With unemployment at a 26-year high as the grinding downturn wears on, many people are being forced into job changes─if they're lucky enough to find new jobs. But for those still employed and managing their careers, there's a perennial question: How often should you change jobs?

    During the recent boom, it was common to hear advice that frequent jobs changes were the way to take advantage of the fast-moving economy, maximize personal opportunities and use leverage to get pay raises. Long over were the days of professional loyalty employees to employers, and vice versa when people clocked life-long careers at the same company. The career adviser and blogger Penelope Trunk, for example, counseled her readers in 2007 that 'staying in one job forever is today's recipe for career suicide.'

    'At the beginning of one's career, it is nearly impossible to find something right without trying a bunch of options,' Ms. Trunk wrote. 'After that, you will experience more personal growth from changing jobs frequently than staying in one job for extended periods of time. And if you change jobs frequently you build an adaptable skill set and a wide network which are the keys to being able to find a job whenever you need to.'

    All of that advice might well remain apt today, but the recession has changed the calculus for many workers. Alison Green, a staffing manager at a nonprofit, wrote earlier this year in a guest post on a U.S. News & World Report blog that a clear-eyed assessment of the possible downsides is crucial in changing jobs in this environment.

    'Obviously, it would be silly to say people should never change jobs in a bad economy,' Ms. Green wrote. 'Maybe you can find your dream job, or a way out of a career sinkhole, or a financial windfall. But if there was ever a time to proceed with some extra caution and not leap rashly, it's now.'

    Indeed, in more recent advice on her blog, Penelope Trunk answers the question 'How can I change careers without taking a pay cut?' this way: 'You cannot change careers without taking a pay cut. It is childish to ask this question. So stop asking it. Instead, live below your means so you are not a slave to your career choice.'

    Ultimately, as with so many aspects of the juggle, it's all about determining what works best for you. For my part, I've worked here at the Journal for about nine years, albeit in three different positions. In that time, my wife has had five stints at four organizations. While no situation is perfect, we're both fulfilled and growing professionally.

    What's your take on the right pace of job or career changes? Have your views changed with the downturn? How often have you switched positions, either within the same company or at different employers?

    難挨的經濟低迷仍在繼續，失業率達到26年高點，在這種情況下，許多人被迫換工作──如果他們夠幸運能找到新工作的話。但對于仍然在職、規劃自己職業生涯的人來說，有一個問題歷久彌新：多久該換工作？

    不久前經濟繁榮的時候，常常會聽到這樣的建議，認為頻繁跳槽可以從快速發展的經濟中得到好處，實現個人機會最大化，并借以實現加薪。員工對雇主忠心耿耿、一輩子待在同一家公司的時代早已過去，反過來也是一樣。舉例來說，就業咨詢師兼博客作者特倫克（Penelope Trunk）在2007年就給讀者提出了忠告：一輩子只干一個工作如今就等于斷送自己的職業生涯。

    特倫克寫道，一個人開始職業生涯時，如果不嘗試多種選擇，幾乎不可能找到適合自己的工作。在那之后，比起長時間干同一個工作，你在頻繁跳槽之中會實現更多的個人成長。而如果頻繁跳槽，你就能培養適應能力，建立廣泛的社會關系，無論你什么時候需要找工作，這些都是最重要的。

    上述建議現在可能依然適用，但衰退改變了許多人的小算盤。在一家非營利機構任招聘經理的格林（Alison Green）今年早些時候在《美國新聞與世界報導》（U.S. News & World Report）雜志的一篇客座博客文章中寫道，在當前形勢下跳槽，對可能的不利方面進行清晰的評估至關重要。

    格林寫道，顯然，如果說人們在經濟形勢不佳的時候絕對不該換工作，這就太愚蠢了。或許，你可以找到自己的夢想工作，找到一條擺脫職業困境的出路，或是在薪酬上有意外的收獲。不過現在正是最應該格外小心行事，而不是冒進的時候。

    實際上，特倫克最近在博客中提出建議，她回答了這樣一個問題：我如何才能在不減薪的情況下跳槽？她的回答是：你無法既跳槽又不減薪。問這樣的問題太幼稚了。所以，別再問這樣的問題了。相反，量入為出，這樣你就不會成為自己職業選擇的奴隸。

    總之，跟忙里忙外的很多方面一樣，最關鍵的是要確定對你自己最適合的。對我來說，我已經在《華爾街日報》工作了九年左右，不過是在三個不同的崗位。期間，我太太在四個機構擔任過五個職位。盡管任何事都不是完美的，但我們兩個都感到很有成就感，在職業上也有進步。

    你認為跳槽的合理頻率是多少呢？你的看法有沒有隨著經濟低迷而改變？你變換崗位的頻率有多高，包括在同一家公司和不同的公司？