Thinking about making a career move? Do you wish you had a more challenging job? If so, you're not alone - according to the U.S. Department of Labor, 10 percent of the US work force switches jobs each year. Though some are forced to change jobs because of downsizing or restructuring, many quit to find more fulfilling careers. The good news from the Department of Labor is that by the year 2000, 50 percent of the jobs in the US will be ones that did not exist in 1990. Your career options are growing, so make the most of it.

The best way to navigate a career change is to plan carefully. And the best time to plan is before you quit your current job. Take advantage of the security you have and do what you can to improve your chances in a competitive marketplace. Use this time to network, research possible career moves, and prepare your resume. It's also prime time to update your skills. The following are five things you can do right now to make yourself more marketable:

1. Learn something.
   If your employer offers tuition reimbursement, consider taking night classes. Not only will you be challenging yourself, you'll be increasing your marketability. Will your company pay for a part-time MBA or other management-type courses? Go for it - you may have to stick around for an extra year after the course is done, but management education is a surefire way to boost your position (and your salary).

   If your company offers in-house career development, take advantage of it. In-house courses are a great way to meet people from different departments, and learn more about the way your company works. Plus, it can't hurt to bone up presentation, negotiation, or communication skills.

   If you work for an international company with a tuition reimbursement program, find out if they'll pay for a language class. Japanese, German, Spanish and French are among the most popular languages in the business world. Besides making you eligible for international assignments, a second language can give you one up on the competition if you're looking to work in a service industry or in a very diverse organization.

1. Work on your time- and stress-management skills.
   You'll need them if you're planning on managing a job search along with a full-time job. Read books on time management, and tap friends or mentors for advice. Each night, make a list of the tasks you want to complete the following day - and stick to it. It's good to see it all laid out on paper. Plus, it's a great feeling when you've checked everything off at the end of the day.

   Once you've got things under control, try accomplishing more tasks in a given amount of time. Add one or two more tasks to your lists each week.

2. Hone your management and team-building skills.
   If you don't have many opportunities to work on these skills as part of your job, look for opportunities beyond your regular responsibilities. Volunteer for committees and team-oriented projects inside your company. This will not only develop your skills, it will make you more visible to higher-ups. Who knows, it could even lead to a promotion!

3. Figure out your goals.
   Think about your strengths and weaknesses, do some research, and figure out what jobs and positions really interest you, and what you'd be good at. Then make a list of your options and the possible outcomes of each choice. Think about your long-term goals, and rank your possible career moves based on how they will help you reach them. Once you've settled on a major goal, figure out the steps it will take to get there. Think of those steps as short-term goals and set deadlines for reaching them. That way you'll always know exactly what you're working towards, and feel truly accomplished when you get there.