The road not taken on career change path. (Executive Briefing: Strategic Intelligence).

For the executive pondering a career change, consideration of what job not to take might be more important than what job to accept, suggests Ralph Roberto, managing partner of Essex Partners, a New England consulting firm for senior executives.

Particularly for out-of-work executives, it is crucial to avoid taking a job just because of the feeling that "they want me," says Roberto. Sometimes in the zeal to resume or shift the direction of a career, "you kind of skip over things,"

If an executive goes from one bad job to another, a trend might appear that sends up red flags about the applicant to potential employers. Better to wait for an opportunity that establishes "the right trajectory" to propel a career in the desired direction.

Roberto advises senior executives to establish "sounding boards" or "advisory committees" of colleagues in the same industry and in other fields who can guide them away from bad career fits.

Get external opinions from a variety of sources who can analyze a potential career move and help you realize that a particular offer might be something you want to avoid, suggests Roberto.

"The time to build the sounding board is when things are going great," not when you're out of work, he says. "Then, people are excited to be a part of it."

Steve Bates is senior writer for HR Magazine.