Last week's Feedback Poll makes definite implications about the volatility of the real estate market. Nearly two-thirds--62%--of our respondents revealed that they plan to change their place of employment in the next year. This is far beyond the predictable 10% whose resumes are always in motion. So says Mari Akers, who points out that job flips are a function of such things as the number of years a professional has been in one position, the number of headhunters picking away at your staff and even where your company stands in terms of industry status. So, how safe is your firm from employee churn? Read on; Akers will provide some guidelines.

"Probably 10% of any employee population is always looking for a job. It's a given, and it never decreases.

"However, it spikes when the job market gets tighter for particular positions. Real estate financial analysts are a good example. It's a real hot position now, and it's difficult to find good, qualified candidates. We've found that the best candidates are MBA students who've been in a real estate finance course at one of the universities or people who have been analysts in another company.

"The job market for analysts is relatively tight now, and you'll get a lot of recruiters calling in to your company and doing some direct recruiting with your candidate. You can have 30 recruiters calling into your company and directly recruiting your employees.

"I think most people would respond no to the survey. There's a breaking point in employment trends. A year in one position, depending on the makeup of the work force and the general turnover, could be too soon. Most people stay with their companies for an average of three years. That's the jumping off point when people start to think about a change and ask how the market is looking. If you have a company with high turnover and 50% of their employees are in their first or second year, the response is going to be more on the no side than the yes side.

"Of course, it depends on the employee and the company as well. When you have a young, upwardly mobile and motivated population, there's a certain percentage that is always looking for opportunities no matter how great their environment is.

"Also, if you're in a successful, growing company, your employees are less likely to be looking. When you're at the top of your game, most employees, particularly on the professional side, will stay. If you're at the bottom of your game and there are management changes that are perceived to be negative and press about your company not being on solid footing, people are more likely to look at outside opportunities."