If you're waiting for the job market to improve so you can jump ship to a better position, consider this: You might find even greater opportunity where you now work.

"Too many people leave a job without defining their interests and goals," said Sharon Jordan-Evans , a career adviser and executive coach whose clients range from small businesses to Fortune 500 firms.

"If you leave a job without knowing fully what you want, you could hit the same wall and run into the same problems in your next position."

Her advice? Decide what excites you about your current job - and what turns you off. Then look for opportunities in-house before turning your job search outward.

"You might find a job, perhaps in another department or division, that moves your career in a new direction," she said.

Explore Your Options

To find that job, assess your skills and knowledge gaps.

"Decide what you need to learn and look for a range of ways to learn it," Jordan-Evans said. "Could you join a company task force and learn by doing? Is there a mentor who could help? What about a night or weekend class?"

When looking within your firm, explore all options. "Most people jump immediately to 'up.' But in some departments, up is in short supply," she said.

Options include moving laterally. "Lateral moves were once considered the kiss of death. But they're now being used to expand a person's breadth of knowledge," said Jordan-Evans, co-author of the forthcoming book "Love It, Don't Leave It: 26 Ways to Get What You Want at Work."

"For someone wanting to move into senior leadership," she said, "breadth of knowledge is critical."

Moving downward might also be an option.

A sister unit might have faster-track jobs "requiring a slight demotion to get needed experience. Once that experience is gained, you could move up quickly."

Don't Wait For Opportunity

To find a better fit in your company, study the trends - macro and micro. Know what's going on in your industry and your firm's other divisions.

"Start with the company Web site and the employees' intranet," she said.

"Check the firm's annual and quarterly reports. You could learn about new products and services being introduced or considered - some of which could be sources of new opportunities."

Also check the Web site's employment section. There may be jobs listed that aren't being publicized within the firm.

Bottom line: Don't wait for opportunities to come to you.

"About 10 years ago, a consulting firm I worked for was thinking of starting a subsidiary focusing on change management," she recalled. "That was a strong part of my background. When I got wind of it, I went exploring. I talked to my boss and others, and outlined levels of experience they didn't know I had.

"I wound up being one of about six people who launched the new company. No one was going to hand me that opportunity. I had to take action."