Your parents and grandparents may have worked for one company their entire lives; however, their work experience could have been quite different if they were faced with today's fast-paced changes in the economy, technology, and workforce. To improve productivity and profitability, more and more companies are making changes in their organizational structure, and in the ways in which they deliver products and services. As a result, more and more employees are faced with the difficult task of seeking new employment. This process, of going from one job to another—or one career to another—is what we call a career transition.

Whether you are the casualty of corporate downsizing, rightsizing or reorganization, or you are simply choosing to change jobs or careers, making a successful career transition requires planning and action.