If you've got itchy feet, here are some tips on taking a short cut to the top.

Four or five years ago, a CV showing a lot of movement would set off alarm bells with most recruiters. Why was this woman only in her last job for two years? And the previous job for only three? Sounds like a troublemaker...

These days in some sectors you'd have to have been in a job less than two months to alarm a recruiter. There are still professions where longevity is rewarded - in law, for example, or if you're an academic. But increasingly it's trendy to job hop in certain fields. What's going on? The national skills shortage, increased demand for workers in specific fields such as IT and new media and the rapid decline in the traditional job for life are making it difficult for anyone to make a long-term commitment to one company.

A 1999 survey by the Institute of Personnel Development of over 700 organisations, with a combined workforce of 1.2 million employees states that the employee turnover rate is about 20 per cent; and that of employees that left the organisations almost a quarter did so in under six months.

If you find yourself working in a booming sector with skills that are in demand at the moment, the secret is working out how and when to jump with grace. Here are a few pointers:

1. Look before you leap. Good reasons for leaving a job include a higher salary (at least 15 per cent), an easier journey into work, flexible working hours and possibly stock options. Bad reasons for leaving include peer pressure ('What, you're still working there?'), seduction (the potential employer who paints too rosy a picture) and an addiction to the adrenaline rush that comes with starting a new job.

2. Stay in your job until recruited. Although it's a terrific idea to use the time between jobs for travel, study or personal development, any person looking to job-hop quickly up the ranks needs to be permanently employed. Companies steal workers from other companies because they perceive that the employee is valuable and believe they will be taking on a big asset. If you're unemployed at the time, you're much less likely to be wooed.

3. Be a model employee. The most desired employees are those who put their 'all' into the job they do. You want your reputation to be that of a hard-working, talented individual that puts 100 per cent into every job. So don't just bide your time until a better offer comes along. Work as hard as you would if you planned to be there for the next ten years.

4. Don't forget the small print. For example, make sure you negotiate benefits such as bonuses, pensions, life assurance and even medical health insurance. You could also find out if there are other perks on offer such as gym membership or product discounts.

5. Know when to stop. Your aim should be to find a job that suits you in terms of company culture, salary and working hours etc. Once you find it, it might be time to settle down. After all, the buoyant job market won't last forever.