Many professionals heed the advice that the best time to look for a job is when you already have one. Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of workers indicated they would not have a problem looking for new employment before leaving their current firm, according to a survey yesterday by Accountemps, a division of Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI).

The survey asked workers, “How comfortable would you feel looking for a new job while still employed?” Responses included:

• Very comfortable: 46 percent
• Somewhat comfortable: 27 percent
• Somewhat uncomfortable: 15 percent
• Very uncomfortable:11 percent
• Don't know/no answer: 2 percent

Additionally, 48 percent of survey respondents between the ages of 18 and 34 said they are likely to conduct job-search activities at work. This compares to 26 percent of professionals between the ages of 35 and 44 and 21 percent between the ages of 45 and 54 who expressed a similar willingness.  

The survey was developed by Accountemps and conducted by an independent research firm in the second quarter of 2013. It includes responses from 427 employees 18 years of age and older who work in an office environment.