f you're looking for a job or considering changing jobs, you have plenty of company. CareerBuilder.com, the nation's largest online job network, recently conducted a survey to track projected recruitment and job search activities for the fourth quarter of 2004. The survey, titled "The Pulse: A Quarterly Forecast on Hiring Trends and Job Changes," found that nearly one in five workers plans to change jobs by the end of the year.

The Season for Hiring

Don't let the competition discourage you; there's also good news to report. CareerBuilder.com's survey queried more than 1,600 workers, including 700 hiring managers, and found that hiring will pick up in the fourth quarter of 2004.

If you have contemplated jumping ship but can't decide if this is the right time, here's some information that might sway you: 38% of hiring managers plan to do the majority of their hiring for the year in the fourth quarter.

Where the Jobs Are

If you still can't decide if now is the time to change jobs, the type of job you have and the type you want may factor in to your decision. For example, if you have a sales or marketing background, this could be a good time to start a job search. Of the hiring managers surveyed who plan to hire in the fourth quarter, 18% will do so to expand operations and launch new products, and 10% will hire to increase their sales and customer service efforts.

If you have experience in sales or customer service, consider highlighting those skills when floating your résumé. Also, some sales positions might be open, as 15% of people working in sales report that they will leave their jobs by year's end.

If you seek a professional, technical or administrative position, the market might prove favorable. Twenty-five percent of hiring managers say they will recruit for professional and technical services positions in the fourth quarter, while 26% say they will hire to fill administrative and clerical positions.

However, the news isn't so rosy for those looking for management positions; hiring for management is expected to decline from 13% in the third quarter to 11% in the fourth quarter.

Is the Grass Greener?

If you feel content in your current job but are still looking around to see what else is available, you aren't alone. The survey found that 55% of workers are content with their positions, but that doesn't stop them from wondering if the grass might be greener somewhere else.

Nineteen percent of workers plan to leave their current positions in the next three months, and 31% plan to change jobs in the next six months.

Why are people looking for jobs? Well, it's probably no surprise that almost half of the workers surveyed, 47%, want better pay. Forty-five percent believe their workloads are too heavy, and 40% feel there isn't room for advancement in their current position.

The disappointment doesn't stop with the corporate infrastructure; it's also personal. Thirty-nine percent of workers are disappointed with the performance of their corporate leaders; 36% say their employers have ineffective career development and learning programs and 32% say they are dissatisfied with their work/life balance.

Apply Today

If you do decide to look for a new job, it's best to act quickly. If you are trying to determine if you should spend a week tweaking your résumé or if you should immediately reply to a job posting, take note: Hiring managers report that they want to fill positions quickly.

In fact, 62% expect to fill open positions within 30 days; 35% expect to fill positions within just two weeks. If the information on your résumé is accurate, consider forgoing the updating and send it out right away. Or, get your updates completed quickly and send your résumé out as soon as possible. This is definitely one time where sooner is better, and it might not pay to procrastinate.