Careers: A Choice Contract

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The best assignments don't come to those who wait. John Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, an outplacement firm in Chicago, recommends building networks of contacts to meet the right people. "Act early, and get a plan rather than take a couple years off," he says. "It's tougher the longer you're out."

Terry Casto, 54, acted quickly when he retired as chief pilot and interim aviation director at AT&T. Since he had hired temp pilots from Corporate Aviators in Newtown, Conn., he called there. Now he lives--temporarily--in Charlotte, N.C., beefing up a large corporate flight department and earning 1 1/2 times his old salary. When time permits, he and his wife Karen go boating: Hilton Head in winter, Chesapeake Bay in summer. Says Casto: "I'm kind of in the catbird seat." There might be room for you too.