A SPECIAL REPORT: WORKPLACE

ANY OLD JOB: As the recession wears on, more laid-off executives are willing to take lesser jobs. “These days, for instance, a former president or general manager might seriously consider a job as vice president of sales,” says executive headhunter Elliot Gordon, who runs Korn/Ferry International’s Newport Beach office. . . . But there’s a catch: Companies are reluctant to hire these people, fearing they’ll jump ship when a better job comes along. To find a job, consultants say, execs may be better off leaving their own ailing fields--like real estate and aerospace--for businesses like health care.