New Survey Reveals
Top Five Reasons Women Change Jobs

PORTLAND, Ore., March 9 2004-- A recent survey conducted by CareerWomen.com reported the top five reasons women are changing jobs. While the number one reason cited was family obligations, women also move on to new positions to expand opportunities, create higher earning potential, relocate or because of job burn out.

• Family Obligations

• Expand Opportunities

• Earn More

• Relocate

• Burn Out

"A career change doesn't mean that your first choice was a bad one. Every job should be considered an experience and a stepping stone to something else," said Jill Xan Donnelly, president of Career Women "People change and evolve over the course of their lives and it is unrealistic to expect that one career, or one job, will always be satisfying."

The poll found that sixty-four percent of women who responded had made a change mid-way through their career.

Five Tips For Getting Ready to Change


1) Review, update and re-write your resume every year
Having a current resume on hand will allow you to quickly respond to
opportunities as they present themselves. Consider creating several
resumes for a variety of career directions that can be posted in an
online database for easy retrieval and sending.

2) Look inside as well as outside
Consider an internal job change if your current position is not meeting
your career expectations. Leaving your current employer may not always be the best decision, especially during high unemployment phases. One survey respondent suggests, "be flexible, look for opportunity and constantly broaden your horizons."

3) Consider challenge and service as criteria
When evaluating new career opportunities, women report being inspired by challenge and service in addition to compensation. Investigate how a new position will allow opportunities for additional career challenges as well as possibilities to better serve customers,
community or the corporation.

4) Find mentors -- one Male and one Female
Advice from the right mentor can help you locate and manage
opportunities. Male mentors coach negotiation skills as well as offer networking and advancement opportunities, while a female mentors offer informal fellowship, guidance within the corporation, motivation and encouragement.

5) Plan for a smooth transition
If you do find a new position, make the transition seamless for your
current employer. Clean up messes, offer to train your replacement,
be available for questions after your departure and thank your current
employer for the experience. Leaving on a positive note will only
enhance your future career options.