These days, changing careers isn't a luxury past time for the idle rich. For many of us, it's required if we want to ensure a steady paycheck. As industries mature, grow or falter, some jobs simply disappear. This makes career change inevitable, whether it's our own choice or we're forced into it because of a termination.

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that employees will change careers at least three times during their work lives. Other estimates are even higher. If you make the decision to switch to a profession you find more rewarding, the change can be exciting.

This is the case for many professionals leaving well-paid, prestigious careers, such as law or medicine. For instance, a 45-year-old Georgia psychologist decided to leave his field and a lucrative practice for a career in corporate training and development. "Many physicians and lawyers are feeling professionally unfulfilled today," he says.

The psychologist was burned out by the stress of managing his practice, which specialized in eating disorders among middle-aged men, and the demands of managed care. A bachelor, he wanted a less stressful position that gave him the chance to travel.

"Career changes are inevitable even for the top performer," he says. "Not only is the medical profession changing but it's also downsizing. Corporate takeovers, mergers and international competition are forcing professionals to think about career change."

He developed a resume and cover letter pointing out his knowledge in development, training and human relations. After a four-month job search, he landed a position in organizational development in a Fortune 500 company. The job allows him to see the results of his work quickly and offers him the opportunity to travel nationally and internationally, which he describes as a major perk.

"I couldn't be happier," he says. "Changing my career path was the best decision I've ever made."

Many career moves typical today were impossible only a few years ago. The following are examples of professionals who made their resumes and changed careers:

• A vice president of a 15-year-old, $50M telecommunications company decided it was time to move on. After searching unsuccessfully for a more promising position, he opened a competing business. Many former clients switched to his company.

• Retiring military professionals often make significant career changes to secure positions in the civilian job market. For them, the secret is knowing how to transfer their skills. One 20-year military veteran with a curriculum development background marketed himself as a researcher, landing a job at a Fortune 500 company as a research project manager. In his new role, "I'm professionally and personally happier today than I have ever been and totally enjoying my new position," he says.

• A highly paid engineer from Florida became bored with his profession after 10 years and decided to seek a more interesting but equally lucrative job. He developed a functional resume that highlighted his technical knowledge and sent it to investment firms. He's now a securities analyst and uses his engineering background as the basis for making recommendations on new technology investments.

Anyone can change his or her career path. Start by reviewing your skills and understanding how they can be applied in a different environment. Career change means learning about yourself and what you really enjoy doing. If you're happy at your job, your odds of being successful at it are greatly enhanced. In short, explore your options, set goals and make plans to develop yourself to fit your new career path. The following tips may be helpful if you're seriously considering a career change:

Watch for changes in your field and don't be the last one out the door. Stephen Covey, author of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" (Fireside, 1990) writes, "There's no point in working really hard at climbing the ladder to success if the ladder is leaning up against the wrong wall."

Not long ago, banking was considered a highly stable career. Today, competition, mergers and acquisitions continue to shake up the industry and cause many bankers to lose jobs. Executives who aren't able to use computers to do research and word-processing also are considered out-of-touch.

Follow industry trends by reading professional journals and discussing ideas with colleagues. You can make the highest-quality gizmo but if demand for it dries up, your job will be eliminated. If you see your career path eroding, prepare for a change.

Career dissatisfaction in its extreme has been linked to early mortality. After displeasing the gods, Sisyphus, a king in Greek mythology, was condemned to push a heavy stone up a mountain every day and then watch powerlessly as it rolled back down again. Millions of Americans replay this role in their jobs without thinking about changing their careers. The most successful individuals enjoy their work.

Your skills determine what you do but not always as directly as you might expect. In general, hiring managers are seeking:

1. characteristics that will indicate your potential to succeed in their workplace and
2. skills and qualities needed by the company.

For instance, pharmaceutical companies invest heavily in training salesmen and often hire candidates with backgrounds in the military, engineering or aviation for sales positions. Former military folk are focused, dependable and loyal, while candidates with engineering and aviation backgrounds have excellent analytical skills.

It's not always what you know that counts but the skills you developed while learning what you know. An example might be a liberal arts graduate who uses his or her writing skills to land a job preparing training manuals.

Learn to manage your career to acquire needed skills. A good way to develop your abilities is by volunteering or working in cross-functional teams. A stay-at-home mom was an active volunteer in the school system. She became president of the PTA, which required extensive involvement with parents, faculty and students and management skills. The top eight skills that employers seek are those she took from her PTA volunteer work into being a business owner:

• Interpersonal/social skills. Good working relationships with others.
• Leadership. Motivating and influencing others.
• Flexibility/adaptability. Responding to change.
• Teamwork. Contributing to the success of formal/informal teams.
• Oral and written communication. Listening and transmitting in one-to-one, group and presentation situations.
• Planning and organizing. Setting and achieving goals.
• Learned skills. Job-specific skills (knowing a business from the ground up).
• Problem-solving/intellect. Analyzing and synthesizing information clearly, finding key issues and ingenious solutions.

The volunteer mother eventually decided to pursue her interest in plants and flowers. She started working in a flower shop, learning flower arranging and the mechanics and logistics involved in purchasing flowers, scheduling deliveries and managing the store. She now owns the shop.

Some career advisers say that if you're actively managing your career, you should be able to add a new skill to your resume each year. At the least, your document should show constant improvement and increased levels of personal growth.

Don't allow yourself to fall behind the power curve. Add new skills each year. Give yourself permission to enhance your career opportunities or change your career if you're unhappy.

Your resume is a powerful career development tool. To change careers requires a complete resume makeover.

Millions of employees are "job-bridging," or developing ways to move from their current positions to fields they'll enjoy and flourish in. By using these tips and showing a little gumption, you, too, can make the transition.

-- Dr. Turner is a professional services consultant in Jacksonville, Fla., with Right Management Consultants, a Philadelphia outplacement firm.