FEELING burned out? Looking for a change? Take some time to think and plan before beginning the search for that new job.

“It’s better to lay the groundwork for a job search before you get burned out,” said David Patton, editorial director of CareerJournal.com. “It’s often easier to find a new job while you are still employed.”

Put out feelers before starting an all-out job search. There are many safe harbours to explore without alerting your current employer you are on the hunt. CareerJournal.com offers these tips:

. look before you leap: explore employment opportunities within your own company before jumping ship;

. make yourself discreetly visible through social networking;

. work your industry associations: participating in a business association that your company is affiliated with will not raise eyebrows and can open doors;

. network like a headhunter: target 10 to 15 companies where you want to work then use the web search engines to identify some of their former employees and their current contact information. Talk to them and get the scoop;

. rebuild your network: when you know you are going to need past contacts, contact them. Figure out who is going to be important in your search;

. do some self-assessment: think about what you really want to do. Think about your strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes. Think about what will make you happy.

Job hopping can bounce you out of running

Chronic job hunters could be hunting themselves out of the job they really want.

“It’s not unusual for someone to change jobs or careers multiple times during his or her lifetime,” said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International and author of Managing Your Career For Dummies. “But holding too many positions in rapid succession and without signs of professional advancement can be a red flag for employers.”

The survey asked: “How important a factor is the length of time a job candidate has spent with previous employers when evaluating the applicant for a position with your company?”

Their responses were:

. very important (42 per cent);

. somewhat important (45 per cent);

. not important (10 per cent); and

. don’t know/no answer (three per cent).

Messmer said that many job changes stem from a desire for a greater challenge, which does not always require changing employers. Professionals in this situation should look for opportunities within their own companies first.

“Hiring managers place a high value on employee loyalty, in part because it is so difficult to replace top performers,” said Messmer.

“Supervisors are typically receptive to matching valued staff members with assignments that allow them to expand their skills and grow,” he added.

The survey was developed by Robert Half Finance and Accounting, a financial recruitment service. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from more than 1,400 CFOs from a random sample of US companies with 20 or more employees.

– Copley News Service