With the credit crunch biting hard in some sectors, more and more graduates are looking to switch jobs - or even career fields - for a new challenge. David Reimer of outplacement specialist DBM told CNN Money that making a career change can seem daunting but it is by no means as rare among younger workers as it once was. "It's the same realization that used to hit people in their 40s, back when the model was you picked a career and then stuck it out no matter how restless you were," he said. Overall, the average employee now has between 7 and 10 jobs during their career - and 2 or 3 of those moves tend to be to an entirely new industry. People considering a career change must first think about exactly what they want to do, perhaps by considering what areas of their past or current job they enjoyed. They should also seek independent advice from friends, relatives, online chat boards and social networking sites, Mr Reimer noted. In addition, they can make up for a lack of relevant experience in a new area by thinking how they can apply existing skills, such as problem-solving or negotiation, to a different setting, he said. According to the Olympian, being in a declining industry is one of the most common motivations for looking to change careers.  |