Job seekers today have many options as they look for their next position, and some of these weren’t even available just a few years ago. But as the results of this data show, the stand-bys preached by every career counselor are still true: networking—so that you get referrals and hear about opportunities through word-of-mouth—and being proactive—especially finding and contacting firms that you think would be a good fit for you—are the cornerstones to a successful search.

Thirty-one percent of respondents to the 2008 Structural Engineer Compensation Survey indicated that they plan to change jobs in 2008. Reasons vary tremendously; the breakdown is provided below.

If you plan to change jobs in 2008, what are the reasons for making a change? (check all that apply)

15%     Desire better compensation
15%     Desire better career opportunities
13%     Desire better quality of life (such as work/life balance, shorter commute, less stress, etc.)
10%     Desire better company culture/personality fit
 9%     Desire to learn/use new skills
 9%     Desire better benefits
 6%     Desire for ownership opportunities
 2%     Current firm is downsizing
 2%     Other

Knowing so many readers are searching for a new job, the following resources and findings may help you better target your efforts.

Respondents were asked how they found their current job. Certainly, those that have been with their job for more than 5 years were job searching in a vastly different technological era, as well as one with a different economic climate, supply of structural engineers, et cetera. And times have really changed. People who have been with their current position for 4 years or less, meaning they’ve made a recent job change or are new to the workforce, report the following mechanisms for finding their current job.

How did you find your current job? (Respondents who have been with their current firm for 4 years or less)

22%    Contacted the company directly to inquire about openings
16%    Recruited directly by the company
15%    Referred by a company employee
 8%    Responded to an ad on the company’s website
 7%    Responded to an ad in a newspaper
 6%    Recruited by an agency working on behalf of the company

All three of the top three methods are truly the result of sound networking, stressing the importance of keeping up with industry contacts, being an active member of your local and professional community, and other recognizable ways to network.

The sixth-ranked method, "recruited by an agency working on behalf of the company," is an employer tactic that has mixed reviews among our respondents. Forty-five percent of respondents are extremely or somewhat unreceptive to recruiters or staffing agencies contacting them about career opportunities, while 26 percent are neutral and 29 percent are extremely or somewhat receptive.

The Internet offers various opportunities to network with other professionals and firms of interest. Ten percent of respondents have a profile on LinkedIn.com, an online networking community where you summarize your professional accomplishments to connect with former colleagues, clients, and partners.

Fifty percent of respondents visit online job boards to engage in a host of activities; including to search for jobs; to research firms that are recruiting, to use salary calculators or other job board tools; to read articles about job searching, interviewing, finding jobs, et cetera; to post a job/create a listing for their firm; and to post their resume. Since employers who purchase listings on job boards are typically provided with access to posted resumes, it behooves job seekers to post their resume; it is typically free and easy to do. And it will help you stand out, as this is an under-utilized feature of most job boards by structural engineers: Only 5 percent of respondents reported that an updated version of their resume is posted on a job board (and 31 percent are actively searching for a new job!).