As a recruiter I run into folks fairly consistently that tell me that they are happy in their current role, and they are not interested in anything else. How do you know?

With that in mind, I’ve come up with five reasons to keep your options open:

1) The only thing that is consistent in life is change. You just never know when your spouse is going to get a fantastic job offer across the country, or when your company will get bought out by its competitor. The work force is in a constant state of flux. I’m a firm believer in NOT having a back-up plan that is too rock solid, because you’re ultimately setting yourself up for failure. But, I find nothing wrong with placing yourself strategically within your market through networking.

2) There is always something better out there. This is not the same concept as “the grass is always greener”. If you are a career driven person, you recognize that there is always another rung on the ladder to ultimate success. Whether that is more responsibility, an increase in title, or a larger salary, there will always be a next step. That step does not always come within your current company. It is estimated that a professional spends about 5 years at each company that they are employed with. The days are gone where companies are comprised of life-long employees.

3) It’s easier to find a job when you’re employed. Haven’t you ever noticed that as soon as you’re comfortable in a position, you receive more calls from recruiters than ever before? When you’re employed, it’s an obvious assumption that you have talent in your field or profession.

4) Recruiters love Passive Candidates. I speak from experience when I say that Passive Candidates are often the diamond in the rough. You are happy in your position, stable within your company and contributing actively to your career. This generally translates to someone who knows what they want in their career, who does not make rash employment decisions, and has a great track record with their current and previous employers. This not only makes you a safe choice for the recruiter, but also more desirable to your future employer.

5) You’ll never find your dream job without taking risks. You don’t know what you haven’t experienced. You may be completely content with your current position. You may even be completely convinced that it is 100% your dream job. And then one day a recruiter calls with an opportunity, and when you listen, you find that it is actually more of a dream job than your current one.

I am not, in any way, encouraging non-stop job hunting. What I am supporting, is being open to opportunities that come your way. Listen, have a conversation, and if it’s not for you, you have zero obligation to take the position. Just remember, it could be your dream job.