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For Immediate Release
January 8, 2008
IN SICKNESS, HEALTH OR JOB CHANGE
Spouse Remains Chief Career Advisor for Many, Survey Shows
MENLO PARK, CA -- Those considering a job change seek many sources
of guidance, but the opinion they value most often comes from the
person closest to them. Nearly half (46 percent) of executives polled said they turn
first to spouses or significant others for advice when evaluating a
potential job change, up from 42
percent in 2002. The survey also shows mentors carry
greater clout than five years ago: 41 percent respondents said they would consult
their mentors first, compared to 28
percent in 2002.
The national poll included responses from 150 senior executives --
including those from human resources, finance and marketing departments
-- with the nation’s 1,000 largest companies. It was conducted by an
independent research firm and developed by Accountemps,
the world’s first and largest specialized staffing service for
temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals.
Executives were asked, “If
you were considering changing jobs, which one of the following people
would you most likely approach first for advice when evaluating a
potential job change?” Their responses:
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2007
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2002
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Spouse or significant other
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46%
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42%
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Mentor
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41%
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28%
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Coworker
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4%
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13%
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Other family member
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4%
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5%
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Friend
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3%
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11%
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Someone else
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2%
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1%
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100%
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100%
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“The advice of mentors, colleagues and other confidants helps when
weighing the pros and cons of a career transition, but a job change has
personal and family implications,” said Max Messmer,
chairman of Accountemps and author of Job Hunting For Dummies®,
2nd Edition (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). “A spouse or
significant other is not only familiar with a partner’s overall
priorities and motivators, but also has a stake in the outcome of his
or her career decisions.”
Along with seeking advice from family, friends and mentors, Accountemps advises professionals to consider the
following questions before making a career transition:
- Is the grass really greener? If you once were
satisfied in your present job, what changed? Will the new position
be more fulfilling, or would you be better off trying to enhance
your current role so it includes more of the duties you enjoy?
- Will you have room to grow? When considering a new
position, ask about advancement potential. If a career dead-end is
prompting your desire to make a change, you want to be sure you
don’t end up in the same situation at a different company in a
year or two.
- Have you done your homework? Is the firm in good
financial condition? Have you researched the industry, and the
company’s mission and values? Try to determine if the new work
environment will appeal to you.
Accountemps has more than 350 offices
throughout North America, Europe and
the Asia-Pacific region, and offers online job search services at www.accountemps.com.
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