causes the problems. Do not change jobs for the sake of changing the workplace. Escapism should not be a mechanism to run away from your existing problems. Otherwise, you could end up in a situation with similar problems but without the familiarity of a long-standing position. To help clarify your satisfaction with your professional situation, ask yourself these questions:

• Am I happy with my work?
• Am I challenged by my work?
• Can I deliver results in whatever I'm assigned to?
• Is there opportunity for me to advance?
• Am I appreciated for my contribution or ideas?
• Am I ambitious in career advancement?
• Am I satisfied with my benefits?
• What is my greatest satisfaction at work?
• How do I feel about my office location and work environment?
• Am I overworked?
• Am I paid fairly?
• Am I enjoying myself at work and yet be productive?
• Am I having problems with my colleagues?
• Am I popular among co-workers?
• Am I concerned about others in the workplace?
• Is my job too stressful?
• Can I handle the stress myself?
• Is there anyone to share my views and problems?

Once you have answered these questions honestly and thoroughly, ask yourself whether you are willing to improve the current situation. What can you do to contribute to the solution? For instance, if you are unhappy or unchallenged, could you work with your supervisor to re-align some of your duties? Could a seminar or class at a community college give you new ways to think about the job? Can you suggest to your immediate boss about what training courses you would like to participate in, and why? In what areas should you improve yourself to enhance yourself for future challenges? Having a positive mindset will enable you to cope with the current situation without having to ask for transfer or resign to work for another company.

Good luck is what happens when opportunity meets preparation. There are times when even though if you have no plans to leave your job, an opportunity may come up that you would want to pursue, such as a chance for promotion or a job that sounds like it was made for you. Since opportunity cannot be anticipated but granted by others, you may want to focus on preparation by keeping your skills up-to-date and by being remarkably professional in whatever you are doing today.